by raimundo » 8 Oct 2008 6:42
the optimum for pick thickness is between .018" and .026" with fifteen thousands being for deliberately slim picks for very narrow keyways, and thirty thousands being as thick and strong as can be useful. That said, I have a pick that is tenthousands thick in my wallet, but that is not a serious pick, its just wallet clutter.
If you buy the twelve inch long half inch wide feeler gauges from starrett or precision, which are available at a machinests jobber or on the internet, you can chose the size you want. these guages are not the set of various guages you may be familiar with, but are cheap and sold individually, so you can buy ten of a given size or chose several sizes and not have to end up with some too thick or too thin to use.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!