Small new set in purple

[Olson Burry]

Today I decided to make a few new picks and also see if I could get "sculpy" to work as handles. It was also an exercise in attempting to get the shafts and tangs as smooth as possible.

I'm basically not happy with the handles. After using metal clamped on the sides of my other picks these just feel a little "spongy". I may well replace them if they dont grow on me.

Basically after the picks were done I got a quarter of a block of sculpy and wrapped it around. I then rolled it on a flat, clean surface and trimmed the ends.

They operate very well on my locks and I really like the diamond and falle style hook.

High speed steel hacksaw blades and violet "sculpy"

Tools used were Bench grinder, round and flat needle files, elbow grease and 240, 400, 600, 1000 and 1200 grit Wet or dry. Oh and my oven to cook them.

Anyway, here you go, pics taken on my phone as I still don't have a camera so a little blurry, nothing I can do about that. The other pick you see from time to time is a slimline southord for size comparison.













Hope you don't think I'm digging for praise but any questions, comments or suggestions all welcome.

Cheers all and happy pickin'

[ToolyMcgee]

Why spend a few hours making picks, rolling, and bakeing handles to leave the point where the handle meets the pick raw and unshaped? They could have been benefit to some kind of taper or additional forming.

The picks themselves look very well done. If I had to choose only 3 spp picks, it would be those 3 shapes. I've made a few clay handles myself, and was also dissapointed that they were still squishy after the clay was cooked.

-Tooly

[Olson Burry]

Cheers Tooly. Yes I see what you mean, they could've been more aesthetically pleasing. The ridge does allow one to put a finger there for extra control although this was unintentional.

They are growing on me, however, being finely sanded really does make a big difference.

I'll try a few more tomorrow (I have hot orange sculpy too ) and see what happens.

As it goes these ones are probably destined for a friend of mine who gave me some shoes a while ago and I suppose there's nothing really stopping me shaping them a bit more after the fact.

By the way - you were spot on on the timing, it did indeed take almost exactly 3 hours from conception to fruition.

Thanks!

[femurat]

It looks very easy to make the handles this way, I just need to roll the clay on my desk... I have to try.

I agree with Tooly about the need of shaping the edges but I think this could remain a cheap and easy technique. If you pay too much attention on details it's better to build a mould.

See you after my attempt.
Cheers

[savs2k]

I think they look fine. But then again look and feel are 2 whole different things. So if they feel pretty good to you and you can hold them easily when picking, that's success in my book. Give them to your friend and make a new set!

[Legion303]

Nice work! You'll find that FIMO clay is a little more rigid than Sculpey after baking, so give that a try if you don't like the feel. Kato Polyclay is also supposed to be pretty hard after baking but I haven't tried it yet.

-steve

[raimundo]

both fimo and sculpy allow for shaping after baking, with a file and some scotchbrite pads.

[5thcorps]

The picks themselves look great! How about trying some of that plastic dip stuff?

[femurat]

I asked a DIY shop and they suggested milliput for my handles experiment. Milliput is an epoxy putty. It's similar to fimo, cernit, sculpy... but it's self hardening so you don't need to cook it.

Mixing the two components and rolling the putty around the pick was very easy. After the putty hardened I quickly sanded it just to clean it... This was just an experiment, I used a pick and two ruined rods of metal. I didn't want to risk my good picks so don't tell me the picks are bad I've tried the pick with his new "sage handle" and it works.



Making this experiment taught me I'll never be a sculptor