Wooden Picks?

[freakparade3]

If i were to somehow make a pick only from wood and it was able to do its job, how do you think the feedback would be? I mean we have all hit a baseball the wrong way or a bat against something, maybe even a hockey stick against the ground and it can feel worse or equal to other types of materials. Or does anyone rock wood handles on their hand picks? Let me know what you think.

[TigerDragon]

To get the wood thin enough and narrow enough to be used as a pick would make a very weak tool. Think of trying to pick the lock with a tooth pick. You might be able to do it, but your tool won't last long. It will wear out in a short amount of time, I mean.

[savs2k]

the wood would be too brittle. Even if the wood was wet, it would still be too weak. I don't think the feedback would be as good as a metal pick though.

[TorontoTonto]

The question was not weather or not i could make a wooden pick the question was if one was made and it did its job, how do you think the feedback would be?

[jamesphilhulk2]

i think the feedback would depend on the type of wood used. it would be an awesome experiment though

[TorontoTonto]

Yes i think the type of wood would be quite important, much like a guitar. I mean there is nothing better then wood for a precision acoustic device so why wouldn't that translate to a lock pick? Although guitars have been made from steel those are more for high tension things such as picking and sliding over all different sound too. Very good point sir. Thanks for the input.

[Olson Burry]

There is nothing better thAn wood for an acoustic device because you want to exploit the resonant frequencies and therefore weaknesses and flex inherent in the material.

The feedback would be minimal although it is a moot point.

Effective handles have been made out of wood, they not only look very pretty and by all accounts are very comfortable however a solid core is required to transmit the feedback given by the lock.

[TorontoTonto]

Ok so apart from the weakness of wood it will translate feedback from metal and this has been done effectively as per wooden handles. Thanks for the info.

[Olson Burry]

I may have come across as a bit dismissive of your idea, I didn't mean to. In any case the cogs have been turning in my brain trying to think of a way this could work.

The main problem I see is the grain in the wood. You're going to need a very tight grain used lengthways and even in the densest wood it's not going to be tight enough as the pick will have to be that thin to be useful that you're looking at a very fine sliver of material.

The tightest grain I think you'll find would be from a large knot on a piece of hardwood. If you could shape and somehow treat it with a hard varnish or something then it may work.

Either way I'm sure they would be fun to make and look cool, as a sustainable pick material though I have my doubts.

Kind regards

OB

[jamesphilhulk2]

i wouldn't use varnish on the business end of the pick, the varnish might flake off inside the lock

[mhole]

As observed, it wouldn't be possible to make a pick from wood. Even if you were able to find a wood strong enough in the dimensions needed, it would only be strong along it's grain, so apart from half diamonds, and ball end pics, you'd be out of luck. Anything like a hook or bogata rake would be comprised of shortgrain at the points where it is most stressed, and would break the first time you applied any stress to it.

As per hypothetical feedback, I'd disagree with the idea that 'nothing is better than wood for precision acoustic device'. As Olson pointed out, wood is used for guitars and stringed instruments because of it's flexibility and non homogenous nature. These qualities introduce overtones and harmonics in addition to the fundamental sond of the plucked string, and these deviations from the fundamental are what give guitars interesting, characterful voices. Carbon fibre, steel, etc are all used to make guitars which are much more precise as tone generators, but lack the character and sweetness of wooden instruments.

If you're after precision (which I would say is more essential in a pick to get good feedback) then an homogenous, engineered material like steel or plastic is going to be far superior to wood.

Or in short, a good guitar has fundemtally different qualities to a good lockpick. See also: apples and oranges!

[5thcorps]

Wood shaped to such a small form loses almost all of its tensile strength. i see no way at all how wood could ever do more than make a nice handle.

[phippoD]

you would be wasting your time with woden picks even if you got them thin enough to fit into the lock they would probably snap as soon as you put any presure against the pins probably not worth persuing it.

[TorontoTonto]

Even through things failed there is still something to learn Phippo. It was simply just an idea that came to mind and i wanted to know what other people thought about it, and so far there has been some good input and ideas. The idea about using a knot as highly dense wood for the pick was very good and I have also learned something about acoustics.

Now, what about branches of a new tree, often soft and wet but very strong? Maybe they could be cured or preserved in a way that makes them stronger. Strong enough to be used as a pick? I have also been looking at different types of chop sticks and most of them seem to hold their own in the hands of new users trying to grab pork. I have even found a few nice home sets that the tips are thin enough to fit half way into a key hole and have very good strength. And theres no rule that says they have to be all wood, you could core the pick possibly with a metal rod or other material. a hybrid pick if you will?

Also, thanks to everyone for all the great comments and input. There is some really nice ideas coming out.

[freakparade3]

I think it's an idea worth trying out. Two types of wood come to mind as most likely to work. Ash and Hedge. Both are available at my fathers farm, I think I'll give it a shot.