different pick and tension wrench materials??

[Brian Sandman]

Hi -Tooly:

Thanks for posting the link to the brass pins listed by knifekits.
Very interesting variety of sizes.
One other source of raw stock is the Zinc plates used for etching.
Soft material for filing. But it does leave a shiny metal transfer when used for a pressfit. The old zinc plates are supposed to be scratched up after production run is completed. Way back I could get the old plates from local Newspapers. Now we have electronics and no need for making zinc
plates for the Evening Edition.

Sandman..................................
***************************************

[M_U_M_P]

I really like using butter knives. I am really new to this, but I have made picks out of several different materials. One such material is the insert on a filing cabinet file, the metal hanger part. It seems to work alright, but it doesn't last very long.


I have now come across a wonderful material that i favor. They are some nice expensive butter knives. My friend had an aunt that moved out of her home, and she just so happened to leave all her silverware behind, so I now have a large supply of the fancy butter knives which i use to make picks.

I will make a new post very soon where you can see my different pick variations and what type of knives I am using.




But as far as tension wrenches go, I am a firm believer in allen wrenches. They just seem to work so well in all the locks i have tried.



And for all of my pick-making, and tension wrenches, i use a large bench grinder. I have a large cup of water right beside me, and i dip my material about every 2-3 seconds of grinding. I never have bluing of the material, or any brittleness in my equipment that way.


Maybe this will help someone =)
Good luck.

[Brian Sandman]

Greetings M_U_M_P:

Which size of Allen Wrench's do you use?
Are they close to the size of the keyway,
or do you grind the larger ones down to size?
I find the larger ones can be reduced down to fit different parts of the keyway depending on the lock brand. For example the top or hand finished t for the specific keyway profile. Also the larger and longer ones help to transfer sensations.

Sandman..............................51st..... State....

[aernan]

About finding street cleaner bristles: They are not shinny when you see them on the ground. They are gray or rust brown. They can be found in intersections and they are normally not where the tires of a car would be. So mostly in the gutters where the asphalt transitions to concrete for water run off.

Materials I've used:
Street Cleaner bristles - strong but often corroded
Bicicle spokes - Very hard material to work with but durrable
Allen Wrenches - It took me a while to hand file but it made a great tension wrench
Engine Oil Dipstic - The metal is too soft and bends easily. Very easy to work with.
Stainless Steal Welding Rod - Nice but circular and not very large
Bobby Pins - Work great but are springy and short. More bending then cutting the tip

If I was going to make another batch of picks I would use thin but springy stainless steal. I'd probably buy it from a metal supplier or get cheap spatulas at a dollar store.

[raimundo]

Forget the cheap spatulas, get the cheap steakknives. the thinner the better, with a bench belt sander, you can reduce the metal to size and the handles too, can be sanded down to resemble one of ratyokes picks.

I did say resemble, not rival.

[phippoD]

you no wat i never thort of using knives to make picks. hmm will have to make some and see how they turn out.

[t-vizz the 2nd]

I have never really had any trouble with hack saw blades. Just grind bare hand and keep your hand close to the part being grinded, you will know when it is getting hot.

[Wooly Mammoth]

the metal inserts in the folders of some filing cabinets work very nicely, if a bit thick.

[beeler]

all thangs i can think of are here!!!

[LocksmithArmy]

I always use stainless steel kitchen knives. they work great and as for tension wrenches file down some nails. concrete nails are the hardest ive messed with but 10 penny nails file quicker

[subver]

I just ordered a twelve pack of 1/2" x 12" x .025" Stainless Steel Feeler Gauge stock. http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=7043165&ucst=t
They should be coming in the mail today, so I will let you guys know how it is, but I'm very optimistic about them!
Can't wait to make some nicer picks.

[shaothegreat]

I just googled "<your city here> street sweeper schedule" and got a nice map and schedule to help me on my hunt for bristles. Just thought I'd share that...

[LocksmithArmy]

^^^ very cool

i recently found a new material that works great for me... unexpectedly great. heres a link to a thread...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45361

[stock-man]

really thanks for it i applied your suggestion and with success

[Brother Paul]

In the South of the USA we have a lot of textiles , anyhow my old weavers hooks made a very nice set of pics , idk what kind of metal there made of , but i still had the first one i ever gotten 15 years ago and it never has snapped or anything after a lot of use and abuse in its first role ,, and now as some minor grinding and sanding in its second role as a pick