by raimundo » 7 Jun 2009 9:27
Search for fulcrum and there were 5 hits, none really was in a thread titled clearly enought for it to be found by the person who might be looking for this information.
Fulcrum, is the pivot point of a lever, it must usualy be firmly fixed and non compressable.
Lever, a tool that increases force at the short end of the lever, the ends of the lever are divided by the fulcrum.
Some pickers, especially those who participate in the "bending picks" threads, tend to rest the pick shaft on the internal wardingof the keyway, and use this as a fulcrum to put great pressure on some binding or stuck pins, this is a type of picking that may sometimes yield results but is very hard on the picks and the locks.
Straight handles such as the aluminum popsicle sticks, tend to lead people to this bad habit.
Applying force is not picking by feel, its generally not good technique.
A pick with a loop handle that looks generally like a 6 with the loop for the second finger is used with the first finger in front of the loop and this finger is the only fulcrum you will need for feel picking. when you press up on the pick tip, the counter pressure grounds in the second finger rather that against an immobile part of the plug. This is a far more effective and sensitive place to fulcrum off.
You can easily make an exprimental hook by using a blade bicycle spoke and forming a loop, twist, and hook then cutting it with a file to thin the metal and round it off. Sand it welll of course.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
