First Homemade Pick!

[BryceC]

Hello everyone. I just completed my first pick which is a half diamond. I used a hacksaw blade and a dremel to make it. Please tell me what you think.

[LocksmithArmy]

wow that looks real "sharp"

hows it pick...(try not to cut yourself on the blade)

[BryceC]

It picks OK, I just need to get used to it as I just started this hobby and I'm slowly working on making the blade end more flat And I don't want to use the dremel because then it might not be straight. So I got a lot of fileing ahead of me.

[Rift]

Looks nice I and sharp hehe! (Definitely grind that blade down) Have you thought about possible making it more slim like a euro slimline?

[BryceC]

It is actually not sharp at all (Just looks that way in the picture). And yes I am thinking about thinning it out because it doesn't fit most of my locks.

[r0b0t1]

Hmm, I always thought I made mine too thin XD.


Yeah, I was looking for something besides a dremel, because like you said, they tend to get unstraightish. You haven't have happened to made any others?

[BryceC]

Last night I started working on a snake rake, I might be able to finish it all up by tonight when I get off work. I will post a picture of it when completed.

[raimundo]

when your make your snake rake, remember if it has a thin spot, between two thicker spots, this can break under undue force, but if you have a thin spot and want to make it less likely to break, you can widen the thin spot so that it will more likely flex before bending and breaking.

flex means it will bend and spring back

another way to thin the thing so that it moves freely in a keyway is to undercut the picktips.

You should also sand your picks well, they will slide through locks if sanded round on the edges, and any deep tool marks are the same as weak points that concentrate stress. thin areas are not bad unless overpowered by inflexible thicknesses on both sides.

[BryceC]

Thank you so much for the tips. My rake is nearly done I just need to do more grinding, just a problem now because my neighbors are all outside and I don't want to annoy them. xD

[exspook]

looks good to me (here in the UK) but do get some gaffer tape or heat shrink sleeve on the rest of the blade mate..

Top tip from Raimundo also and watch out for getting the steel to hot else it will get brittle and break.

well done

Dave

[Rift]

Do show more pics when your done! =)

[BryceC]

I'm nearly finished the pick just got sanding to do but here is a picture for those waiting to see it. I made it way to thin as you can obviously tell from the picture because it actually bent coming out of the keyhole so I might have to redo this pick but make it a tad thicker. Other than that it works flawlessly. I will post a new picture when it is completely done being sanded.

[Wizer]

If these two are your first picks, thats wery nice job.
Your half diamond looks like it just came from factory.
I heard that vibram soles would be a convenient way of entry...

[BryceC]

Yes, these are my first picks infact it is the first time ever using a grinder. I might be buying a bench grinder because my dremel bits ware down so fast. I like those handle covers but I think I might use heat shrink tubing because I have lots of it.

[tjweaver84]

Are you using the regular dremel cut-off wheels? I have found that the EZ-Lock cutoff wheels last longer and are harder to break. They are made more like the cut-off wheels for an angle grinder then the standard cut-off wheels. plus if you by the EZ-lock accessorie set you get the box which is the perfect size to carry around quite a few locks in. I'll have to take a picture of the box o' locks I carry with my to work using the case from the accessory set.