Lock Picking 101 Forum
A community dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking.
       

Lock Picking 101 Home
Login
Profile
Members
Forum Rules
Frequent Forum Questions
SEARCH
View New Posts
View Active Topics


Live Chat on Discord
LP101 Forum Chat
Keypicking Forum Chat
Reddit r/lockpicking Chat



Learn How to Pick Locks
FAQs & General Questions
Got Beginner Questions?
Pick-Fu [Intermediate Level]


Ask a Locksmith
This Old Lock
This Old Safe
What Lock Should I Buy?



Hardware
Locks
Lock Patents
Lock Picks
Lock Bumping
Lock Impressioning
Lock Pick Guns, Snappers
European Locks & Picks
The Machine Shop
The Open Source Lock
Handcuffs


Member Spotlight
Member Introductions
Member Lock Collections
Member Social Media


Off Topic
General Chatter
Other Puzzles


Locksmith Business Info
Training & Licensing
Running a Business
Keyways & Key Blanks
Key Machines
Master Keyed Systems
Closers and Crash Bars
Life Safety Compliance
Electronic Locks & Access
Locksmith Supplies
Locksmith Lounge


Buy Sell Trade
Buy - Sell - Trade
It came from Ebay!


Advanced Topics
Membership Information
Special Access Required:
High Security Locks
Vending Locks
Advanced Lock Pick Tools
Bypass Techniques
Safes & Safe Locks
Automotive Entry & Tools
Advanced Buy/Sell/Trade


Locksport Groups
Locksport Local
Chapter President's Office
Locksport Board Room
 

Sanding New Picks

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Sanding New Picks

Postby valentin_84 » 27 Jan 2010 0:31

Hey guys, I'm new at locksmithing and have read in a few threads that you guys use sandpaper on new picks as soon as you get them. Can you guys explain why you sand production picks (even pretty expensive ones in my opinion)? Also, can you explain what and how I need to sand since I'm getting ready to order my own set.

Thanks for the help!
Image
valentin_84
 
Posts: 21
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 0:36
Location: Surprise, AZ

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby CaptHook » 27 Jan 2010 2:49

Picks get sanded because the manufacturing processes used by the various makers leave a surface finish that is not ideal for lock picking. The contact surfaces on new picks tend to be rough, sometimes even jagged. Sanding these surfaces as well as all of the 90 degree corners, gives you a smooth tool that will give you a better feel inside the lock, and cause less scratching of the pins and the key way.
Chuck
Did you hear something click?

Image
User avatar
CaptHook
 
Posts: 705
Joined: 4 Apr 2004 19:26
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby valentin_84 » 27 Jan 2010 3:10

Ok, gotchu. So what grit sand paper will I need to use on my picks when I get them?
Image
valentin_84
 
Posts: 21
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 0:36
Location: Surprise, AZ

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby datagram » 27 Jan 2010 11:49

valentin_84 wrote:Ok, gotchu. So what grit sand paper will I need to use on my picks when I get them?


Most of the higher-end pick makers here sand gradually up to 1000 or 2000 grit for that mirror finish.

dg
datagram
 
Posts: 873
Joined: 1 Aug 2005 0:49
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby CaptHook » 27 Jan 2010 15:29

Im guessing that you are referring to the individuals who make picks for sale? Because I have never seen picks from a locksmithing company that couldnt use SOME form of polishing work.
As far as sandpaper goes, use your head. If its very rough start with a coarser grain like 220 to 320. Then you can progress up to 2000 grit if your heart desires. Remember that you dont have to use every grit in between. Also be aware that if you start with a coarse grit it is easy to accidentally change the shape of the picks.
Chuck
Did you hear something click?

Image
User avatar
CaptHook
 
Posts: 705
Joined: 4 Apr 2004 19:26
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby valentin_84 » 28 Jan 2010 1:26

CaptHook wrote:Im guessing that you are referring to the individuals who make picks for sale? Because I have never seen picks from a locksmithing company that couldnt use SOME form of polishing work.
As far as sandpaper goes, use your head. If its very rough start with a coarser grain like 220 to 320. Then you can progress up to 2000 grit if your heart desires. Remember that you dont have to use every grit in between. Also be aware that if you start with a coarse grit it is easy to accidentally change the shape of the picks.
Chuck



Cool, thanks for the tip!
Image
valentin_84
 
Posts: 21
Joined: 16 Jan 2010 0:36
Location: Surprise, AZ

Re: Sanding New Picks

Postby raimundo » 28 Jan 2010 8:33

Wrap some 320 around a bamboo chopstick and rub this all along the 90 degree edges of the stamped out pick (stamped out on a punck press, creates a cutbreak edge, cuts a bit then fractures through)
this will round those sharp edges as you hold the sanding stick, with the sandpaper rubberbanded onto it, and move the pick along it so that its sanding the edge at about 45 degrees to the planes of the edge.
this will also wear the sand paper down a bit to take the new grit and begin to reduce it to finer grit then do the same to the pick tip and the top edge of the pick shaft.
this is still the rough sanding, and the strokes are across the length of the pickshaft and tip,
when the sandpaper is worn and mellowed a bit, and the edges are taken off the pick, remove the sandpaper from the chopstick and make a piece of the worn but not torn paper with the sanding surface inside, put the pickshaft inside this and pinch it lightly between fingers while push/pulling the pickshaft between the sanding surfaces, this makes the lines of the sanding along the length of the pickshaft, count to about a hundred strokes this way, you are erasing the lines that the sandpaper made across the pick and leaving lines that are along the length of the shaft, this is the finish for that grit of sandpaper,
you can repeat this same method with another finer grit to achieve a really smooth surface,
Sandpaper becomes finer grit as it is used, the grit breaks against other grit of the same size and becomes smaller.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
raimundo
 
Posts: 7130
Joined: 21 Apr 2004 9:02
Location: Minnneapolis


Return to Lock Picks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests