Pick Handels???

[JASE_Tech]

Hi everyone my name is Jase (said J-Ace and not Jazz as I have been called before on some of my computer games ) and I'm kinda new to lock picking. I had a set I made out of hacksaw blades and was pretty good till my dad got mad at me and broke them and told me I wasn't allowed to have anything to do with them anymore. But, that is a different story for a different day. I'm back in the game a few years (almost three) later. Still using hacksaw blades because there is more material in them than a windshield wiper insert. Also, a street sweeper bristle is out of the question because I have only ever seen one twice in my entire life, and I'm almost 18.

Anyway, when I started all I did was file the teeth off of the blade and maybe scratch my name into the paint that was already on the blade. This cut my hands like crazy (plus I was Ape-ing[1] the tools). A friend who got me started into picking suggested a wrapping of some kind like electrical tape or whatever that liquid rubber stuff is called. I went with the tape because I had it laying around.

My Question is, is the big fancy handles needed for your daily use picks? I'm not going to lie and say I don't love those massive and amazingly carved handles I've seen on the site (sorry about the no-naming of credit where it is seriously deserved ,but I'm new and don't know where to start to look for those again to give the credit). All I'm saying is, is there a need? Like, say you want to carry them around. Them bad boys are not going in your pocket, and forget about the hundreds (but still very good) of D.I.Y. carrying cases I have also seen. I think the cool, rubbery, color swirl handles might be a good compromise (see above about credit).

Again, I'm New and would love tons of feedback. Sorry about getting long winded and all the ()s. Again, I'll say that I am sorry the no credit thing because I know I would be a little mad if I read this and I had put all that work into another page. I'll be more considerate next time.

[1] For those of you readers who don't what Ape-ing is--it is a verb my dad uses when we work together and I'm acting like a big dumb ape and I am putting my all into something that really doesn't need it. I am not trying to be insulting it is just that I'm from West Virgina, USA and I'm not sure how much "Hillbilly" I'm talking.

[thededer]

ok so first of all welcome to lp101. second to answer your question, no you do not need any big bulky handles just use whatever you are comfortable with using. ie: heat shrink tubing, nothing at all, electrical tape (although i personally dont like the feel of the tape), etc.

[criminalhate]

Shrink wrap is a popular small handle size that a lot of people seem to like. And to actually answer your question no they are not needed.

Welcome back to locksport

[JASE_Tech]

Thank you for your input, but what I was kinda hoping for was for someone to tell me that they absolutely couldn't live without their set. Also, for future post please defend your point thoroughly. I feel that nothing is accomplished by a short "Yeah, I love it" answer.

Thanks for the welcome

[unbreakable]

If you use the stainless steel from windshield wipers to make your picks (which is similar in size to sweeper bristles but far more readily available, try asking at a car shop if they have a few used windshield wipers you can have for 5$), you can then cut a groove down the center of two popsicle sticks and sandwich the wiper blade in between them. Glue, and you have a nice wooden pick handle.

As said, heat shrink is a great material to use. It has a nice grip to it, and looks professional. Personally I prefer to first wrap the pick in a few turns of hockey tape, and then put heat shrink over it. This gives it a soft feeling to it.

If you like a nice rubbery handle then but a can of the plastic dip used to recoat tool handles and use that.
If you're really handy, then think about making a handle mold for your picks, and then molding a handle around them using the material of your choice ( I once considered recycling pop bottles this way but never got around to it).

[JASE_Tech]

Oh wow...if you ever get around to melting those cans for handles you let me know about it

[unbreakable]

It seemed do-able for sure, you can supposedly make a fairly cheap aluminum forge out of some coffee cans, cement and a propane torch, I'd like to give it a go one of these days for sure (read about it on instructables if anyone is interested).

The only bit I was unsure about was what to make the mold out of.

I liked the idea of using aluminum as it would be lightweight, and I prefer the feedback I get from an all metal pick as supposed to rubber/plastic. I find with rubberized picks I always have a finger on the tang, while I don't see to do this as much when using a hacksaw or wiper blade pick.