butter knife pick

[LocksmithArmy]

so in the midst of my busy day I decided to make a pick... but from what...
I found an old butter knife, I decided that would do

It took awhile to file and when it was finnished it was just long enough to open a 6 pin lock before it got too fat tword the handle to go into the lock anymore...

It needs a little more sanding to thin out the sides abit so I can have more freedom but I figured Id post pictures now...

the handle looked like poopie so I used a heat shrink tube to cover it. but the back stuck out and I did not like it so I cut it off and put some rubber sealant tape on the tip and then added the heat shrink tube... it turned out pretty cool

anyone else used butter knives? it seems to be plenty strong enough

[raimundo]

I haven't used a butter knife, but if I liked the heavy steel handles and had a belt sander I would try it. I have some of the really cheap (thin) steak knifes you can buy at the dollar store and some day, I may borrow a grinder and waste off enough of some of them to make picks out of the remaining blank. possibly even the hidden rivets to the wooden handles could be trimmed to a nice shape with a small belt sander. a disc sander will not do the job, but a belt sander does a nice job. If you press the piece against the belt where the belt is away from the backing plate, such as above it, you get a nice soft finish, from the flex in the belt.

[raimundo]

anyone reading the previous post dont press a steak knife into an unbacked belt sander without helmet and safety glasses,

[LocksmithArmy]

I used a dremmil to make a pick blank and finished it by hand. it was a good waste of a couplle hours

I couldnt sand all the nicks out but it works fine

[Solomon]

You filed this by hand?! I tried filing a butter knife once and those things are much tougher than meets the eye... I'd imagine you needed to take regular breaks. It may have taken a really long time to make, but what you have there is an ultra strong pick that will last a lifetime. You did a really good job, it looks nice and smooth. My wiper insert picks don't even look this good!

Wizwazzle (awol70) has an entire set he made out of old knives. I think he has some kind of hand tool for cutting them to size before filing... almost certain I saw him demonstrating it in a video before. I've no idea what it is, but it cuts those things in half like nobody's business. If you're gonna make a habit of making picks out of these, it'd definately be a worthwhile investment.

[muddassarusa]

so in the midst of my busy day I decided to make a pick... but from what...
I found an old butter knife, I decided that would do

It took awhile to file and when it was finnished it was just long enough to open a 6 pin lock before it got too fat tword the handle to go into the lock anymore...

It needs a little more sanding to thin out the sides abit so I can have more freedom but I figured Id post pictures now...

the handle looked like poopie so I used a heat shrink tube to cover it. but the back stuck out and I did not like it so I cut it off and put some rubber sealant tape on the tip and then added the heat shrink tube... it turned out pretty cool

anyone else used butter knives? it seems to be plenty strong enough

Nice attack on kitchen by locksmith army beware from wife if you marry otherwise ......
you doing great keep it up LOL

[nhoj_yelbom]

i hear they make good picks, never attempted, great job

[alfabravo]

i've seen one pick (it was a half-diamond or half-ball cannot remember) a while ago. it was a gift for my fellow locksmith from an ex-burglar . just an interesting and creative way of using household objects for making picks. what surprised me as i remember pick was very thick and i thought it would hardly go into the key way. i have some spare old butter knives but hadn't tried yet.

[psychofish]

Wow thats amazing you did that all by hand! After working with windshield wiper inserts and ruining a couple I can't imagine grinding all that down, finally get to work, and then file a little too deep and have to start all over. Good job!

[Greasemagnet]

That looks like it would work good and be strong.

[pin_pusher]

you know, come to think of it i found a cafeteria knife in the garbage...took the thing, and filed it down some, never attempted to finish however...i'll go look for it. thanks for the reminder.