Viable wiper blade lock picks?

[xcravaxx]

hi, i just got some old wiper blades and is wondering how to fix myself some lock picks with it. I wanted to make a short-hook pick with the inserts i currently have but then i thought of the many factors that can screw up my lock pick:
1. the length of the part of the pick which gets inserted into the lock?
2. the angle of the hook?
3. the width of the part of the pick that gets inserted into the lock?
4. should the hook be pointed or blunt?
5. how long should the entire thing be?
6. size of hook?

yeah thats about all the factors that could screw up my pick, any help would be appreciated

[gloves]

hi, i just got some old wiper blades and is wondering how to fix myself some lock picks with it. I wanted to make a short-hook pick with the inserts i currently have but then i thought of the many factors that can screw up my lock pick:
1. the length of the part of the pick which gets inserted into the lock?
2. the angle of the hook?
3. the width of the part of the pick that gets inserted into the lock?
4. should the hook be pointed or blunt?
5. how long should the entire thing be?
6. size of hook?

yeah thats about all the factors that could screw up my pick, any help would be appreciated

Hello and welcome

Beginners at pick-making are usually advised to copy pick templates which are available in this viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17326 and other threads or even better to buy a commercial set and shape yours after them.

Anyway, I'll do my best to answer your questions

1. It depends on your locks. Take your largest/deepest keyway padlock and mark on your bristle the inside length. Note that some locks have a deeper keyway than pins actually use, so measuring just the key canal may be overkill.

2. The angle again depends on your locks. Keep in mind nobody have just one hook, we all have some differently angled ones. Try a 60° angle as a beginning.

3. You have to check this out. EU/UK locks often use tighter keyways than US ones. I guess something in the 0.7mm thickness and 1.3-2mm height should work for mosts.

4. Make it blunt, rounded if you can. Pointed tips are useful for certain pins but chances are you'll feel and have better feedback with a rounded one, plus it gets stuck less often.

5. The total length should be what I said in point 1 + what you feel comfortable to use as handle or to fit a handle on.

6. Regular hooks have the same thickness and height of the entire pick's part fitting inside the lock. Imagine as if you have a straight rectangular piece and bend if upway as a hook, though you'd better shape it with a file rather than bending at this makes it weaker so I don't recommend it. As I suggested 0.7mm thickness and 1.3-2mm height should work for most locks.

Hope I was clear enough on the answers

Cheers

[xcravaxx]

2. The angle again depends on your locks. Keep in mind nobody have just one hook, we all have some differently angled ones. Try a 60° angle as a beginning.

if that's so, isn't it better to fix myself a half diamond pick?

ty for the help

[xcravaxx]

and now speaking of half diamond picks, i now also need to know the exact geometry of the triangle to, well.... not screw up my picks

[gloves]

2. The angle again depends on your locks. Keep in mind nobody have just one hook, we all have some differently angled ones. Try a 60° angle as a beginning.

if that's so, isn't it better to fix myself a half diamond pick?

ty for the help

The half diamond has a double slant shape which makes it appropriate for raking /\_, while the hook as a 'slant' just on one side, like \_
plus it is more selective, but if you can SPP with a half diamond better than with a hook, why not Also I said 60° but you can do a steeper one like a 45° too.

About the exact geometry of the triangle, don't worry...It doesn't have to be isosceles or equilater in a particular way, everybody shapes is according to its taste and experience Try a medium-height isosceles.

In other words, make some picks and see what works for you

Cheers

[xcravaxx]

all right, I'll try to fix myself some picks and i will upload them as soon as possible. i might even consider to sketch the geometry of bristle picks and upload it here on lockpicking101.

thanks btw