Southord Pick Mods?

[wery67564]

Ok,

Just got my southord pickset in the mail yeaterday (pxs-14) and have started working away at my schlage rekeyable practise lock. Now, I am noticing that the large southord hook is basically useless, and I cannot get access to the pins due to the shape of the keyway. Would it be prudent to sand down and polish these picks? I feel that the sharp edges cause more keyway ridge friction than is absolutely necessary, however, I don't want to involuntarily destroy these new toys that I got. So, polish and round, or just get different picks for the tighter keyways?

[zeepia]

You must polish them. Sand them 400, 800 and 1200 grit and finally some polishing paste to finish the job. Also round the edges. You´ll get nice silky smooth surface which doesn´t tackle in the keyway. You are not destroying them but making them much better! Don´t take a short cut here, it pays the effort.

Some picks are bigger than others but you´ll need them in different kind of locks. Usually you survive with smaller picks, they work perfectly also in bigger locks. To a certain limit.

I haven´t hold those picks in my hands but from the picture that hook seem to be a bit large. At least to wiggly keyways.

I suggest you get to know those picks you got and then you can decide which way you want to develope your hobby. I prefer home made picks, then you get what you want. (Or get what you got )

Good luck!

[wery67564]

Thanks! Going to start the sanding tonight! Just wanted to make sure I was totally crazy!

[Solomon]

My slimlines came with a hook which was way too big to be practical so I filed it down to a more reasonable size. Also modded the hook and half diamond on the jackknife, still sucks overall but it's better at least. Do whatever you want with them, you bought the things after all.

[wery67564]

I guess I was just trying to find out what was the most practical thing to do... How did you change your diamond? Just make it smaller?

[Solomon]

I guess I was just trying to find out what was the most practical thing to do... How did you change your diamond? Just make it smaller?

The half diamond in the jackknife picks has a really wide shaft and hardly any tip on it so it's got virtually no reach and it's awkward working around warding cos of all that extra width... so I thinned the shaft out and made the tip bigger. Gives better feedback and it's more maneuverable now, but it's still pretty rubbish considering you can't control it too well with all that bulk in the handle. The hook is OK-ish, but for raking with a half diamond or city rake it gives next to no feedback at all. Better than nothing though, it's come in handy a couple of times I must admit. Much prefer my homebrew one, only got the southord one cos of nostalgia really lol... sold the one I had 7-8 years ago and fancied having another play with one.

[1967pontiacfirebird]

i dont understand what sanding the picks will do and what kind of paste do you need to put on them?

[GWiens2001]

Sanding the picks smooths out the rough edges. Even if you don't think it is rough, the lock does. The only picks I have received that did not need any sanding or polishing were the Bogata set that Raimundo made, available at Serepick.com. (Click on the custom tools link on their site to see tools he has made that are available for sale.)

A well sanded and polished pick glides in and out of the lock, smoothly lifting the pins. Picking is much easier with well polished picks.

The paste is a polishing compound, for a true mirror finish. Use it only after going through all the grits of sandpaper. 220, 320, 600 and 800 grits are what I personally use. To quote another person here (I think it is Raimundo, but I could be wrong), sand it with each grade of sand paper until you think you are done. Then double your sanding time.

The only exception to the above sanding time is the 220 grit, which is rough enough that it is still shaping the pick. Each subsequent grit is used to remove the scratches from the previous grit of sandpaper.

Good sanding makes for happy and more successful picking,

Much success to you,

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

By the way, I used to not sand my picks as much as I do now. Then I purchased the Bogota set from Raimundo. After seeing how nicely they glided in the locks, I got out my sandpaper and spent the next few days sanding my picks. My picking has improved since then.

Gordon