Bike Spoke Piccies

[Fallen_Pin]

Allo there
As some of you may know, I've come into possesion of a whole swack of bike spokes, and am just looking at them wondering "Where do I go from 'ere?" I've looked around and tried searching, but all I ever seem to find is the numerous "Kryptonite U-lock" threads that've been sprouting like wild fire (Yes! We get it! It's simple, we dont care if you've found yet another link to that now memorized mpeg!!)
...yes, anyways, How do I go about forming or grinding pick's from the rods? Do I heat them with a blow torch and start smacking them? If so, what is the rythm I do this? How long should I heat before tempering? Do I temper?
Do you even flatten them, or just bend em into whatever shape you want?
*sigh* Nooby blues

[skold]

my first pic and torque tool was made with bike spokes i just filed them down and bent the tip of the spoke to make a hook and bent the other into a torque tool shape

[Fallen_Pin]

Hooks are lame though *laugh* Er, I mean, I want to make more than just the "extreme" basics... a.k.a. the hoook.

[Buggs41]

Try flattening them via a 'liberated' train. Set one on the tracks, when the train passes ( remember safety here ) pick it up, and see if you can work it into something.

[hung82000]

I wouldn't advise the train method. If you do, be sure you don't let the RR police see you. They don't take kindly to people placing things on the tracks.

[Fallen_Pin]

Not to sound ungratefull to these creative methods, but I'm pretty sure flattening them will be no problem. I'm wondering about tempering them, or flattening em with a hammer and blowtorch (hehe, I said blow)

[Mad Mick]

OK, I'm going to summarise from this thread so far.....

Do I heat them with a blow torch and start smacking them? If so, what is the rythm I do this?

Set one on the tracks, when the train passes

I wouldn't advise the train method.

Actually, I'd advise the "Trane" method. Just stick "Drops of Jupiter" in your CD player, and whack along to the beat....probably a 4/4...

Other than that, you could carefully flatten the spokes with a small hammer, then file the basic pick shape, finishing with wet 'n dry sandpaper. Once finished, heat the pick (not red) then quench in oil. This is rather basic, but will end up with a somewhat useable pick, providing a proper shape is produced.

[skold]

but nothing beats a hacksaw pick

[Romstar]

but nothing beats a hacksaw pick

Sure it does.

Try stainless feeler guage stock. Or spring steel stock.

Just got a new shipment of hardened and tempered stainless feeler guages.

1/2" X 12" X .025"

Want to have some real fun? Get some titanium stock. Hope you have good grinder and cut off wheels.

Romstar

[skold]

fine then, some things do, but i would still prefer a hacksaw pick to a bike spoke pick

[Romstar]

fine then, some things do, but i would still prefer a hacksaw pick to a bike spoke pick

Yep, yep!

Now THERE I can agree whole heartedly.

Spokes are good for tension wrenches, but not picks in my opinion.

Romstar

[skold]

they are really not that great for even tensionors.. they eventually widen the bottom of the key way and also get smaller as time goes on <--my own findings

[Fallen_Pin]

I have to admit, I'm rather fond of hacksaw picks ^-^ , Well, I'll try out the spokes and if they sux-orz, I'll.. um.. cry

[Chucklz]

Mick,

When hammering alot of metal, I prefer the Anvil Chorus from Nabucco. Just hammer along with the Gypsies.

[Mad Mick]

How about "Blue Monday" by New Order.....try hammering along to the snares on that one.