can I plezzzzz get some input I am a noob!

[yuna200]

i do not have the money to buy pick kit so i build my picks. i built some from coat hanger.
flattened it out anvil and hammer. cut them with a die grinder. is this a good idea?

[zeepia]

Those should work but you must sand (and polish) them good to get better feedback.
And you must also do your tension tools, I suggest you get some wiper inserts.

That´s not my type of money so I can´t say anything about the scale

[catsoup]

It is a good start. zeepia is right about sanding. The nicer they look, the better they will work.

The half-diamond looks good, the hook looks a little fat, as does the rake.
This is what the same style picks look like, but to factory spec.

[yuna200]

tank you for the help i will fix it

[Solomon]

I applaud your decision to make your own picks mate, I always love seeing the stuff different people make.

In saying that, you can get a set of picks for $5 (and that includes shipping, so it really is $5 all in) off dealextreme/bestofferbuy. I have a set and whereas the tension wrench leaves a lot to be desired the hooks themselves are actually surprisingly good. Just food for thought.

As for your picks so far... they look a little rough, but that's an easy fix. Just sand like crazy, shouldn't take long as the metal is very soft. In saying that, I've made wrenches from coathanger before and they hold up just fine. Dunno about picks to be honest, they'll probably do the job, but just be very careful not to be too rough with them cos the thinner the metal gets the more malleable it'll become. I wouldn't be surprised if they start to bend fairly quickly but hopefully they don't!

So yeah, all going well they'll work just fine, but I dunno about the feedback they'll provide as they are right now. As well as sanding them thinner and smoother you should also give them more defined tips to provide a bit more feel for individual pins. Not so much the one on the right obviously, cos that one looks more like a rake you're going for, but the other two. Doesn't have to be perfect, but at the moment they're a bit on the big/rough side so you might have trouble determining when you're on the tip of a pin. Well, I say that mainly for your hook on the left, the middle one is actually ok. If you ask me, the one on the left will provide very dull feedback and probably isn't the best kind of pick to start your learning curve with. It'll be ok for rocking/jiggling and rough manipulation though. The middle one will be better for feeling out individual pins but I'd still sand it and give it a teensy bit more definition.

Keep it up mate, and keep us updated!

[atticRR]

i absolutely agree with the above comments and will add something else to consider: some flexing side to side is ok, but if you press down on the tip (at a right angle to the length of the pick) you should have very little movement. If you find you have a lot of flex, or worse, they actually bend you are going to have a very hard time using the picks. definately keep your eyes open for wiper blade inserts (check auto part store trashcans, its rainy season and i found one completely full of old wipers) and street sweeper bristles and give those a shot. there are lots of tutorials here, just browse around and you will find more ways to make picks than you could ever imagine. keep up the work, its so gratifying to make a pick and have it open a lock.

[lockjock50]

Just an idea for the handles when you are finished.
The auto parts store used to have some kind of liquid rubber in a can. My dad used to dip some of his wrenches and mechanics tools in it for an easier to hold handle.

I have used shrink tubing from harbor freight tools. Just slid it on the handle and run a hair dryer over it and ut makes a nice easier to hold handle grip.