Trouble making L rakes? heres a tip.

[Scowt]

So I was looking online and never really saw any videos or anything on dimensions of how to make your own L rake. So I figure I'd at least give some insight as I'm new to this hobby and figure those starting out are finding out that picks aren't cheap for what they are made of and how cheaply they're probably manufactured.

Onward, I've been making my own picks since I like working with my hands and I also am one of those types that trust himself to do it right rather than someone else. So looking at an L rake it seems to be the most difficult pick of a beginners set to make DIY style.

First you want to start off by making a pick blank. I'm sure there are plenty how tos on the forum of making a pick blank or other picks so I'll let you figure out your dimensions that you'd prefer for your pick up until the the end of it which will be the actual tool end I'd say.

So as usual leave yourself a bit of a block on the end to shape your pick out of.
Then take out one of your keys and vice grip in on to it. Try to find one that's a little diverse in it bitting. You will only need what above the top groove of the key so align it accordingly.

Then take out your dremel with a cutting wheel or small grind stone and copy your key. You can change if you want as you go or add a couple more heights for more pins. Any ways here's mine.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=euou2f&s=5

So hope it helps other newbies let me know. And also if you have any questions on the process please ask.

[fgarci03]

Looks very good!

I've never done these kind of picks, so I may be saying a lot of BS, but if you can make them easily, you could make a few of them with different bittings like Hi-Lo configurations, 1st pin long and rest short, 2nd pin long and 1t and rest short. The usuall bittings.

I'm sure you know it, but the L rake can be used kinda like a tryout key, not just like a rake. You insert it in the lock and place it at multiple angles to simulate a real key bitting. If you have 4 or 5 rakes like that, with the most usual bittings, you are well served.


Maybe you could round the tips a little bit, will make it easier to insert and remove the rake from the lock, and descrease the possibility of breaking them. Like a real L rake!


Anyway, nice guide to making those, never thought about using a key as a template!

[GWiens2001]

Not bad, scowt. That is a good idea for coming up with city rake (L-rake, or whatever else you may want to call it).

You probably already have done so, but polishing out all those rough spots on the pick will help it work more smoothly and be kinder to the locks.

People can also make a photocopy of a key and glue it to their 'pick blank'. That way they do not risk making one of their keys not work.

Gordon

fgarci03, your fingers are getting faster! You beat me to the punch.

[fgarci03]

You probably already have done so, but polishing out all those rough spots on the pick will help it work more smoothly and be kinder to the locks.

People can also make a photocopy of a key and glue it to their 'pick blank'. That way they do not risk making one of their keys not work.

+1

fgarci03, your fingers are getting faster! You beat me to the punch.

Well, I can't be bad at everything!

[Scowt]

Appreciate the imput guys. And yea of. Course make the many different types of rakes just move you key back and forth on you pick blank to get the bitting you want. So say your key has low high low and you want low high high. Copy the first 2 then just move your key back to the next cut and then copy that again. Some improvisation also help too at some guessing on bitting.

[Scowt]

And I left the little points between each cut so I get kind of a bumping effect when running it in the key way.

[fgarci03]

And I left the little points between each cut so I get kind of a bumping effect when running it in the key way.

Well, I might be wrong, but my experience tells me it won't do much, as for a real bumping effect it would have to have an impact to make the pins jump.
In time, those spikes will hurt the locks and on tight keyways you may have trouble inserting and removing the pick from it.

But it's something you will have to try for yourself. You could copy that rake and soften the spikes and try both multiple times on a number of locks and measure the results. Like time taken for each lock, which ones they worked and not, etc..
That would be interesting to see!

Just don't forget to sand the whole thing very well... it's amazing how polished picks differ from non-polished ones!

[Scowt]

Good point. That'd be very interesting to test out. I'll do it this weekend as I'm working 60 hour work weeks unless someone else wants to give it a shot. Idk a bogata has those points, all be it not as many, and it works great.

[Scowt]

And the other thing is that it is sanded down with 600 grit but my camera was shaky.

[Solomon]

I've found using a small round diamond burr to be very effective. This is the most recent one I made as part of a set. Which subsequently got lost. Hopefully it turns up the next time I tidy up.