My new test samples

[alias]

Hi Romstar,

They look great. Good quality, really nice work.

As an idea, why not permit customisation of the engraving? It's not as if the branding is going to attract sales but giving the option of having your name, or company name or whatever engraved on the picks just might do. It's certainly an area in which you can easily and cheaply differentiate your product from the rest of the mass produced competition and as Whitehat says, you need to have something which distinguishes you from the crowd.

Oh yeah, and the King and Queen would be nice. I'd definitely kick down for a custom set of 'alias' branded King and Queen picks

[pick_maker]

YES!!

Well done. I was thinking about the rivets. How bout edge/flipside shots? Can't wait to see more handle styles.

[32768]

Romstar,

I'd be interested in hearing the details of how those are made, if you're willing to share. I'm just curious about what kind of tools and machining processes go into that level of work.
Oh, and I'm so there when you're ready to sell a set of the picks milled from bar stock.

thanks!

[Murph]

Romstar, you really do class A quality work!

[locksmistress]

I can't tell from the picture - how smooth is the finish? Is it really done up or is it more matte like the HPC.

The one set of picks that I've picked up and put in a lock and just been beside myself thrilled with how they felt was from Raimundo - he polishes them so much they look like they've been dipped in glass.

And then he gives you instructions on how to fix them again once you've messed them up by sticking them in locks and scratching the finish.

There isn't any lacquer or anything involved - just a little oil, but holy moly! Total feedback and no resistance. The first time I used one I spent about 15 minutes not even trying to pick the lock - I was just so happy to be in there poking around.

But as far as professional, quality, totally commercially desirable stuff - I think you've got it going on.

It's like all the other picks I used were Bic lighters in a brass cave full of spring loaded stalactites and these were like the really big Mag Flashlight - the one that takes something like 8 D-cel batteries - and it makes everything shiny and clear... You can feel everything!

Um... So. If you were to do something like that it would be cool. That and making ergonmic handles that don't deaden all your feedback. I use rubber covers on mine - it deadens the feedback but saves my poor fingers (I'm not a really good pick - for sure not a fast one).

[Romstar]

Thanks for the great comments everyone. Other shots of the edges, and back sides of these picks are coming as soon as I can get some time, and get my scanner to cooperate. It took hours to get a decent scan that showed what I wanted.

That's why the picture is in B&W as opposed to colour. As soon as I get a digital camera, I will take some pictures that will show some better detail on the finish of the handles. By that time there should be a lot of other picks to show as well.

There is a difference in these picks from the HPC, and that was in the polishing. These samples are an intermediate stage between my satin finish and my mirror finish. Oddly enough, the satin finish hold up much better when in use, but the mirror polish is really flash stuff.

The finish on the pick blades themselves is normally finished to a glas like finish. They are either left as natural (such as stainless blades) or they are blued and finish polished) These samples are common blued spring steel, and stainless handles.

There are five parts to the pick. The main pick blade, the two handle parts and the two rivets.

The main pick blade and handles are hand ground, filed, stoned and polished. I'd really like to build a new tumble polisher, but I haven't gotten around to that yet. Right now I am back to hand drilling the holes in the pieces, because I no longer have a drill press. Makes for some interesting fun sometimes. Skating drill bits can be entertaining. (makes some interesting patterns).

Rivets are then inserted, hammered into place using a hand set, and then finish polishing is done if required. The sampoles here are engraved, but I am soon ordering a stamp for them. I am trying to design something a little more unique at this point.

Thanks again,
Romstar

[Jow]

have you looked into laser cutting at least your handles? you could get 1000 cut and save 1000s of hours grinding... perhaps this will become more viable as the orders start flowing...

[skold]

i was looking for someone in australia that does laser cutting cheap, so far i have found nothing, i wouldn't mind getting some made though

[Jow]

if its small jobs and you get friendly with the operator they can sometimes add it to larger jobs being cut from the same material..... the problem being not much is cut from the materials picks are cut from...

[Romstar]

have you looked into laser cutting at least your handles? you could get 1000 cut and save 1000s of hours grinding... perhaps this will become more viable as the orders start flowing...

Hell man,
I would take stamped rectangular blanks in a few widths and thicknesses. About 3.5" long. I can do the rest of the finish work after that.
The stainless and spring stock I use for the picks comes in the proper widths, or very close. I can simply zip off a piece and make a pick from there.

Stainless for the handles normally comes in sheet form. Cutting that into strips is time consuming.
Titanium almost always comes in sheets. That stuff is a bloody pain in the rear to even cut into pick blanks. Not to mention the shaping process on titanium.

Right now, getting anything laser cut, or even stamped is not possible. I simply can't afford the outlay to get it set up. So, I get as close as I can, and work from there.

Romstar

[Varjeal]

I'd have to say major kudos to anyone that can accurately duplicate with hand tools the same items that a mass manufacturer produces by the thousands. Why?

Quite simply because that's a major hurdle to being able to understand the process to build a true quality, custom product.

Romstar has obviously shown he has the talent to produce a superior tool. I need to get my hands on some of these SOON!

[Luke]

I looked at getting a die/s made so i could have handles stamped, but i dont have $500-600 to get it done. I dont know if that place was expensive, or just the standard but i cant justify spending ANY money on things like that. Especially when the courier screws up a delivery (WHAT DELIVERY I WANT MY STUFF) that had 200 bucks worth of stuff in it.
Nice picks romstar, i wasnt suprised, your quality is next to none.
Got to catch a train in 5 mins so ill be rrruuunnning.

Cheers,
Luke

[Fallen_Pin]

Mmf! My my, those are some handsome picks Romstar, I love seeing your picks whenever you crank em out, it's always nifty to see a master at work. I'm rather fond of that last one, think it's called the ripple rake? In any case, I made one too from a hacksaw blade, your have more dynamic and nifty looking curves

[Hollywood]

Those are some Very AWESOME Picks you've made there.

May I ask were did you acquire your Stock (Stainless) from?

[Romstar]

Those are some Very AWESOME Picks you've made there.

May I ask were did you acquire your Stock (Stainless) from?

In most cases, stainless stock can be aquired from any shop that caters to industry and automotive. The most common form is 12" long x 1/2" in whatever thickness. Either 6 or 12 in a box.

They are common feeler guage stock.

I am now getting 25 foor long reels of this stuff in various thicknesses. .015, .020 and .025 If I don't like the .015 I am going to go up a few thou and see where that gets me.

Stainless sheet is available at most places that sell sheet metal. You just have to special order it, as most sheet metal places don't commonly carry stainless.


Romstar