Trying my hand at pick making

[Thrasher529]

Finally got my dremel in the mail ( long eBay story) so I figured I'd attempt to make some picks. Let me know what you guys think, any tips or pointers would be great. I'm pretty happy with the first two not sure how I feel about the third though. Haven't finished sanding/polishing them up and haven't quite decided on a handle yet lol so they are still a work in progress but here they are so far.

[GWiens2001]

Nice start with pick making! Keep it up.

I recommend you make the shank of your half diamond longer, unless you are planning on picking 2 pin locks. Put it next to a normal key, and you will see how long it should be. As it currently is, the shank of the pick will be lifting pins at the same time as the diamond.

A bit of polishing, and time for practice!

Gordon

[Thrasher529]

Yeah I planned on fine tuning a bit and making the shank longer. I need to decide on a handle before I can really use them, I did however slide them in and out of locks to make sure everything was smooth without getting snagged on any pins. They are broom bristles so a little uncomfortable to hold without a handle but definitely will be polishing some more while I decide on a handle.

[Dogrocket]

That's some really nice work.

Once thing you might want to try for a temporary handle surface is surgical tubing (Couple of bucks per foot, 3/32 fits the wiper blades I've been scrounging - I'm betting it'll fit bristles too). It's a lot easier on the hands then unfinished, but can be peeled right off when your ready for a better material (I'm still working on that part).

[fgarci03]

Nice work!

I agree with Gordon, but they look very nice man! COngrats on your first picks!

[GWiens2001]

While the surgical tubing would feel comfortable, think it would greatly reduce feedback. Got one pick from IndigoChild that he made, putting some wire alongside the wiper insert, then he used heat shrink tubing to cover the handle. It fit the handle snugly, was comfortable, and did not reduce feedback. if I wanted to remove it, a quick slit with a knife would do the trick, too.

In the picture below, it is the bottom one with the black handle.



Gordon

[Thrasher529]

Good idea, not sure that size will fit though since the broom bristles are a bit different in size. I've also noticed there seem to be two different sizes for wiper blades lol. But since I have hundreds of broom bristles ill be practicing on them. It's not my first set of picks but it's the first set I made myself lol I used some heat shrink on the commercial picks so I may try that on these. I'm a bit of a perfectionist lol so I keep finding flaws in them (that aren't really flaws but I'm a bit too meticulous sometimes lol)
Top is a wiper blade (had two of these in 1 wiper blade)
Middle is a broom bristle
Bottom is a different wiper blade
The larger wiper blade is the widest the broom bristle isn't as wide and the other wiper blade is even smaller but only by a little.



I appreciate the compliments and suggestion guys

[Dogrocket]

I haven't noticed any feedback issues, but I'm still new enough that my technique is largely luck rather then finesse. I do tend to hold the pick by the metal shank which may help a little.

Gordon that's a nice handle, I'll have to try that approach on my next set- what type of pick is that?

[GWiens2001]

It is an experimental design by IndigoChild for cars with wafer locks. I have used it successfully with Honda locks with sidewinder keys.

Gordon

[funkalicious]

That's some really nice work.

Once thing you might want to try for a temporary handle surface is surgical tubing (Couple of bucks per foot, 3/32 fits the wiper blades I've been scrounging - I'm betting it'll fit bristles too). It's a lot easier on the hands then unfinished, but can be peeled right off when your ready for a better material (I'm still working on that part).

That's what I've been using lately. It was a complete "what do I have around the house to do this with" kinda job but it has worked very well for me.

I use a #2 pencil, a few inches of surgical tubing, some krazy glue and some aerosol hairspray. I use these items in particular because I had them around the house when I wanted to make handles not because I thought they were the "best" way to do it

I take the pencil and carefully split it in half and remove the graphite. Take the 2 pencil halves and krazy glue them to the pick handle. After the glue sets I spray the living hell out of the inside of the surgical tubing with the hairspray and slide the pencilled pick into to it. The hairspray is essentially a lubricating adhesive, it allows you to easily slide the pick into the tubing but in about a half hour when the hairspray is dry it is solidly fixed to the pick.

I have no feedback issues and I can pick for hours on end without the hand discomfort I get from using skinny handled (or no handled) picks.

[Thrasher529]

Browsing the forums I came across legions handles and was intrigued and had some fimo on hand so gave it a shot, I think it came out ok, haven't baked it yet because I might work more on the design.
I guess I'll see how it feels after I bake it lol.

[Thrasher529]

Hmm no edit button lol, I didn't make a mold and had no previous handle to copy so I made it by hand lol

[GWiens2001]

That is an automotive pick made by another forum member, IndigoChild. I use it with sidewinder keys.

Gordon

[Squelchtone]

Hmm no edit button lol,

I'm working on the Edit button, its borked right now, I think it works in some of the sub forums but not others. Global PhPBB permissions arent trickling down, have to set it at each sub forum level manually. stay tuned.

Squelchtone