Just made my first lock picks!

[BSG_314159]

So after making my medecoder I really wanted to start making picks. I bought 50 street sweeper bristles and with a few tools I went at it.



**No electricity was used in the making of these picks!


After creating the tips I did not know what I was going to do with the handles. I was going to just make a twist in the handle and bend the last bit like a bogota pick but I wanted to try something different. Well looking back on the medecoder design I used I applied that to my picks (brass tubing).
(This is the medecoder I made)


I went down to hobby lobby and bought some 5/32 Brass tubing for $2.99. The bristles went right inside the tubing with a little bit of extra space. I didn't want to use any glue to hold them in because I was afraid I would loose some of the feel when picking. I cut off a 2 inch piece of bristle and bent it just a few degrees to fill in the space.

Here are my final product pictures:



You can See the 2 inch piece of bristle I used to fill in the gap. Holds it really snug.

Break down photo

[Squelchtone]

Hey nice job, BSG! I like the handle idea a lot, and the left over bent/tensioned bristle piece to keep everything inside the tube.

You'll have to let us know how they pick.

Squelchtone

[cheerIO]

Those look really good.

Another way to attach the handles:

You could flux the inside of the tube and the part of the pick to be inserted, heat the parts with a torch, and drop some solder on there. The flux will draw the solder right down the tube and you would have a super smooth, super solid connection. Polish it back up, and you're good to go.

[BSG_314159]

Those look really good.

Another way to attach the handles:

You could flux the inside of the tube and the part of the pick to be inserted, heat the parts with a torch, and drop some solder on there. The flux will draw the solder right down the tube and you would have a super smooth, super solid connection. Polish it back up, and you're good to go.

Thanks!!!

I have 49 more bristles to use. I will have to try that method on my next 2 picks. Good idea!
I was trying to avoid any heating at all with these picks.

[Comrade627]

Could try bending them at the handle then shoving em in the tube. Nice job man.

[Jburgett2nd]

Nice job those look as good as any I've seen!

[nick08037]

Brandon, very nice work there, question- the twist on the pick shaft was that for setting the handle or other reason? -Nick

[BSG_314159]

Brandon, very nice work there, question- the twist on the pick shaft was that for setting the handle or other reason? -Nick

Thanks Nick!

So i made that twist because I was going to use them like comrade627 does. Decided to go with brass tubing for the handles. My next set of picks will not include the twist. I did not like the way the bristle/pick would bend when picking at/past the twist when the pick became horizontal.

[BSG_314159]

First rake!!!

[BSG_314159]

[Comrade627]

Lookin good man. Get to work on thar diamond!

[smokingman]

Do you have a vise?
If so you could flatten the handles and secure the non twisted picks
into the handles by squeezing them in the vise, if you prefer flat handles.

[BSG_314159]

Do you have a vise?
If so you could flatten the handles and secure the non twisted picks
into the handles by squeezing them in the vise, if you prefer flat handles.

I actually prefer the cylinder shape handle a lot. Works well with the way I hold the picks.

Maybe I will play around with that design later to see how they turn out.

[BSG_314159]

Lookin good man. Get to work on thar diamond!

[Squelchtone]

, that came out shiny! Looks like really good geometry on that half diamond, and nice photos too!