Thinning down wiper insert picks

[MBI]

Okay, so I have a question about making picks with wiper inserts. The only ones I can find that seem like a good width for making picks is .040 thick. Is there a better ,more consistent way to thin them down than sanding? I've made a bunch from the drain cleaner witch is .031 and does take some time to get down to .021 or .025 but it's not consistent throughout the pick. I'm just wondering if some of you vets have some experience with this problem.

[Jacob Morgan]

What tools / machines do you have to work with?

[MBI]

Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper over the pick, abrasive side towards the pick.
Place two neodymium magnets opposite each other against the pick so that their attraction to each other firmly holds the sandpaper in place on both sides of the pick shaft.
Hold the pick firmly in one hand, the magnets lightly in the other.
Slide the pick forward and backward between the magnets, making sure to slide the magnets fully up and down the length of the insert over the area you want thinned.
Don't stab your fingers with the pick tip.
Wet it frequently to flush away debris.
You'll probably have to periodically move the paper to a fresh area as the sandpaper abrasiveness wears down in the spot under the magnets.
The tension given by the magnets pulling against each other, pressing the sandpaper hard against both sides of the pick will thin that metal down in short order. Also since the area applying pressure is flat because of the magnet, it should thin it down rather evenly if you're using full strokes as you sand.

[Daltonj21]

What tools / machines do you have to work with?

I've personally just have small tools like grinder, electric sanders,drills and a dermal. No serious machinery.

[Daltonj21]

Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper over the pick, abrasive side towards the pick.
Place two neodymium magnets opposite each other against the pick so that their attraction to each other firmly holds the sandpaper in place on both sides of the pick shaft.
Hold the pick firmly in one hand, the magnets lightly in the other.
Slide the pick forward and backward between the magnets, making sure to slide the magnets fully up and down the length of the insert over the area you want thinned.
Don't stab your fingers with the pick tip.
Wet it frequently to flush away debris.
You'll probably have to periodically move the paper to a fresh area as the sandpaper abrasiveness wears down in the spot under the magnets.
The tension given by the magnets pulling against each other, pressing the sandpaper hard against both sides of the pick will thin that metal down in short order. Also since the area applying pressure is flat because of the magnet, it should thin it down rather evenly if you're using full strokes as you sand.

Thanks! That actually sounds like a pretty good idea, with the magnets. I've used a phone book for the most of the sanding but I think that has some to do with the inconsistencies.

[PowerHaus930]

Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper over the pick, abrasive side towards the pick.

What grit sandpaper would you recommend for thinning out picks?

[MBI]

What grit sandpaper would you recommend for thinning out picks?

It's been a long time and I'm not even sure I paid attention to what grit it was. I think I used the coarsest wet sandpaper grit I had. Might have been 220 grit, if not that coarse, might have been 400 or 500. Try it and see what works best for you.

[smokingman]

I use 300 grit wet/dry dark grey stuff, works but not too fast.
The wiper inserts I use start at .025 1000's (0.64 mm) they are plenty wide enough and do not take so much thinning.

[Daltonj21]

I use 300 grit wet/dry dark grey stuff, works but not too fast.
The wiper inserts I use start at .025 1000's (0.64 mm) they are plenty wide enough and do not take so much thinning.

Do you happen to know the brand and or details? I haven't found anything that thin

[smokingman]

I don't know if that thickness is brand related, I fish mine out of the refuse cans outside
the auto parts stores, so they are not in their original packaging.
I find about four different widths/thicknesses in all.
Some are good for tension tools , others for picks.

[kwoswalt99-]

The wiper inserts I use start at .025 1000's

Half a micron seems a little thin for picks.

[smokingman]

The wiper inserts I use start at .025 1000's

Half a micron seems a little thin for picks.

Hmmmm, That must have been the one I used on the worlds smallest lock.
.025 is the one I usually use.
Guess I messed up when editing.

[GWiens2001]

In most cases, I find that OEM (Original Equipment of Manufacture) wiper blades work best. That is not a brand of wiper blades. It just means the blades from the factory.

With after market wiper blades, it is much less chance of finding decent steel. Some are decent, though I have not kept track based on brands.

Gordon

[johnb007]

Fold a piece of wet/dry sandpaper over the pick, abrasive side towards the pick.
Place two neodymium magnets opposite each other against the pick so that their attraction to each other firmly holds the sandpaper in place on both sides of the pick shaft.
Hold the pick firmly in one hand, the magnets lightly in the other.
Slide the pick forward and backward between the magnets, making sure to slide the magnets fully up and down the length of the insert over the area you want thinned.
Don't stab your fingers with the pick tip.
Wet it frequently to flush away debris.
You'll probably have to periodically move the paper to a fresh area as the sandpaper abrasiveness wears down in the spot under the magnets.
The tension given by the magnets pulling against each other, pressing the sandpaper hard against both sides of the pick will thin that metal down in short order. Also since the area applying pressure is flat because of the magnet, it should thin it down rather evenly if you're using full strokes as you sand.

Neodymium magnets! OMG, so simple. I have at least 10 of those magnets, right here beside my desk. Why did I not think of doing this?

[Ian_425]

Honestly I usually find it to be easy to just start with a thinner material. I am frequently able to find wiper inserts between .020 and .030, the ones I find most frequently and .025.