When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.
Just curious if someone else is using sharpening stones for their pick making process? I find them useful for the flatness, but still got to use sand paper for curves.
I use small files to shape, and finish with diamond coat knife sharpening steel rods with for the curves, the kind for sharpening serrated blades. They leave a fine finish that doesn't need sanding.
What is the best way to educate the masses? ... " A television in every home." What is the best way to control the masses? ... " A television in every room." From "Charlie" AKA " Flowers for Algernon"
Personally, I use a Kalamazoo 1 X 42" belt sander. A coarse belt for shaping, and a finer one for finishing up. Then I use a Cratex point in a Foredom tool (like a Dremel tool) for polishing. To each his own, but polishing by hand is too time consuming.
Tried a Japanese water stone years ago for knife sharpening. The stone seemed soft, I was afraid I would leave a concave surface on the stone. I went back to Arkansas stones. Maybe I did not understand how to use the the water stone.