Prototype Homebrew Picks

[SublimeSP]

Hey guys, I wanted to show off a few new prototype picks that I have been working on. These are my very first attempts at making lock picks. They still need a good amount of work so don't be too critical, but I wanted to get your opinions on them. They are made from actual High Yield 301 Stainless (270,000psi yield strength) so they are as strong as anything that you can get. Right now I am just experimenting with the designs, but I'm thinking about selling them when they are perfected. Let me know what you think and if you would be interested in buying something like this! I have lots of great ideas so get ready to see some cool stuff.

P.S. Sorry for the picture quality. I'm new to this forum thing. Anyone know how to make it stop cropping the right side of my pictures?

Thanks,
Sublime

Bogota with Polymer Handle


DeForest with Carbon Fiber Handle


DeForest with Carbon Fiber Handle - Style 2


Raw Picks Before Finishing


Prybar

I always thought that everyone makes prybars about an inch too short so I made this one the perfect length and put serrations on both sides of the tip instead of just one.

Prybar Closeup

Couldn't get the serrations in too deep with my current methods, but I have ideas about how to get them in better.



SublimeSP

[Jacob Morgan]

They look nice. How did you make the handles?

[Silverado]

The shape of the handle looks really interesting. The scales (grips?) are really cool. I like it! Interesting take on the TOK tension wrenches, I like that they're serrated on both sites.

[femurat]

Indeed, they look very cool. Why the unusual handle shape? Is that your original design?

Cheers

[Squelchtone]

Finally some innovation in the design of lock picks. Same old popsicle stick handles get tired after a while. are you laser/water jet cutting or grinding and filing? I'm interested in the process.

Anyone know how to make it stop cropping the right side of my pictures?

It will do that on screens that have a 4:3 radio and a 1024x768 resolution, but if you have a 16:9 screen running 1080p (1920x1080) it has enough pixels across to not cut off.

the [image] command resizes as best as possible, but if your cell phone photos are 5000x5000 or something big like that (one of your images is 3264 × 612 pixels), it does the best it can to scale things down. resizing on your computer using Paint.NET or Photoshop or resizing to something like 1024x768 using the Edit feature in Imgur.com is a good way to make pics smaller before showing them here and having the [image] command or smaller monitors cut off the right sides.

They showed without cutting off on my monitor. and you can click them to see the full pic.

hope this helps
Squelchtone

[G-lock]

I like them & i would be willing to buy a set if there not to much cheddar. But i do have some questions, How many picks come in a set? Which picks are they? Whats the thicknesses of them? And what do you plan to charge for a set? Sorry if i am asking to early. I know you mentioned that you were just starting to make them.

[Jacob Morgan]

Finally some innovation in the design of lock picks. Same old popsicle stick handles get tired after a while...
Squelchtone

Exactly. Took apart an old warded door lock a while back, and a flat spring inside was precisely the width and thickness of a standard lock pick. When locksmiths started making pin tumbler lock picks pre WWII they ground them out of warded lock spring stock--material they all had. No one designed the shape of pick handles on purpose, they just happened that way because of the steel they had on hand. And now decades later almost everyone still does it that way.

[GWiens2001]

They do look great! Might get some myself if they are not too pricey for me.

One thing I noticed - on the tension wrench, it looks like you put serrations not just on the two sides that engage the keyway (as I do), but it looks like you have serrations on the part that might sit against the face of the lock. That might not be so good, since it would scratch up brass plugs. Just my opinion.

As Squelchtone asked - what are your shaping methods and tools?

Keep it up, and when you have worked out pricing, be sure to post it here once you have been here long enough to comply with our BST requirements.

[Silverado]

Hope to see pricing and a list of what comes in a set soon. I'm likely to purchase as long as they aren't overpriced.

[SublimeSP]

Thanks for the kind words guys, I really really appreciate it. Great way to start the day. Now, to answer some questions.

Indeed, they look very cool. Why the unusual handle shape? Is that your original design?

Cheers

Yes, it is my original design. I've been working on it and my other ideas for awhile now. I chose this design because it is both functional and sexy. Most people will find it extremely comfortable and maneuverable. It was originally supposed to be a profile of a bird in flight with the front tip of the handle being the beak and the back end being the tip of the wings.

Finally some innovation in the design of lock picks. Same old popsicle stick handles get tired after a while. are you laser/water jet cutting or grinding and filing? I'm interested in the process.

It's a mixture of things. Even though it's expensive, I chose to have blanks waterjetted out so the material didn't develop a HAZ (heat affected zone) and ruin the heat treat like it would if I were to have had them laser cut. Waterjetting comes with its own set of problems though such as a visible bevel to the cut where one side is literally larger than the other. There are ways around it, but it took things out of budget so I decided to just put in some extra manual work to fix it. After flattening the bevel of the handle area and polishing and rounding the edges of the tip, I approach it exactly how one would go about making a custom knife by attaching handle pieces that are a bit larger than the actual pick, grinding everything to the same size, and then shaping the handle pieces.

I like them & i would be willing to buy a set if there not to much cheddar. But i do have some questions, How many picks come in a set? Which picks are they? Whats the thicknesses of them? And what do you plan to charge for a set? Sorry if i am asking to early. I know you mentioned that you were just starting to make them.

So far, everything is .025" thick or a little less due to sanding and polishing. As of now I have the Bogota, the DeForest, something similar to a Peterson Gem, and two picks designed specifically for picking Medeco locks (one of them is the middle pick in the image that shows the picks in their raw form). I wanted to start off small and just make a few picks that I actually use. Soon I will have a very unique special version of the Bogota, and my own version of the Falle-Safe Deep Curve lock picks as well. I don't know if I will be selling them by the set or just individually, it's just too early to say.

One thing I noticed - on the tension wrench, it looks likey do look great! Might get some myself if they are not too pricey for me. e you put serrations not just on the two sides that engage the keyway (as I do), but it looks like you have serrations on the part that might sit against the face of the lock. That might not be so good, since it would scratch up brass plugs. Just my opinion.

You are absolutely right. I decided to do it just to see how it would turn out, but those serrations won't be in the final designs.

Thanks again guys!

SublimeSP

[indigoalpha6]

those look very nice! look pretty ergonomic too. cf should give a good amount of feedback through the pick.

[OrMeanGene]

Finally some innovation in the design of lock picks. Same old popsicle stick handles get tired after a while. are you laser/water jet cutting or grinding and filing? I'm interested in the process.

Squelchtone

Wow great idea man. I didn't even think about using popsicle sticks. Then you get old man jokes on the handles..

[Ralph_Goodman]

those look very nice! look pretty ergonomic too. cf should give a good amount of feedback through the pick.

That is what I was thinking. They just look comfortable.

Nice job with the sanding too! The picks are some of the sleekest I have ever seen.

Really like the profiles of the tips too. I hope that slimness is not compromising the life of these picks because I would not want to break these things. It would be like taking a hammer to a work of art.

[SublimeSP]

those look very nice! look pretty ergonomic too. cf should give a good amount of feedback through the pick.

The extra rigid carbon fiber I used is probably the best possible material out there for carrying feedback due to its extremely lightweight and exceptional stiffness. I don't know of any custom or production pick made that is better in this aspect. Most production picks use polymers that absorb a good amount of feedback. Peterson uses a pretty decent polymer, but carbon fiber is still far better. Most custom picks use either metals or woods. Metals are just too heavy to carry feedback well, but certain woods actually do a decent job due to their weight and stiffness.

those look very nice! look pretty ergonomic too. cf should give a good amount of feedback through the pick.

That is what I was thinking. They just look comfortable.

Nice job with the sanding too! The picks are some of the sleekest I have ever seen.

Really like the profiles of the tips too. I hope that slimness is not compromising the life of these picks because I would not want to break these things. It would be like taking a hammer to a work of art.

Thanks man I really appreciate it. They really are very comfortable in addition to looking cool. If you think about the way most people hold their picks, the ridges of the design correspond exactly to where each of your fingers go.

I didn't sand these down too well yet, but thanks for the response. The custom ones I end up selling will be polished to a brilliant mirror finish with perfectly rounded edges. Even the ones I make for my production line will have a great finish to them.



BTW guys, the prybar pictured is .050" thick, but I am going to be making other thicknesses. I want to make specific thickness that correspond and fit perfectly into commonly used locks. Anyone have any ideas for thicknesses that might be a good idea?

SublimeSP

[TORCH [of KCK]]

Hey, I personally made my two top of the keyway pry bar sets in 0.005" increments, ranging from
0.030 -> 0.060.
The second set is 1/2 the hight, for the curved warding. (Just works better for me)

As for your picks, EXCELLENT JOB !

If you are able to start a production,
w/o cost restrictions, kudos to you ! !
(Otherwise, might want to consider offering choice of finished or unfinished at a discount...
just a way to get started)