"Two Piece" Picks/Tools

[boxtool5]

I am wondering why I don't see more “2 piece” picks and tension wrenches. Or maybe I don’t see them because I don’t know enough or haven’t looked enough? I am guessing it may limit feedback and feel? Though, if well-made I'm not convinced that it would.
I have dozens of old pin vises, x-acto handles and other various broken handles/parts in my shop. The x-acto handle is literally designed to clamp thin, flat, interchangeable tips!
Maybe I’m just older and lazier now, but “one piece” picks, some with elaborate handles on each, the material removal involved, it almost seems wasteful to me. Unless it’s absolutely required or noticeably better, I’m not sure why it’s done that way. A few great "ergonomic" handles and countless (mostly unused) changeable tips just seems like the way to go for me.
I started this hobby with no knowledge or experience, homemade crappy picks (that barely ever worked and taught me almost nothing). Now that I have learned a bit, I have “some” experience, some success/confidence, purchased picks and the desire to keep learning, it’s time to get in the workshop and start making. Starting with ~3/16” or 1/4”x2” strips of material for “tips and necks” seems like an easier starting point than 5 or 6 inch lengths of wider stock and shaping the tips and necks from there.

[femurat]

There are a few examples of pick handle and interchangeable tips. If you fix them well, the feedback is not reduced much.
A solid pick usually transfer it better, but you can always go ahead and make something new and good!

Cheers

[blue60]

Here is one example that is being made commercially. https://www.southord.com/collections/lock-pick-sets/products/lock-pick-set-pocket-pen-nps-2000k just to give you a idea of what is out there.
I am using a pin vise to hold my American 1100 bypass tool after the handle separated.

[Kenneth_V]

I have a pick set with 5 handles and about 80 pick tips.

The feedback is not the same as a 1 piece pick.

Tried to use the tips in x-acto handles and could not get them to stay solidly in place without modifying every tip. They would move when bullying a lock or even moderate tension. Making your own tips may yield be a better result.

I used that set for a couple weeks and it’s been the drawer ever since. I ordered 1 piece picks after the frustration became too much. Plus it is easier to grab a different pick than change tips all the time. Maybe not all 2 piece picks are created equal though!!

[GWiens2001]

Have one set of two piece picks/handles. In some ways, it can be nice because the handles make it easier to hold the pics.

In another way, the picks are what I call “Flip Picks”. One end is a hook pic, but flip it end-over-end so the hook is in the handle, and the other end is a half diamond. Other inserts have a ball pick on one end and a snake pick on the other

It originally came with a Phillips screw to hold the pick in the handle, which kept the profile narrower, but made it necessary to have some kind of tool to make the swap, but I picked up a thumb-turn screw to make that easier.

They were extremely sharp on their stamped steel edges, which was harsh on the locks. A bit of time with sandpaper of various grits and they were fine.

The handle was folded metal. I think it was aluminum, but it may have been steel with heat shrink over part of it to make it more comfortable to use. Since the handle, picks and screw were all metal, there was decent feedback.

It also came with a mantis-style tubular lock tensioner with two sizes on opposite sides of the tensioner. That works really well for manually picking tubular locks. Have made one-sided copies of both sizes that resides in my EDC pick set.

Think I still have one of those sets (unpolished) lying around. If I find it, will post a pic.

Gordon