by raimundo » 18 Jan 2005 11:34
i make double sided wafer picks from sweeper bristle, start with a clean piece of bristle, about 6-7 inches long, bend it in half at the middle, but put some round mandrel at the bend, you don't want to make a sharp fold, keep at least a ballpoint pen in the bend as you make it. clamp the two ends together with a locking pliers at about mid way down the length, leaving the ends long enough for the pick you want to make, plus half an inch for a twist. clamp another locking plier on the two ends half an inch from the first plier, and slip the spring of a ballpoint clicker pen over the ends to keep them from splaying as you twist the metal between the two pliers 90 degrees.when you have this done, take off the spring and pliers, and let it spring apart, cut three half round cuts with a medium or large chain saw sharpening file on the outer parts of each end, do this so that these cuts are not directly opposed, but so that where one side presents a point, the opposite side has a valley. cut the angle for the tip, and cut back a little for the shaft, undercut the points to allow a wider distribution of the weakness at the bottom of the valley, thus allowing the metal to more easily bend and flex and not be forced to break due to unequal strength. Finish with sandpaper, round all the edges so that it moves easily in whatever keyway you put it in, remember while sanding and rounding, that this is the step that keeps your tool from getting stuck and broke off in a lock. Romstar may someday post a photo of a similiar pick that i recently sent him.
Wake up and smell the Kafka!!!
