breaking picks

[twisted]

im making picks out of a hacksaw blade with a dremel and a grinder and ive made hook picks and a sawtooth rake but i tried 3 times today to make a king pick and the rake end snapped off every time. i tied doing the end first then the handle, then vise versa and i quenched when i used the grinder and the rake ends arnt even that thin, any suggestions?

[master in training]

i've just got a dremel and made my first picks (a hook and 1/2 diamond) and amazingly i havent snapped any picks yet, i think the best advice is to let the speed do the work, dont press too hard on the tools, otherwise things break like the cutoff wheels and the picks.

remember not to go too thin or go from thick to thin in jumps, have a smooth curve on the change.

good luck!

~ Master in Training ~

[digital_blue]

If the metal is changing colour (or color for that matter) then you are allowing it to get too hot and thus, wrecking the temper. If this is not the case, and everything you say about the width of the picks is true, then the only conclusion I can draw is that your base material (those hacksaw blades) is not appropriate. I have found that the absolute cheapest of cheap dollar store blades are not very good. I prefer the second cheapest of cheap.

Hope this helps! Happy pickmaking!

db

[Shrub]

As db says it sounds like you are getting the tool too hot when making it, quench every couple of sec's and you should be fine, if still having problems and resorces or money is an issue, transform the lead of a pencil in to a pile of fine shavings then heat the pick until cherry red then hold it in the pencil lead shavings for as long as poss, then reheat until a dull red and then quench, polish the surface then heat until straw colour then quench, this should leave you with a lot harder pick, if the lead shavings dont stick to the material too well first time do it again before heating to dull red, you should see all the bits stuck to the side of the pick,

[skold]

When creating the king or queen pick, i have found that if you make the tip too thin, the cutting wheel will grab on the metal and bend it outwards, which will break it. If you want the picks tip to be thin, i would suggest you purchess some HSS hacksaw blades, which contain a high amount of carbon and other compounds such as cobalt and tungsten which give the blade extra flexibility.

[Shrub]

Bi-metal ones

[mr_edward_lee]

I want to make some picks too ask the ones in stores are way too overpriced. But the only problem is that I don't know what kind of metal too use? If anyone can tell me, it would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[MrB]

I want to make some picks too ask the ones in stores are way too overpriced. But the only problem is that I don't know what kind of metal too use? If anyone can tell me, it would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Look where my eyes are pointing. Read from the top.

[Chrispy]

mr_edward_lee,

Please read the posts contained within the topic before posting. The answer to your question was in the 2nd post before yours....

[twisted]

when i dremel a pick i have it in a vise because its much easier to control and more precise so how do you quench the pick when it in a vice?

[Chrispy]

Don't know about quenching in a vice, but when I put the finishing touches on with the dremel, I hold the dremel vertical and hold the pick like I would if I was picking a lock. Then alter the angle of my pick according to where I need to grind. If you catch my drift....

Then just quench like normal.... dunk it.

[MrB]

how do you quench the pick when it in a vice?

You could spray it with water using a squeezy bottle or something?

[tester293]

A wet rag works just fine......

[Shrub]

A wet rag is the best in that situation as said,

Doing it in a vice is the best way and the only safe way of making picks with a dremmel,

Its better for quenching as well as the massive amount of cast iron in a vice acts as a heat shunt and keeps the work cooler for longer.

[jitter]

I am pretty much a newb. I have had different pick sets. I have not ever made my own.

I keep breaking them. I just got a rubber handled HPC stainless steel rake and I broke it after about a week of raking.

Am I just using way to much force? Do picks break every once in a while?

I didn't think I was using that much pressure but I don't know if these just tend to break. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.