Using Bicycle spokes

[Timmy321]

Ok when using Bicycle spokes which are they best for tension wrenchs or the picks themselves? what to make out of them??

[Hawk2064]

If you flatten them they are good for tension tools, but hacksaw blades are by far the best thing to make picks out of......and you can even make tension tools out of them.

[Eyes_Only]

i never could flatten them out enough to use as a pick so i only use them as tension wrench material. Thick enough to get a firm grip in the key way, very useful.

[Timmy321]

yeah that's what I was thinking! thanks for the reply. What do I do flatten it out on one side? then what? Do I need to heat it or temper it? Also you don't have to be 21 or something stupid to buy hacksaw blades do you?

[Timmy321]

I was thinking that you could use a spoke for a snake just bend it...why couldn't you do that and would it work? Also I heard once that if you bend a peice of metal that if you do it slowly enough that it will make it weaker and if you do it faster it's better for the strength of the metal (is this true?) should you heat the metal if bending what's the best way to go about that. Who knows maybe I should make it out of a hacksaw blade (the snake)

[Eyes_Only]

There is a flat metal surface behind the jaws of one of those medium to large sized bench vise that you can place the spoke on to flatten it. I use a regular hammer to strike the spokes with while its on that part of the vise. Im not sure about how to temper metal, I hear you need to be experienced and skilled to do it right, cos if you dont do it correctly you can actually make things worse.

[Timmy321]

right, so the only thing that spokes are good for is tension wrenchs right? not good for picks?

[Chucklz]

Generally to temper metal, you heat it to a particular color, then quench it in oil or water. (Be on the safe side and choose water over oil... fires aren't fun) Most of what I have read on tempering the kinds of steel we would be interested in seems to use "Cherry red" as the color to heat to. When I am home next, I will check some metalworking texts.

About making metal stronger, working some metals does indeed strengthen them. An oft told tale of engineers is one of being given a piece of aluminum and told to strengthen it (The answer was to beat it against things). Another very interesting material is the hardplate used to protect safes. Apparently, improper drilling technique will work harden the plate, making it harder to drill. To bad Im a biologist, not a materials guy, or I would have more information for you.

[Timmy321]

What about Bicycle spokes? What about hacksaw blades how 2 temper them?

Also bicycle spokes only make good tension wrenchs right? There not good for picks? Why wouldn't you use one for a snake? Or do I have to make the snake out of a hacksaw blade...?

[Eyes_Only]

In my opinion bicycle spokes are too thick to make picks out of, even if you hammer them a bunch of times to try to get them as flat as you can. Hacksaw blades are better for making picks i think, I never tried though, Ive only used rake tines for picks

[Pheniox]

the pyro video is posted, that shows how to make lockpicks out of hacksaw blades.

[Timmy321]

goodie, I'll get that tonight!

[David_Parker]

Wouldn't oxidizing the aluminum make it stronger?

I thought hardplates on safes had material like cobalt, taking heat away from the drill bit. Thus losing friction, so the bit can't chew through.

...however, I did only read that in a book.


-Dave.

[Greg]

Wasn't that berrylium.. or something that sounds the same... b<something>
Maybe they both do...

[Chucklz]

Aluminum is very reactive. Exposed aluminum forms an oxide coating very rapidly. This coating is protective, that is it doesnt chip off like rust. If you own anything thats anodized, you know what I mean. The aluminum oxide protects against stractches etc, but does not increase say the tensile strength of the aluminum.