What do i need to make picks?

[r0n]

I am new to this but i want to learn and i was wondering if you need to buy a grinder/dremal for making picks out of hacksaw blades because i dont have either could i use a very corse file?

[Minion]

You could, but the amount of time invested will be very great, and you'll need more fine files and even more fine sandpaper to polish/finish your picks.

[zeke79]

r0n,

Welcom to the forums. Yes you could use a course file, however it will take you awhile to remove the material from a hacksaw blade. I suggest using the support strap material found in windshield wipers(stainless steel) or street sweeper bristles which can be found by following a street sweeper and paying attention where they turn corner and brush up against the curbs, parking lots, etc. Using these materials will allow you to make your picks faster because you will not have to remove as much material with your file to make a working pick.

Any more info you need can be found by using the search button located on the top of the page.

[vector40]

Sure. Some of the best picks here were made by hand-filing.

[SFGOON]

Dremmels aren't that expensive, you may wnat to fork over the 20$ for a cordless, or Ebay might be helpfull. It's very time consuming, and there's always blisters to consider...

[zeke79]

Cordless = bad. Atleast I always have badluck with battery life anyways

[SFGOON]

True, true, but cordless also = cheap

[Minion]

Go to a pawn shop (a reselling shop... I don't know what they call them in other countries)

[Peter Martin]

You should hand-make your picks, rather than buy them. You will learn a great deal more about your own tools, and subsequently be more careful in their use. You can also create a better variety than you can purchase--especially thinner or shorter picks for pin-tumbler padlocks. In one instance I had to pick a tiny 3-pin (if I remember correctly) keyway in the back of a master combination padlock. The picks had to be very tiny to work and 20 years ago no manufacturer made anything this small. They had to be hand-made.

In addition to a small vise (to hold your work), I would get a cheapo bench grinder as a first tool--just to remove a lot of excess material. It's better than even a Dremel in most cases. The Dremel is a excellent addition for finer shaping and polishing. With rubberized polsihing wheels they remove the need for emory cloth sanding . A small file and a chainsaw file are required for hand-shaping the heads. A large coarse file is rare used. Because you are filing thinner stock, I would get a "smooth" file--or a #2 file. You'll be surprised how much stock they can remove. A coarse file will not cut thinner stock as well as you think.

Street-sweeper bristles are excellent for tension tools--the correct width and thickness. They just require cleaning off rust and polishing before bending. I don't really like them for picks--although I made one nice double-ended pick from a salvaged piece. I haven't used any windshield wiper blade material yet, but I presume it would work just as well.

Personally, my picks are made from old steak knives--stainless steel from Japan (not Taiwan/China). They are sturdy, stronger, less prone to breakage--especially when making smaller size picks for padlocks. Just grind slowly and dunk into water often to keep them from discoloring.

[Peter Martin]

...and my Dremel too also came from a pawn shop at a price of $2.

Go to pawn shops--go there often.

[Minion]

Just grind slowly and dunk into water often to keep them from discoloring

It's not generally used to prevent discoloring, it's to keep the temper the same with the knife (don't want a knife angry... no sir.)

But seriously, it's so the knife doesn't become brittle.

[Chucklz]

The discoloration is a symptom of the loss of temper.

[ghostdog]

I use a dremel with a cut-off wheel to make mine. For the picks, the best material I have found is a 1/8" wide spring steel drain snake. I made a bunch of picks, and still have enough of the snake left to use for it's intended purpose.

[sivlogkart]

To make quick picks by hand I use bicycle spokes as they can be cut with easily and shaped, but as they are a bit too thick then need to be thined with a file, and touched up to make the shape sharper. Some of my best picks are of this kind.

For the handle I bend a long look in the spoke and in some cases mold a low melting point plastic (melts at 60C) around it, but do not make the plastic handle too big, as it makes picking harder and increases the tempation to use too much force.

KJ

[sivlogkart]

Grinders are cheap and I would get one, but it is also nice to know how to make picks in the field with light tools for locks that do not open with your standard packet set.

I am new to this but i want to learn and i was wondering if you need to buy a grinder/dremal for making picks out of hacksaw blades because i dont have either could i use a very corse file?