viewtopic.php?t=6420&highlight=
Popular materials for homemade picks are hacksaw blades.
To make picks from a hacksaw blade, you will need a bench grinder or
a dremel or an angle grinder and a vice.
These machines all require SAFETY GLASSES.
To start with, you will need a design of a pick.
I reckon that a half diamond is a nice first pick to make, as is a hook.
For a half diamond pick, you will need to shape the material like so:
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE\
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE\
I IIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE. \______________________/"\
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE----------------------------------------'
A hook is very similar:
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE\
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE\
I IIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE \______________________//
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHANDLE.______________________/
When grinding the hacksaw blades into shape, let the grinder do the work.
Don't try to force the grinder to work faster, otherwise you will wreck the steel
and it will snap when you go to use it.
Make sure you quench the steel in water every couple of seconds to keep
it cool, so that it stays useful.
A few tips for you:
Try not to let the paint on the hacksaw blade burn, and your steel will be fine.
Make your pieces of hacksaw the same length before you grind. (so that they sort of match)
Most people can get three pieces of pick material from one blade.
You can snap hacksaw blades.
For templates, do a search for "templates"
Hope that helps a little.
Oh, and you can use a file on street sweeper bristles as well if you don't have power tools.
If you don't have a file, yes a safety pin and hairclip can be used as well, but
are not going to be the best for a beginner to use.
If you are still stuck, PM me and I might have some homemade sets
you can buy. (Yeah, sorry, wrong thread, but if OP is not interested, I
am not selling picks anyway).
