davesnothere11 - homebrews

[davesnothere11]

Made my first .078 music wire tension tool thanks to some free material from 007freak (I so owe you a little something something). It ain't pretty but it gets the job done amazingly. First I tried it on the Fraim below since I've been working with it lately. Opened quickly.

Then I tried it on an American 1100. Holy Schmidt! The feedback and sensitivity with this tool was amazing. I SPP'd that American open in under a minute (a record for me). Time to build more custom tools now that my confidence is building.

[freek007]

Awesome! I made one too, for Mr Wizard's practice lock as, strangely, none of the 18 TWs in the WizWazzle would fit perfectly. Having the tool custom fit to the keyway definitely gave more feedback. I am curious? did you use a file or a dremel to shape it? I started with a file, but was too slow going so I busted out the dremel with the sanding wheel... I'll have to get some pics up. BTW anyone know why sometimes I can sometimes I cant see pics that are embedded in the posts? Thanks...

[davesnothere11]

Awesome! I made one too, for Mr Wizard's practice lock as, strangely, none of the 18 TWs in the WizWazzle would fit perfectly. Having the tool custom fit to the keyway definitely gave more feedback. I am curious? did you use a file or a dremel to shape it? I started with a file, but was too slow going so I busted out the dremel with the sanding wheel... I'll have to get some pics up. BTW anyone know why sometimes I can sometimes I cant see pics that are embedded in the posts? Thanks...

I used a file. It was slow going but resulted in a tight fit. I tried a dremel tool with some wiper blade early on when I first got my picks and took too much off too fast resulting in failures.

If you are not signed in you won't see pics and are you using the http or ssl version of keypicking?

I will drop some thing in the mail for you when I get back. I am about to leave for my moose hunting trip.

Thanks again.

[freek007]

Yea, dremel was too much removed too fast, but I have soooo much! I lost 2 to too much dremel-ing, but the third was a keeper, I'll try to post a pic soon. Even put a "bosnian bend" in it, lol!

I am logged in, but in the SSL site (work firewalls! I shake my fist at thee!) - that is probably the issue, no pics for me from work viewing

Edit* Thanks, no rush on sending anything to me, but greatly appreciated! Also, good luck with the moose hunting!

[davesnothere11]

Today I decided to take a little of my free time and make my first pick. I was intrigued by Papa Gleb's prince and princess rakes and so decided to make some for myself. I started with this:



And a while later my first prototype was done-ish:



I skimped on the polish and finishing but still managed to open my Best and Ultimate practice locks with 5 pins each and a couple spool s in the Ultimate. I did pay the price though as it's a bit rough to move through the keyway and pins. Also that shrink tube doesn't give much to hold onto. Not to mention Its a bit long, unwieldy and not quit the shape desired. I definitely learned a bit. I plan on making the sibling with a hook on the other end.

I think I will dub them The Bipolar Bastards of the Prince and Princess.

[Neilau]

"Also that shrink tube doesn't give much to hold onto"

Try building up the shank with a bit of gaffer tape or something similar and shrinking on a bigger piece of shrink tube.

You'll get a better grip and not loose much feedback. Most feedback comes back through the tension tool anyway.

Nice tools. Look pretty good to me.

[davesnothere11]

"Also that shrink tube doesn't give much to hold onto"

Try building up the shank with a bit of gaffer tape or something similar and shrinking on a bigger piece of shrink tube.

You'll get a better grip and not loose much feedback. Most feedback comes back through the tension tool anyway.

Nice tools. Look pretty good to me.

Thanks.
It's got three layers, each a bit longer to make the ends taper a bit. Some tape would have helped but it's a bit long and flexes sideways in the middle too easy.

I am gonna have to butcher some handles and try and learn how to do them right.

[Papa Gleb]

Good work. I am starting to like the double ended picks but the length is sticky. Also I think you guys either need a better set up or more practice with your dremels because I use mine pretty much for everything and task including making picks and going slow when needed does the trick. For small items we all work with, Im not sure how guys use bench grinders. I tried to make a pick on my small grinder friday night and the metal was heating up to red hold although I was quenching every few seconds. It the wheels moving at such high RPM against a thin piece of metal but with a Dremel you control the speed.

[davesnothere11]

Good work. I am starting to like the double ended picks but the length is sticky. Also I think you guys either need a better set up or more practice with your dremels because I use mine pretty much for everything and task including making picks and going slow when needed does the trick. For small items we all work with, Im not sure how guys use bench grinders. I tried to make a pick on my small grinder friday night and the metal was heating up to red hold although I was quenching every few seconds. It the wheels moving at such high RPM against a thin piece of metal but with a Dremel you control the speed.

Thanks!
I need a LOT more practice with my dremel. Clamped it in a vise and just gave it a try. Would you mind sending me a copy of your template? I downloaded your sample photo as a off and printed out smaller unroll the scale looked close to my bogota but I don't know if it's right. I am thinking about taking an original template of the king and queens and messing around with it in some editing software. Its be nice to compare the results.

[Papa Gleb]

I scaled mine to my bogo as well. I opened the pic in paint and just scale and print then again. I thought I saved a final version but couldnt find it when sending it to you.

If you want, I can make a photocopy of my prince and pirncess pics and either mail it or scan and email.

[davesnothere11]

I scaled mine to my bogo as well. I opened the pic in paint and just scale and print then again. I thought I saved a final version but couldnt find it when sending it to you.

If you want, I can make a photocopy of my prince and pirncess pics and either mail it or scan and email.

Is that the same one you posted on your homebrew thread? If so I have that as a pdf already. Maybe you could take a measurement so I can confirm scale more accurately?

[Oldfast]

Looks fantastic Dave! After SPPing for a good while, I've decided I really suck
at raking, jiggling, rocking, etc. So I've been working on it lately. With all this
talk of these king and queens, I might just have to tryn' make some too.