Oldbiscuit's homemade picks

[oldbiscuit]

I own several commercial pick sets, but I make my own and use them 99% of the time as I like the feed back I get from them better than the commercial picks. Mark

[xeo]

Better than I can do. Good stuff man, that is one huge diamond!

[AULockpicker]

Is that the rubberised paint people speak of on the handles? Do you just dip the pick in the paint and it's done?

[Gratefuldeadbolt]

Good Job! Are those made from hacksaw blades? Just curious on the metal you use, I saw the small circular indents on the handle ends and they reminded me of hacksaw blades.

[oldbiscuit]

Yes these picks are made from old hacksaw blades. I've tried using feeler guages, but I never liked the outcome. And yes these have the dipped rubber handles.You have to dip them several times and let them hang and dry overnight before handling. The only draw back to the rubber handles that I've come across was once during a pick, I had to clean the lock and lube it before picking and some of the cleaner or lube got on the rubber and made it gooey.

[jeffmoss26]

Nice stuff!!

[AULockpicker]

Yes these picks are made from old hacksaw blades. I've tried using feeler guages, but I never liked the outcome. And yes these have the dipped rubber handles.You have to dip them several times and let them hang and dry overnight before handling. The only draw back to the rubber handles that I've come across was once during a pick, I had to clean the lock and lube it before picking and some of the cleaner or lube got on the rubber and made it gooey.

Interesting, I've been considering the use of that paint. Thanks for that.

[nozza36]

Excellent , love to see everyones work !

[psykro]

nice picks and wrenches mate, do u use a dremel to finish or do it all on a grinder bar the sanding?

[oldbiscuit]

I rough them out and into shape with a small bench grinder. Then I use jewelers files to finish shaping, then I sand them. After getting them fairly smooth, I switch to my flex shaft with a polishing wheel to remove all the sanding and file marks.

[Oldfast]

Look at that work force! Very nice Mark.

Wish I could see all the locks those babies have conquered. lol

[gnarus8429]

I really like the double ended wrench at the bottom of the picture. I have never thought of cutting one like that. It gives you a large area to rest your finger on. I have to go and cut one now to try it out. Great job.

[luxocculta]

Can anyone point me to a decent set of templates for picks? I've made a fairly decent half diamond as well as a short hook out of windscreen wiper blades. And of course a tensioner.

I've asked my local butchery for the meat bandsaw blade. I found out they don't re sharpen the blade, they just throw it away. Its stainless steel and hopefully better quality than a normal hacksaw blade. My hacksaw blade pick didn't last very long.

[just1pick+open]

Here you go.
http://imgh.us/topp_2.svg

[spuds]

Nice stuff!!