BRASS PICKS

[10ringo10]

Ideas on brass picks,to make or not to make.
as we already know most lockpicks are made from steel,but steel is magnetic and really can not be used in a keyway were a magnet is present.
brass is not magnetic,so in theory could and would not be a problem if a magnet his present.
at the moment the magnet his the first or last to enter the keyway.
but this causes pin binding,so....... what do you think.

[firstbiggestmost]

I wonder if good aluminum would be stronger choice?

[LockManipulator]

Hard plastic seems like it would work well too.

[mdc5150]

I don't remember where I read it and I've never seen them but I remember reading somewhere where someone was supposed to be designing a set of carbon fiber picks.

[LocksmithArmy]

someone on lp101 made them aswell as storm proposed making them but has not yet

[ChemicalRobot]

I don't remember where I read it and I've never seen them but I remember reading somewhere where someone was supposed to be designing a set of carbon fiber picks.

I made a short hook out of carbon fiber once. They are cool to use, but they break pretty easily. And the carbon fiber wears down, too, so they have a limited use.

[slumnickel]

Some commercial picks are available in titanium. It is 'paramagnetic' but only slightly, might work.

[10ringo10]

So im looking for some real carbon fibre sheeting,and come across this on the bay.
please remove if im breaking any rules.

carbon fibre.jpg

[10ringo10]

After a long search and your help,it looks like the material is going to be brass or ali.
carbon fibre his too weak,titanuim might as well be called unobtainable,plus it would be too hard to cut down.
i will make some after all.

[Spyder]

What about trying something in a non-magnetic grade of stainless, 304 / 316, they don't harden very well with heat / quench but you could work harden a piece of sheet stock (read : beat the fuck outa it with a hammer to the thickness you want) and then cut / grind your pick from that.

[10ringo10]

never heard of non magnetic stainless steel,anyway ive sent for some brass and ali rods.

[barbarian]

...... titanuim might as well be called unobtainable,plus it would be too hard to cut down.........

Check on Ebay. "titanium tent pegs" The high end camping places have them. Light like Aluminum, strong like steel. I found four of them for $25. Enough metal to make 8 picks. I got the angle shaped ones, not the round ones. Not that hard to shape either. You can use a grinder or Dremel, or even a file.

I didn't think they were good pick material, not springy enough. But they would be pretty non-magnetic.

[10ringo10]

yes, iv just seen them,they might do the job better,cheers b.

[jailersmith]

serepick.com makes 3 flat picks and a tension wrench out of titanium.