Black & Blue Hook for xeo

[jruther2]

Here's another one that was promised long ago and now all my obligations are fulfilled.
Sorry for the bad pictures, all I had available for taking pictures today was my phone and this one is getting boxed up and sent out before I have access to my good camera.
Hope ya like it

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[mech]

wow look great! how'd you bond the g10 onto the metal?

[nozza36]

Pick porn ! beautiful work mate !

[MBI]

The reflections of the wood on the steel almost make the pick tips look semi-transparent. Pretty cool.

[Josh66]

The reflections of the wood on the steel almost make the pick tips look semi-transparent. Pretty cool.

Camo - Predator style, lol.

That's a damn nice polish of those!

[KokomoLock]

Awesome work as always Mr. Jruther!!! That pick will last forever!!

[s1deshowmick]

A mirror finish on a very nicely crafted pick, who could ask for more. Real nice buddy...

[piotr]

It's lovely and loaded with awesome. Yet another reason to hate xeo

I'm starting to feel stirrings of motivation to resume pick making.

[clearmoon247]

So, jruther, what is your process for adding such an amazing polish to these picks of yours?

Mech, if im not mistaken, its JB Weld

[uklockpicker]

Looks fantastic nice colours mirror finish - nice gift xeo

[happykill]

I really like how this turned out, thats a slick handle man, great work!

[jruther2]

wow look great! how'd you bond the g10 onto the metal?

Thanks! CM is correct, I bond the G10 with JB Weld. More specifically, I roughen all surfaces that will mate, cut several channels in the G10 mating surfaces, and punch several holes in the tang of the pick.

Pick porn ! beautiful work mate !

Thanks nozza!

The reflections of the wood on the steel almost make the pick tips look semi-transparent. Pretty cool.

Haha, cool! I didn't even notice that.

That's a damn nice polish of those!

That's quite a compliment coming from you Josh, thanks!

Awesome work as always Mr. Jruther!!! That pick will last forever!!

Thank you sir. (*Kokomolock is a non-paid endorser of JR2 industries)

A mirror finish on a very nicely crafted pick, who could ask for more. Real nice buddy...

Thanks pal!

It's lovely and loaded with awesome. Yet another reason to hate xeo

I'm starting to feel stirrings of motivation to resume pick making.

Yeah, he's a real jerk. I won't mention here the threats that he made in order to get me to make this pick...
Make some more picks man! If nothing else, its good therapy

So, jruther, what is your process for adding such an amazing polish to these picks of yours?

Mech, if im not mistaken, its JB Weld

Before the handle is applied I wet sand with 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit . Sandpaper always runs along the length of the pick. I suggest clamping the pick to a block of wood with the end of the pick facing you. Wrap your sandpaper around a flat stick, preferably have some material (leather is what I saw a knife maker recommend) affixed to your sanding stick that has a little bit of give so that the sand paper will keep to the contours of the pick. I wrap masking tape and then aluminum duct tape around the end of the pick before I attach the handles so I wait to polish after the handle is complete. I use green polishing compound from Northern Tool but based on Josh66's recommendation I'll be trying some Flitz. I use one of these buffing wheels on the dremel. I used to polish by holding the dremel in one hand and the pick in the other and running the buffing wheel back and forth along the pick. Many times that method resulted in one hand shifting slightly and as a result pulling the pick into the chuck of the dremel making a nasty mark which meant I had to go back to sandpaper and work my way all the way back through the sanding and polishing process. Now I clamp the dremel in a vise and it gives me a lot more control. I haven't had a slip yet doing it this way, the real key for me here is just to take my time. One last thing I have learned about polishing that may be obvious to most is that there is no need to buff away the compound with a clean polishing wheel. Just work the polish in really good with the dremel then wipe it off with some cheesecloth. Hope that helps. If anyone has any tips on a better way I'm all ears.

[Oldfast]

Oh my... absolute beauty.

[Josh66]

the real key for me here is just to take my time.

In my experience, all 'accidents' could be prevented by taking your time and thinking about what you're going to do before you do it. Sometimes you have to force yourself to slow down.

I know exactly what you mean about one slip with the Dremel meaning hours of rework! I'll have to try clamping it in a vise or something. Also, you will not be disappointed with Flitz. I can't even put into words how much more I like it than other polishes, lol.

edit
BTW - one thing I do to lessen the damage done by a slip of the Dremel is cover the chuck with masking tape. Make sure the 'tail' of the tape is pointing in the direction opposite of the rotation, so it doesn't try to come off. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than a knurled surface contacting the pick.

[jruther2]

edit
BTW - one thing I do to lessen the damage done by a slip of the Dremel is cover the chuck with masking tape. Make sure the 'tail' of the tape is pointing in the direction opposite of the rotation, so it doesn't try to come off. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than a knurled surface contacting the pick.

That's a great tip, thanks for the suggestion!