Latest Picks!

[rosindubh37713]

Thanks everyone, wasnt expecting so many good comments!! LOL

To answer a couple of questions in one.

The picks are made from carbon steel hacksaw blades which came covered in a blue paint, I preety much make the whole pick on a busted up old 2 wheeled bech grinder, this thing is probably about 30 years old and falling to bits lol.
I get the pick end as best I can on the grinder then finish it off with a couple of rusty old files, as you can see so far I'm not working with the best tools lol.
I then sand off all the remaining blue paint from the blade.
Okay with the handle, the little grey circle thingys you see are my 5 year olds craft beads lol, I split the bead down the middle with a stanley knife and then stick them to the blade using some epoxy glue.
Then its time to put the Epoxy Putty on for the handle. I'm sure you know how thats done lol just mix it up mould it onto the handle and around the beads.
Once hardend it looks preety rough.
Then I use different grades of sand paper to work the handles down to what you see in the pictures, this probably takes the longest time I suppose.

Thats about it really, I'm preety pleased with the way they turn out considering the shity tools I have at my disposal lol.

TAHNKS AGAIN GUYS!!!

[rosindubh37713]

Sorry people, heres a few more pic's of a pick in progress and some of the tools i'm using.
No pic of the bench grinder, its at my mummies house lol

[rosindubh37713]

Thanks mate, it does take a while to get them all looking the same with an even finish, lots of carefull sanding with differnt grades of paper.
Cheers Buddy!!!

These beautiful picks!
The shapes of the forms seem made by a machine, they are so precise and beautiful even finish.
Did you use the steel knife blades?

[rosindubh37713]

Cheers mate, I do most of it on an old bench grinder and just use a rusty old file for touching up lol

Those are NICE! Really smooth, handles look nice and comfy aswell. That's a hell of a nice selection you made, they'll serve you well for years to come. How long did you spend making all of those? I can see that sort of work taking me all day.

I tried making my own out of hacksaw blades one day last week and it didn't go to plan. I sanded the paint off and got filing, and to my surprise I could only get so far through it... seems that the last 5mm or so was super friggin hardened (obviously cos the teeth need to be) and I couldn't get through it.

Holding the blade with a pair of pliers while filing is probably to blame, if I was able to put a bit more elbow grease into it I guess it would have filed away eventually. But of course the vice I have only has rubber grips and I don't wanna ruin them since I only bought it for static picking. I really need a grinder.

[crazy]

A fantastic job great idea

[ToolyMcgee]

Picks look great, especially the peterson clones and shorthooks... and the double rake. Hell, all of them look very precise. You've got a unique fusion of the putty and faux handle pins. Is there a trick to giving the putty it that visual texture? It almost looks like a crazy wood grain.

I see the Peterson Reach, Gem and Hybrid there.
are you working off a physical set or pictures?

[magician59]

Yep...it's already been said a few times. Those picks look like museum pieces.

[Warder]

I'm sorry to say I've lost a valuable member of my pick team yesterday.
Oh, picking in below zero temps weakens the steel and numbs your fingers.

Sorry J0377

[rosindubh37713]

The Gem & Reach I copied from a physical set the hybrid was my own design, well sorry not my own as it is very much the peterson design, but I had no template or picture when I made it.

I see the Peterson Reach, Gem and Hybrid there.
are you working off a physical set or pictures?

[HallisChalmers]

I'm sorry to say I've lost a valuable member of my pick team yesterday.
Oh, picking in below zero temps weakens the steel and numbs your fingers.

Sorry J0377

A moment of revered silence, please.








Thank you.

[rosindubh37713]

Ah sh!t!! what a shame its a bummer when that happens, always very sad and annoying when a pick breaks!!!
I'm sure Jo377 will do ya another if you ask very nicely

[the lockpickkid]

I know my story isn't about home made picks but, I broke my favorite HPC hook one day and it took me at least 3 months to get over it. I don't know what the difference in this pick was over the others, I have 3 more exact same and they don't feel the same as that one did, I now have another favorite and I hope to hell it don't break.

[magician59]

Sorry people, heres a few more pic's of a pick in progress and some of the tools i'm using.
No pic of the bench grinder, its at my mummies house lol

Yep: Those are some rough looking files. Just reinforces the truth that you're an artist!

[rosindubh37713]

Cheers mate

Sorry people, heres a few more pic's of a pick in progress and some of the tools i'm using.
No pic of the bench grinder, its at my mummies house lol

Yep: Those are some rough looking files. Just reinforces the truth that you're an artist!