Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:04 pm
Introductions
It just occurred to me last summer that I have been picking for 15 years. Over half my life, and I still suck. I never took it seriously, just something to pick up every year or so - pop some locks and put it away again. It was a combination of nasty callouses from working at physical jobs and the negative assumptions that people make about the ethics of my slightly younger self that pushed me away from it. About this time last year I learned a couple of my friends were interested in it. I have known them for four years and they didn't even know I have been picking since I was 13. So now I have taken it up with some seriousness. I just ordered several Americans to tackle the dreaded serrated pins.
Currently I am unemployed, being usury adverse I saved enough for a two year degree and a few more certifications. With luck I will get an IT job that will help with the other two years. For some years after the tech sector in my area seemed to crash I have been doing a wide variety of mostly logistics oriented work. It is funny how nerds, truckers, machinists, and heavy equipment operators have an interest overlap when it comes to locks.
Oh I also make some picks on occasion, just got in some Petersons that I may modify. I finish my picks with the same method that most people are aware of nowadays. It is really similar to putting a mirror edge on a plane using the scary sharp method but instead of a glass substrate I use something soft to get the edges nice and rounded. 400 grit to 2000 Is what I chose to do with blades but for picks I only go up to 800 grit then a couple minutes with a dremel wheel loaded with abrasive polishing compound yields identical results faster.
Most of the time I use just one or two Majestics, lovingly worn through use. I have never broken a pick (now it'll happen within the hour) and have used those to pop locks hundreds of times over a decade and a half. I just feel dirty when I use anything else, even though I have many that are better.
Currently I am unemployed, being usury adverse I saved enough for a two year degree and a few more certifications. With luck I will get an IT job that will help with the other two years. For some years after the tech sector in my area seemed to crash I have been doing a wide variety of mostly logistics oriented work. It is funny how nerds, truckers, machinists, and heavy equipment operators have an interest overlap when it comes to locks.
Oh I also make some picks on occasion, just got in some Petersons that I may modify. I finish my picks with the same method that most people are aware of nowadays. It is really similar to putting a mirror edge on a plane using the scary sharp method but instead of a glass substrate I use something soft to get the edges nice and rounded. 400 grit to 2000 Is what I chose to do with blades but for picks I only go up to 800 grit then a couple minutes with a dremel wheel loaded with abrasive polishing compound yields identical results faster.
Most of the time I use just one or two Majestics, lovingly worn through use. I have never broken a pick (now it'll happen within the hour) and have used those to pop locks hundreds of times over a decade and a half. I just feel dirty when I use anything else, even though I have many that are better.
and it also had the Anniversary logo so Ibought it. I loaned it out to my best friend but as soon as I get it back Iwill pick and gut on camera.