3 production hybrids: a photo review
Southern Ordinance MAXyield
Specs: .022" thickness, type 301 high yield stainless, die stamped.
Price: $12
This one arrived with only a ridge left from the stamp to smooth out. Supposedly the worlds strongest and most durable stainless steel... right. Maybe the geometry of this pick allows it to flex under all but the lightest lifting pressure. The tip on this one is too large for my preference, the shaft too slim. I think one of the short hooks would be a decent buy for paracentric keyways, but for $12 apiece, I've seen enough of this so called super steel.
HPC Stainless:
Specs: .020" thickness, 2000 series stainless, chemically etched
Price: $8
A nice pick. Sharp looking stainless handle, nice tip size, and good strength for such a slim pick. The extra height of the shaft toward the handle might be a little excessive, but that is my only real criticism. It arrived with the standard tool marks left by a chemcial etching process, and they were easily removed with a little sanding.
Peterson:
Specs: .025" thickness, Government steel, laser cut
Price: $15
The laser cutting process leaves marks along the edge of a pick that rival the notches on the side of a quarter. Government steel is no joke, and it would take a long time to break one of these in through regular use, if it ever stopped being a cylinder eater. I had to hit this sucker with a file before I started smoking sandpaper making it smooth. It was well worth the effort. Their site shows a different profile, but this design is more interesting and stronger. No suprise here, the peterson leaves the othersin the dust. Best strength, best grip, best profile geometry. The only area in which it is lacking, is manueverability. But with a little extra finishing, you can get it there.
There you have it, semi-educational pick porn. Enjoy
-Tooly