Shaping finger picks

Roy Peterman · From: Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania

Maybe this has been mentioned before in previous posts, but I have this technique to shape my finger picks which provides a nice rounded and more comfortable finger pick. (Well, at least for me) I take a short piece of dowel, (9/16" in my case) and slip the pick over the dowel and then using a hose clamp of appropriate size, tighten the clamp over the band part until it forms over the dowel. Smaller fingers might require a 1/2" dowel or larger fingers 5/8". Worm gear type, spring band type or a key type (which makes it easier to turn) can all be used. Anyway, I hope this might be useful to some pickers out there.

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Roy, that's a good method. I use the dowel and pliers wrapped in tape. I like the clamp method and will try it out. Cool tip, thanks.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

After trying to salvage a pick that was stepped on .. Sad

someone suggested using a ring size stick

Gene Tani · From: Pac NW

Lots of great ideas here, thanks! The ring part is the easier one for me, shaping the blade is time consuming.
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

https://www.amazon.com/Accmor-Jewelry-Including-Jewelers-Mandrel/dp/B071WRRR4C/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=ring+sizer+stick&qid=1611529318&sr=8-17

Getting the hammer and a METAL mandrel allows you to forcibly shape the picks. Wish I would have thought of this years ago.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I've also used wood dowel, works fine. But I think the ring mandrel is a great idea for me because I like a little bit of front-to-back flare in the bands because the fingers get a bit fatter as they go back from the tip. I just ordered a set with both an aluminum marked mandrel and a solid stainless steel mandrel without markings, like one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Yasumai-Mandrel-Measuring-Jewelry-Jewelers/dp/B07NLM3SXQ/

https://www.amazon.com/LUCWI-Mandrel-Measuring-Jewelry-Jewelers/dp/B082MMXK5H/

I think the unmarked stainless mandrel will probably be a bit more useful for actually working on the picks. But we'll see.

Andrew Goulet · Posted 24 Jan 2021 4:01 pm

These are great ideas. I use the "keep the same picks for five years and desperately scramble to find them under the stage when I lose them or else start all over again" method. Smile

On a side note, I've been meaning to try out a metal thumb pick. I keep breaking those plastic Nationals.
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Marlen S12 and a ZT Club

Gene Tani · From: Pac NW

Metal thumb picks are problematic on wound strings, the best I have found is a brass one which is a little less noisy, tho I would like to try Ron Landis' sterling one
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

The proper size dowels probably work OK because you don't have to slide the ring up past the blade. I can see the value in that.

But if you use a ring sizer, looks to me like you'd have to shape the ring before the blade is bent.

My Newman's came with pre-bent blades which seems to me would prevent them from sliding up on the mandrel device very far unless the blade is straightened which would be counter productive.

Don't think that would work for me.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Clark Doughty · From: KANSAS

GOOD POINT JERRY. WHISH I COULD BUY A DOWEL ROD KIT. HA HA.........

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