A homemade pick project.

Greenhornet_au said:

Hey guys, can you make a template and some instructions to put up here ?

I know it seems like a basic build, but there are always hints and tips that will save a newbie some headache, time, and maybe some money too.

I bought Kato a pick from one of our members, it's a bloody "machine", and will last her forever (out-living me too),
but I love a good project like many of us and maybe I could knock together a few smaller ones for the other 3 kids.

Any chance ?

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LOL quoting my own post.

This was an interesting exercise, I asked Pete for 2x picks of his manufacture after he advertised them.
Paid for and he sent the next day.
I did state in this thread that I think picks are a bit more of a complex design for a good product,
clearly I still stand by that because I ordered 2x of them off of his shelf.

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/threads/new-picks.38908/#post-636826
I will do a review of my new toys, but already have every confidence after just one look.

and still try to figure out a kitchen table diy... but I see I will have to do some serious experimenting ahead.

Greenhornet_au, yes bisaloy is hard it comes in 3 grades, but is is not a good wearing type of steel, it is used for it's strength. Plough disc is a Boron type steel and is hard and very good wear characteristics. I use 5mm plough disc for the blade and 8mm plough disc for the point and there for it is a 2 piece pick head.

I use spotted gum handles in all size picks I make

The picture below is a special order and the guy wanted just the pick heads and was fitting his own special extra long handles

In the end if is up to you what you use and how you do it.

Thanks davsgold,

Your picks look great, interesting to use a two part head, you sure have the tool set for making this stuff.

Last year or so, I bought one of Bluejeansronalds picks, that is a machine, and we have not used it in the field but have on concrete pavers digging up a stash hole at a neighbour's place that he 'misplaced'.
A heavy pick, but the ducks nuts for really hard ground, I was impressed.
If the ground was rock hard that pick would scare it! The sheer mass of it seems to be a bonus.

Yes, I agree, you need the right tool for the environment, I think Pete's picks will do well for the task to come, and well for work around Adelaide and some hills and coastal lands. They are light to carry, and solid. The soils we are heading for are not so hard.

I dont think one tool will ever be a 'one for everything' use. Like golf clubs.

Mostly we use the plug digger's from my DIY and the hand diggers too, never leave a mess or get into 'kept grass', and really happy we are about to hit Winter cause the soil soaks and softens. We have a few places marked for deeper targets.

We also have a different experience in the toughness of bisaloy.... it can really take a surface pounding for sure.

Greenhornet_au said:

I have a project to photograph and put up in the diy, was going to do it last year, time flys by.

As for a pick, I really don't know the real field needs for the design, I assume materials are the most important thing, like a bisloy hardness metal.
Digging point, wide blade for scraping dirt around, weight dependent on dirt hardness and stones. Handle materials, length and thickness.
There is a lot to consider......
I needs a good think over it.

A simple diy that can be knocked up on the kitchen table that would be durable, would be awesome but maybe not better than an off the shelf mattock in the end.

Oh... I just had a thought.. LOL that is dangerous.

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Reducing the diameter of a wooden handle , reduces the strength .

This is all very stupid . It now says I am a newbie , with only 4 messages ??? Since 2019 .

I like to have a flat side on my pick because I use it all the time levelling the ground after filling in the hole.



These are made from an old rusty plough disk that is extremely strong and light weight. Keeping the weld to a minimum protects the integrity of the steel.



A countersunk screw in the middle secures the handle and also doubles as a magnet anchorage for those who like a magnet on the pick. I don't like it because I like to keep my magnet clean at all times so that I can see what I've picked up.

yes Moneybox, I make that type as well except I use new plough disc

Boys, now we are getting somewhere, these thoughts for flat sides to use for scraping the dirt around, is an insight I dont have.
Like the fixing screw too for a magnet.
Great pictures.

Greenhornet_au said:

Boys, now we are getting somewhere, these thoughts for flat sides to use for scraping the dirt around, is an insight I dont have.
Like the fixing screw too for a magnet.
Great pictures.

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just a bit more info Gh_au, I use handles that are oval shaped (spotted gum) as the are much better in the hands and don't tend to spin when digging like totally round shape handles.

So the pipe that holds the handle on these small picks I make is from 25mm light wall pipe cut 50mm long and squeezed to an oval shape in a vice to the same oval as the handle, and sand the handle with a belt sander to fit the pipe.

The handles are glued and 6mm roll pin goes right through and sanded flush.

The plough disc that this pick head is cut from is 5mm thick and 24 inches in Dia you can use a 5" angle grinder with a thin blade or a 9" angle grinder to cut the plough disc, I used to do it this way but now use a Plasma cutter to cut the plough disc pieces and just sand the edges with a 5" angle grinder with a sanding disc attached

this is in case you want to make your own pick

You make a very nice looking pick davsgold. I too slightly flatten the seamless rollbar tube in the vice even though it looks round in the photo however I've only made four picks. Two for me, one for a good friend and one for a special unfinished project. I have no intention of making myself another job

Like my original "plug digger" project, I just would like to come up with something easy to make for some one that either likes to make their own stuff, or wants to try a pick as a starter for cheap.
Having bought 3 picks now (review to come) and seeing all the advice, I will be hard pressed for a quick table top design that would last long with a serious 'gold hunter'.
You guys making picks are pretty serious, the picks are serious gear. Tried and tested.
Plow disks are less common in the city so that is not likely to be part of the plan... but I hope to come close to the FREE or $10 Bunnings spade deal that made the plug digger so popular.
I think it is a challenge to do without welding and not buying a handle, or making a handle from scratch.
Anyone would be welcome to use or modify the design as they see fit, I have a couple of idea's for now.

Greenhornet, the reason we're using steel from a plough disk is because there's nothing better. It has the perfect concave or convex shape depending on how you look at it, the material is extremely strong, flexible, hard wearing and easily welded. You can build quite a good pick using the leaf spring from a car but the properties of this steel is not quite as good, is not very easy to work because of the limited width of the steel and it's heavy because of its thickness. I've not tested it but I doubt it welds well without preheating which unless done well can destroy some of those properties we need in a pick.

If you can't get your hands on good material then you can't build a really good pick but it doesn't hurt to try. Mrs M found this plough disk half buried by and old well on the highway while fossicking for bottles. It's badly rusted but that doesn't reduce its value for my purpose.

As for the handle, I walked through the bush looking for a nice straight bit of Gidgee (Acacia cambagei, The heartwood is a dark reddish-brown to almost black; it is clearly demarcated from the pale yellow sapwood. The wood is hard, very heavy, close-grained, often interlocked, and is both durable and termite-resistant.) but failed to find a bit straight enough to cut a handle. I ended up finding an old full sized pick handle in the shed and cut that down. The next two picks I've made the handle from Meranti from Bunnings. It feels strong but is difficult to finish without splinters. I soaked the finished handles in lanolin to protect them from the elements and prevent them from drying out. My friend's pick has the Meranti handle and so far no complaints but I've not tried it yet. You can buy hammer handles online made from spotted gum or hickory.

MB, yes I think the disks would have good metallurgy for the purpose, after all they were designed for the same task but behind a tractor,
and I have one in the yard, and can access more.
It's just that I am looking to make a 'kitchen table' build that anyone can put together without much fuss.
All of your points are very valid for materials, and I did not think of 'found' handles, I'm a bit slow that way, would Willow do or WA Karri, maybe some Olive branch ?

Greenhornet_au said:

MB, yes I think the disks would have good metallurgy for the purpose, after all they were designed for the same task but behind a tractor,
and I have one in the yard, and can access more.
It's just that I am looking to make a 'kitchen table' build that anyone can put together without much fuss.
All of your points are very valid for materials, and I did not think of 'found' handles, I'm a bit slow that way, would Willow do or WA Karri, maybe some Olive branch ?

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you can buy finished handles at Mitre10, that's where I get mine, and they have long ones like rake handles as well, it's much better to buy a good quality spotted gum handle finished ready to fit, the ones I use are "sledge hammer handles" and come in various lengths.

Interested to see what your design looks like.

cheers dave

Yeah Dave, I'm up for the DIY challenge for the Year Award.

Handles from M10 and Bunnings are from handle experts, and cost too. Yes I use them.
so the challenge is to direction to handles and metal, and fix the handle to the blade without welding.
As cheap as possible.

GH.... if you are interested I have these plough discs that you are welcome to as I have made enough picks and diggers for my needs. One of these is new and unused, the other I found in a paddock and is surface rusted and lighter gauge than the new one.
I agree with Moneybox in that the steel in these discs is perfect for prospecting picks
PM me if you can use them for a home made pick project.
Cheers Adrian.

Greenhornet_au said:

MB, yes I think the disks would have good metallurgy for the purpose, after all they were designed for the same task but behind a tractor,
and I have one in the yard, and can access more.
It's just that I am looking to make a 'kitchen table' build that anyone can put together without much fuss.
All of your points are very valid for materials, and I did not think of 'found' handles, I'm a bit slow that way, would Willow do or WA Karri, maybe some Olive branch ?

Click to expand...

Greenhornet, I think the thing you're trying to do has been done before.



And quite successfully too

Correction to my quote on the pick handle. I stated that I used Meranti but I remembered it's actually a length of 32mm Tasmanian Oak dowel from Bunnings. It feels very strong but difficult to finish without splinters so I think it might give trouble if left out in the weather. I've soaked the handles in lanolin for protection but it might not last.

Moneybox said:

Greenhornet, I think the thing you're trying to do has been done before.

View attachment 643

And quite successfully too

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MB,
I have so say that picture is so 'forking' good, I lost it laughing and scared the kids ! (I think I wee'd a bit too)
How bloody good is that !!
WELL done Sir.

And YES, something simple like that would do. LOL, LOL

That is definitely a 'kitchen table' DIY

Moneybox said:

Correction to my quote on the pick handle. I stated that I used Meranti but I remembered it's actually a length of 32mm Tasmanian Oak dowel from Bunnings. It feels very strong but difficult to finish without splinters so I think it might give trouble if left out in the weather. I've soaked the handles in lanolin for protection but it might not last.

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Tasmanian Oak i know is a commonly used flooring product in the eastern states and doesn't like moisture, subsequently grain raising and splinters. Meranti, also known as Philippine Mahogany very nice.