Anyone made their own gold pick and advise?

[Digger Danny]

nice work GT , "stylin"
Have a couple of old truck leaf springs laying around if you would like a piece to knock up another one, and or some off cuts of bizz sheet, be home tomorrow, i'll catch you up

Hi dwt, what type of welding rods do you use when welding bizz.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Goldtarget]

Finished the second one today might do a couple of smaller ones for quick hunts using the other timbers, thanks for the great comments, can't wait to see the young blokes face when I give him his. If anyone wants a step by step diy I'll put one up.

 

[cecc]

Ever thought of selling these?

 

[cecc]

Here's some pick pic's
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/277/1408173288_img_20140816_170540.jpg

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/277/1408173329_img_20140816_170502.jpg
You can just see the center punch marks in this pick pic.
2 this side 2 opposite.

Cheers
Mick

Tlhat looks tops so flush.

 

[thedigger]

Forget wooden handles,fiberglass is the way to go.
Regards Frank

 

[wombat72]

nice job

 

[Flyspray]

Some nice looking wooden handles on the picks above. I couldn't find a decent bit of wood myself, so decided to weld on some 25 sq rhs to a piece of plough disc. It feels comfortable in the hand and offers a good grip. I'll try it out the next couple of days and see how it goes - weight, comfort wise.

 

[Tassie Daz]

Thanks fellas for all the great ideas. I've wanted to make another pick so that when I have my Grandson with me that he has a pick to use as well. [Not a big one like a man's one but big enough for a 13yr old] So the pics are very useful. Thanks fellas, you've all done it again. Yes this forum is full of really great blokes eager to share their knowledge and ideas with the rest of us - a real Mens Shed on the internet.

 

[Tassie Daz]

Just a question about the welding. Do you have to preheat the disc before you weld the pipe into place to stop it from cracking away from the Mild steel of the pipe, or is that taken care of with the type of electrode you used?

 

[Flyspray]

Just a question about the welding. Do you have to preheat the disc before you weld the pipe into place to stop it from cracking away from the Mild steel of the pipe, or is that taken care of with the type of electrode you used?

No I didn't preheat, TD.

 

[user 4485]

Ideally you should pre-warm hardened steel before welding, use appropriate rods & let it cool down slowly otherwise it may become brittle & fail.
I think you'll find a steel handle pretty bad in hard ground & the square shape hard on your hands. Welding a section of pipe to fit a round, wooden handle into would be a better option IMO TD.

 

[Tathradj]

I also think you will be wrapping the handle on that with rubber shortly.
Stops the shock of hitting the ground traveling up past your shoulders.
Especially in hard ground.

 

[limpalot]

I have welded 1/2 " pipe into a engineers hammer, forced 3/4 garden hose over the top; makes it softer and bigger to grip onto. with hammers and axes only weld the front part of the head , not the back; helps to reduce shock through the handle and reduces cracking the handle off. Great for really flogging into something, only if it needs it.
Cheers LL.

 

[Nightjar]

This a version made for my little lady.
Also made a larger version for the deep ones.

 

[thedigger]

Throw away those wooden handles,they not nice to use,fiberglass with rubber on the upper,takes the shock away.

Regards Frank

 

[Chriso1988]

Where did you get your fiberglass handle from , couldn't see any in bunnings / mitre ten ??
ended up with a wooden sledg handle .
Hopefully going to weld and assemble what i have tomorrow.....maybe post a pic depending on the results haha

Great picks tho above , and some good info ! Certainly gave me a few ideas

Cheers everyone

 

[Nightjar]

My mate has been making picks using wooden axe handles, have to say they are very comfortable to hold.
Frank, if I can talk him into donating one I'll bring it along to the meet.

 

[thedigger]

I have made a few now with fiberglass handles,couple for friends and I lost one.
I go to the Ballarat market,and get a wood splitter and cut off the head,they cost between 15-20 dollars.
Wooden handles are too stiff,once you use a fiberglass one,you will feel the difference.
I fiberglass them in the tube,with a bolt or two to hold in place.
Regards Frank

 

[Chriso1988]

Cheers mate , ive got a few extra leaf springs for the heads might have to make a fiber glass one after this first wooden jobby

 

[Chriso1988]

Just finished mine , waiting for the paint to dry !

Head - colardo leaf spring . cut + cleaned.
Kneck - 50mm diameter exhaust pipe crushed in vice to make oval. Multi pass welds on to leaf ( lined up with center bolt hole to knock wedge in later )
Handle - miter 10 sledge handle ( trimmed 40-50 off the original handle tip to accept the 50 exhaust better )

Assembled filling the exhaust pipe with no more nails glue / filler , half inserted wegde in hadle , smash togethe and small punch through the original leaf spring centre bolt hole to really drive the wedge in , staked / center puched either side of the exhaust pipe to crush the outside down then inserted bolt through pre drill holes on lower half of kneck , locked off with a tack of weld

Thanks to everyone who posted really helped me with ideas for mine . Im stoked with it ! Saved a fortune to