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Topic: Fix broken finger pick |
Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 2:30 pm |
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Has anyone been successful in fixing a finger pick that has a crack between the edge of the band to the hole in the band. I have tried bending up a new one, but can't seem to get it right.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Craig Baker
From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 3:16 pm
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Hi Richard,
You might have a local jeweler silver solder it and buff off any rough edges.
How many times do you have to bend a finger pick back and forth to develop a crack in it? Inquiring minds want to know!
Craig
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"Make America Great Again". . . The Only Country With Dream After Its Name. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 3:31 pm
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what, are you still on your first pair?
buddy doesn't need fingerpicks! |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 3:43 pm
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Richard, I've got a welder!
Seriously though, it would cost more to repair it, than replace it new... |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 6:30 pm
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I've had this pair about 9 years. I wear my picks tight. So, I usually squeeze them a little before putting it on.
I have a new pick, but can't get it bent just right. Guess I need to put a couple more months into it.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2015 10:22 pm Fix broken finger pick
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| You could probably silver solder the pick and smooth up the solder with some needle files and emery cloth. But it still may break again if bent after soldered to made it fit. I would start with a new pick. roll the edges and smooth them before bending to fit. Forming around a rod held in a vise till you get them to fit. Good Luck and Happy Steelin |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2015 12:11 am
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What Bobby said, forming it around a rod.
Richard, I know how you feel about a set of picks you've gotten comfortable with.
But when bent too sharply the metal loses the spring-like elasticity needed to keep a tight fit. An expert could heat treat and anneal it, but at what cost?
Spare yourself the trouble, and get some new picks. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 8 Nov 2015 8:12 am
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| Dan Robinson wrote: |
What Bobby said, forming it around a rod.
Richard, I know how you feel about a set of picks you've gotten comfortable with.
But when bent too sharply the metal loses the spring-like elasticity needed to keep a tight fit. An expert could heat treat and anneal it, but at what cost?
Spare yourself the trouble, and get some new picks. |
I have new picks. I use JF picks, so the band doesn't need to be placed around a rod. I think that would screw up the fit of the bands. The problem I am having with the new pick is getting the blade bent the same as the broken one. I guess the old one got bent like it is from playing and bending while I playing, over the years. The old one still works, unless my middle finger is not working (have lost some control) but it is getting better. I have the problem of the pick hitting a string on the back of the pick, like if I was reaching for string 1, it might hit string 3 because I wasn't able to lift the finger enough to clear the strings. Sometimes it will knock my pick off. Luckily it has stayed on the guitar and not flying off onto the dance floor where it will get stepped. Been there.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2015 4:17 pm
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OK, I hear ya. Have you every tried some lightweight medical tape? The paper thin kind, its about 1/2" wide. I've had good success wrapping it once around a thumb pick. Stays on better than anything else. I've been meaning to try it on finger picks.
As for the back side of finger picks hitting a string, I have experienced that too, and it sure is annoying. These are indespensible for making adjustments:
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John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2015 4:30 pm
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Richard,
Don't let anyone discourage you from bringing back the original life and luster to your beloved fingerpick. Go to a jeweler, have him solder it with silver and polish it up on one of those dandy polishing wheels. You have given far too much of your time, attention and love to this fingerpick, not to mention the countless hours you two have spent together making beautiful music both solo and for audiences great and small. I'm pullin gor you brother ! 
JB
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 9:36 am
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| I wouldn't spend a lot of time and/or money on the old pick. Just buy a like new one and spend some time shaping it. I recently had to do that (and I'm still trying to get it shaped properly). |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:01 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
| I wouldn't spend a lot of time and/or money on the old pick. Just buy a like new one and spend some time shaping it. I recently had to do that (and I'm still trying to get it shaped properly). |
I was using the new pick all weekend here at home and think I am getting close.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:03 am
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| Atta boy! |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:17 am
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More good news. It looks like I am gaining some control over my middle finger. I would say it's about 75%.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:26 am
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| that's good bcause the middle finger is very important in life! |
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John Booth
From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:27 am
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OH LAWD !
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 12:01 pm
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| chris ivey wrote: |
| that's good bcause the middle finger is very important in life! |
Severely affected my ability to speak sign language. 
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 1:10 pm
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Silver solder will do the job. I've had the same set of pics for about 25 years. Getting kinda worn! But, my index pick is double-sided. I had my jeweler friend silver solder just the tips together.
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 2:40 pm
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Why?  |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 2:57 pm
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Double duty Erv. Jumping from steel to Tele. With the short blade on my thumbpick, I can grip the two-sided pick just like a flatpick, and do everything that you can do with a flatpick, like Doc's "Black Mountain Rag" (Flatpick) and instantly go into "Ticklin'The Strings"(fingerpick). Opened up a lot of interesting doors for me on Tele, and I didn't have to keep putting on and taking off my picks. I even fingerpick Gatton tunes. Been fingerpicking since about 1959 You can brush nice chords on steel too. Brush a chord and still have your thumb free for a lower string. Believe me, there's a lot you can do with that two-sided pick!
_________________
Dr. Z Surgical Steel amp, amazing!
"74 Bud S-10 3&6
'73 Bud S-10 3&5(under construction)
'63 Fingertip S-10, at James awaiting 6 knees
'57 Strat, LP Blue
'91 Tele with 60's Maple neck
Dozen more guitars!
Dozens of amps, but SF Quad reverb, Rick Johnson cabs. JBL 15, '64 Vibroverb for at home.
'52 and '56 Pro Amps
Last edited by John Billings on 9 Nov 2015 3:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 2:59 pm
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John,
Maybe you should apply for a patent. |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 8:01 pm
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I DO have a G# .011 string that I need to get welded...lemme know if you find a guy.
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 9:00 pm
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Just rent an acetylene welding setup, get some welding rod, and go to it. That string will never break in that spot again.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2015 11:14 pm
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This is a great thread.
The two JB's are here. They offer sound advice based on maturity and experience.
It's good to know we can depend on Erv to ask, "Why?"
No topic would be complete without an acerbic comment from Chris. If he lost his edge I would fear his abduction by aliens.
Richard, feel free to ignore my generous dose of well articulated, but often irrelevant details. Do what YOU want. Clearly this is not your first rodeo.
The improvement in control of your finger is good news indeed. Please post pictures of the picks when you are satisfied with them. I could use the input.
Dan |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 11 Nov 2015 11:15 am
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Here is a gadget I made to shape my picks with, 1/8" thick, 1/2" wide wide slot is about 1/8" for the pad of the pick, narrow end is for the band.
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Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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