A way to make fingerpicks more comfortable

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 5 Jan 2009 9:16 pm

Hey folks,
A while back there was a discussion about how to make fingerpicks more comfortable to wear. A method that worked well for me was to use heat-shrink tubing (commonly used to dress electrical wires), which provides a nice pad that keeps the edges of the metal bands from touching your fingers. It also helps the picks stay on without excessive pressure, and it looks cool! Here's how to do it:

Get some 1/4" heat shrink tubing from a hardware store. I used Gardner Bender brand, and I think I got it at True Value. Figuring you'll need 2 pieces per fingerpick, cut the appropriate number of sections from the longer piece of tubing. I found that roughly 1" pieces worked for me when treating Dunlop picks - you want enough to slip over the band and leave a little extra.

You may need to use a pair of pliers to stretch the tubing out slightly so it will slide over the bands, as shown:

Slip the pieces over the bands of the fingerpick:

Then, using the pliers, hold the pick above the flame. Rotate the pick around so it gets heated evenly. The tubing will shrink until it is form-fitting.

Once this is done, let the pick cool and cut off any excess tubing with scissors or a blade. Voila! A nice, comfortable, padded fingerpick that won't slip off.

I hope someone gets some use out of this!
Bryan

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 5 Jan 2009 10:08 pm

Great idea, Will it work with National finger picks as well? Im gonna try it!

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 5 Jan 2009 11:18 pm

Yes, I tried it on a set of Nationals as well, and it worked fine.

Johnny Thomasson · Post by **Johnny Thomasson** » 6 Jan 2009 4:25 pm

Hey, thanks for posting that! I'm gonna give it a try.

Austin Tripp · Post by **Austin Tripp** » 6 Jan 2009 8:03 pm

Hey Bryan, I tried some on my picks and it takes a while to get used to but its very comfortable and the picks dont fall off

Jeff Hyman · Post by **Jeff Hyman** » 6 Jan 2009 9:28 pm

I recall something about JF Picks with a coating. This is a great idea, but I wonder what the difference is between the two? Anyone know?

Doug Rolfe · Post by **Doug Rolfe** » 7 Jan 2009 6:25 am

We have been selling both Kaiser and National picks for years by doing this process. However, just a word of caution, instead of using a flame to shrink the wrap, put the picks with the loose wrap on them in a small pan of water and bring it to a boil. The wrap will shrink very nicely around the pick and it doesn't change the characteristics of the metal in the pick. The temp of the pick will not go above 212F but a flame can change the metal if you are not very careful as it can raise the temp much higher.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 9 Jan 2009 2:37 am

Hey Doug, thanks for the tip! What would the excess heat from the flame actually do to the metal, in an extreme case?

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 9 Jan 2009 10:15 am

A hair dryer has always worked just fine for me

.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 9 Jan 2009 10:47 am

that was just what i was gonna suggest Larry

Greg Wisecup · Post by **Greg Wisecup** » 9 Jan 2009 12:05 pm

Bryan, I went straight home ( after absconding with 4 in. of blk heat shrink from work ) and boiled them on. They're perfect. Great tip!!! Greg

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 16 Apr 2010 1:31 pm

You may have just put Andy Hinton out of business,shame on you.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 16 Apr 2010 2:43 pm

Ransom, hopefully you're kidding, I wouldn't want to put anybody out of business. I've been using heat shrink on electrical wires for years, and after trying everything from Gorilla Grip to plastic-dip compounds, I arrived at this on my own.

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 16 Apr 2010 3:26 pm

Bryan,

I recall you mentioning this in another thread briefly some time ago.
Thanks for the how-to! It's a very comfortable non-slip grip.

As previously mentioned, a hair dryer works really well too.

Clete

Frank Sprague · Post by **Frank Sprague** » 16 Apr 2010 10:11 pm

Hey Bryan - I've been using heatshrink on my picks for over a year - works well , but I found that it makes them a little "bulky" - A heat gun does the shrinking quicker than other methods . - As far as compromising the integrity of the metal from overheating - the tubing will go up in flames before that happens !

Don Drummer · Post by **Don Drummer** » 17 Apr 2010 6:22 am

If the bulky feeling doesn't work for you try using fiddle rosin emulsifiied by a drop of rubbing alcohol. Getsome on your picking fingers and you are good to go. Don D

Ransom Beers · Post by **Ransom Beers** » 17 Apr 2010 6:34 am

Yeah I was kiddin',I think it's a great idea & wish I'd thought of it first.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 17 Apr 2010 8:42 am

i tried the heatshrink & found it conclusive
nevertheless, i recommend using thin heatshrink
if they're too thick, not only are they bulky, they can rub against each other

btw : i got some of Andy's coated picks & they're good

Larry Johnson · Post by **Larry Johnson** » 17 Apr 2010 11:18 am

Hi Bryan,I have a dumb question? Can you easily bend the picks to fit your finger, after you heat shrink the
material.Larry J.

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 17 Apr 2010 12:55 pm

This forum is a wealth of great music and ideas. Thanks for the finger...tip, Bryan. I've got strong fingernails but I've been trying to get used to using fingerpicks for the superior tone and volume. No matter how well-shaped the picks are, my fingers still wind up kind of sore. Just got back from the hardware store but next visit, getting some tubing and then rounding up my heat gun. Last time I used it, set a zither on fire--the cellulose binding, actually--but think I can handle the fingerpick job.

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 18 Apr 2010 10:52 am

I still think you can't beat the old eyeglass nosepiece pad trick. Comfy and they stick on quick and easy.

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 19 Apr 2010 8:57 pm

Michael,

That's a great idea I never saw, heard or thought of.
I just shrink-wrapped a half dozen Dunlop .025's, but I'll give that a try next batch. Thanks.

Clete

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Apr 2010 9:13 am

I think I've tried all these variants, but because of the bulk consideration I find I'm best off with the traditional "lick yer fingers and use naked picks" routine. If you get super finicky about shaping the bands, using two pairs of pliers, preferably one of them roundnose jeweler's pliers, the metal bands can fit & stick great. I think it's most useful to have one set of picks to play with, and (at least) one other set you're working on (watching TV, in bed, etc.) When the other set becomes most comfortable, work on the first set.... spending practice time dicking with picks can lead to an acute shortage of practice time.

I also alternate Dunlops 225's, Kysers & NP2's promiscuously.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 20 Apr 2010 10:03 am

I actually find that my fingers change enough from day to day (or else gremlins are bending my picks while I sleep!) that I'm best off having two or three pairs handy that are not quite the same (I've never been able to get two pairs to be the same anyway). The pair that felt really comfortable yesterday will often feel nasty today, but be comfortable again tomorrow or the next day.

Maybe it's just me??

Les Hardin · Post by **Les Hardin** » 20 Apr 2010 10:39 am

Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna try both suggestions.
Why didn't I think of this.