Make Your Own Guitar Picks For Free

I dunno if anybody here has ever tried it, but you can use old grocery store value cards or old credit cards to make your own guitar picks. These come in handy if you are ever at a gig and cant find a pick.

Its really easy to do, takes about 5-10 minutes, and you can come up with some pretty interesting looking picks.

Build Your Own Guitar Picks

That was something I did when I was 12 yrs old. Used to use plastic lids from oleo margerine. I think if I used a credit card I'd shread it in about 30 seconds. If I use anything but tortex any more it starts smokin. I love fender mediums and heavys but I melt them playing. Back in the 70s I used to use

.008s and they were ok. My style of playing must have changed or the picks have gotten softer which is more likely the case. At least with a tortex I'll get through a set or two before I switch to a new pick.

thats a great way to stop your self buying to much beer at a gig too. bonus

chicks dig it too....

they ask you for a signed pick, you dont have one, so you whip out an old credit card, cut out a pick and sign it for em.

For what its worth, if you do it right it is pretty cool to have your own design

-D

Diaz,

Like special shapes?

totally round or oval might be kinda cool.

I made one when I was 16 (way too many years ago now) out of an american express card. It looked pretty damn cool with that american express spartan dude in the center of the pick. I used that one for years.

That would be cool in an emergency, but looking at my Credit Cards I am sure I would destroy that thin plastic in a couple of songs.

Thanks for the tip...

After posting in this thread a few minutes ago I stared looking around for something more "Stiff" to make picks out of. I used to play with a quarter (25 cent coin) but it was hard to hold on to. So I decided to make a brass one just for grins.

I cut the basic shape with a jig saw...

...then did the close in cut with a nibbler....

... a little shaping with a little belt sander .... (or a grinder or bastard file)

.... clean off the roughness with a nail file or sand paper....

....basically finished.....

... I also drilled two holes, in part for my key ring, and it makes the metal easier to hold without twisting.....

This whole thing took about 20 minutes to do and should last forever, it will be on my key ring so I always have a pick with me.

A pick this stiff is not for everybody, but I just hate flexie-picks.

Casey!

That totally rocks!

You interested in posting this as an addendum to my article on my website with full credits?

Cliff M.

I made one when I was 16 (way too many years ago now) out of an american express card. It looked pretty damn cool with that american express spartan dude in the center of the pick. I used that one for years.

yea, I thought a nice big piece of plexiglass that is the "thickness" you like from home depot would work great too.

I got some spare plexiglass, maybe i'll try it out.

amusing idea !

I rough-cut a few ones during school this morning :

Show them to the other chicks in class. They should be pretty impressed.

what material did you use? The teacher's credit card or your homework?

:p:p:p

I used a sample credit card I found in a magazine

Nice....

You've been pre-approved!

Sure do what you want with it. I have a lot of DIY stuff out in Cyber Land already. The fun of DIY is sharing ideas with others.

I think if nothing else it proves you can make picks out of litlerally anything. I am going to look around for more stuff to turn into a pick, I have a load of various kinds of plexi laying around I might decide to try too.

Awesome, i'll get it posted tonight probably. If you join my site i can make you an author and you can edit it.

Ok

I make picks from stiff leather.

do they soften up over time?

You guys have way too much time on your hands.

we're guys... we like to make stuff.

What else am gonna do with all the tools I insist that I need.

:thu:

The part I enjoy most about the actual building of an amp is fabrication. I like the problem solving involved in finding ways to make as much from scratch as I possibly can, even if some of it doesn't have that profesional touch. I have learned a lot of cool stuff to build amps.

What else am gonna do with all the tools I insist that I need.

Hahaha, yup I know that tune too.....