Ever tried one of these "Pick Punch" for making picks?

[Ranger Roger]

Has anyone had success with one of these pick makers? It seems like a gimmick since you can buy picks in bundles for less, and how many picks do you go thru to make this device cost effective?

AM I missing something here?
As an example-
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

[Ausdoerrt]

A friend of mine has one. It works. The resulting pick aren't as good as the factory-made ones unless you put the work into beveling them etc. I'd say it's good if you constantly lose picks, and/or have access to cheap materials (plastic) to use as pick fodder.

You can probably find places to buy both the punch and the plastic cheaper than what's listed on Amazon.

[Rob Beck]

I was given one as a present, I didn't find it much use as I, in common with probably a lot of other mandolin players, prefer a thick plectrum. The ones I did make from old credit cards etc. needed some finishing as they were rather rough around the edges. They would probably work for people who like thin plectrums, but as you say, maybe not very economical.

[DavidKOS]

I use one regularly, and it does make good picks. As noted, though, more fine sanding on the edges and such make abetter product, so those blocks with various grades of sandpaper are very useful.

Be aware, the Ultex/ultem sheets are harder to cut through than most other plastics.

[Drew Egerton]

I was given one as a gift also. Never used it and got rid of it.

[darrylicshon]

I was given one as a gift also, but have no idea where it is oh and i never used mine either

[JeffD]

The primary use it has in my house is destroying credit cards and expired ID cards etc. The picks I make are not ultimately to my liking but many of my guitar friends love them.

[DavidKOS]

First, it depends on the shape of the pick that the punch makes, they have several different models.

Next, it's easier with thinner materials, and that tends more to guitar picks than to mandolin picks these days.

Last, it really does depend on your choice of materials and how much final finishing you put into it. I let the uke and mandolin student I taught last year make their own picks, and they really enjoyed it. But even the kids learned that they needed to fine-finish the picks before use. The edges are rough,unbeveled and unpolished until you smooth them out.

this tool works well:

http://www.pickpunch.com/1-large-fou...gust12011.html

[bobcoe]

I got one as a gift. Picks aren't great, but a great way to destroy credit cards!

[Londy]

I have one as well. Got it as a gift and I do use it to destroy credit cards and stuff. I don't play with them much because they are too thin. Yes, you do need to sand the edges down. It's kinda fun though. I just give them away most of the time.

[DavidKOS]

how many picks do you go thru to make this device cost effective?

I got one as a gift. Picks aren't great, but a great way to destroy credit cards!

I'm not sure it is meant to be cost effective - but it gives you a lot of control over what you make, and is also a good learning tool. The kids that made picks will remember that, and then there's one more thing that is part of their musical career - that they can make accessories.

For me, I can try various materials and see how they work. The kids all learned on picks from recycled plastics.

BTW, I've made my own picks on and off since the 70's, so I do enjoy it.

[Explorer]

My favorite local used shop had one of those in, as part of a huge pile they took in trade.

We all tried it, and came to the same conclusion after trying all kinds of materials, and with the punch being free for the taking.

NO ONE WANTED IT, EVEN FOR FREE.

Your experience may vary, especially if you feel you must justify having spent money on what we rejected based on results.

[Chris Browne]

I teach guitar in a high school and my pick punch has easily paid for itself. I've had it for about 4 years I think and it gets used (by students) every day.

[DavidKOS]

My favorite local used shop had one of those in, as part of a huge pile they took in trade.

We all tried it, and came to the same conclusion after trying all kinds of materials, and with the punch being free for the taking.

NO ONE WANTED IT, EVEN FOR FREE.

Your experience may vary, especially if you feel you must justify having spent money on what we rejected based on results.

Did you have the right materials and finishing tools?

I teach guitar in a high school and my pick punch has easily paid for itself. I've had it for about 4 years I think and it gets used (by students) every day.

A student situation is maybe the best overall use for a pick punch.

Well, I like using mine!

[Spruce]

NO ONE WANTED IT, EVEN FOR FREE.

If you ever visit a third world country, stick one in your luggage--you will be glad you did...
I did after seeing an amazing singer in a Mexican market, who was playing with an expired phone card as she had no picks...
So I vowed right then and there to collect the Pick Punches whenever I see them, and take them on the road...
Good stories and vibes will result...
Not everyone has access to good (or even lousy) picks...

Oh, and take some strings while you are at it....

[mandroid]

Ah, I see there is a variety of punches ,, bookmarked the 346 one that they show

but the factory they have make then is still filling the shipping container ..

[DHopkins]

It seems like most of the punches are purchased as gifts. I got one for Father's Day from my daughter so I almost had to do something with it.

One of the features of the punch is consistency: the picks are all exactly the same size. Taking advantage of that, I decided to put two colors together. My father used to use acetone to weld scrap Plexiglas when he was working on B-52s at Boeing in Wichita many years ago. Well, I found that that doesn't work with the materials that came with the Punch. However, super glue does work (and acetone does dissolve the super glue). A little tweaking with the included abrasives and it turns out a pretty decent pick. I have a small laser engraver that will work just fine for personalizing the picks. My daughter will be proud.

[LadysSolo]

I have one, I use it to make picks from old credit cards, insurance cards, library cards, etc. As all the cards are different, the picks all sound different. I clean up the edges with a nail file and nail buffer. Some sound like cr*p and some actually sound good - depends on the plastic the card was made from. It's amusing to play with, and destroys credit cards.

[David Lewis]

I've found that they're too thin. But if you can live with the thickness, what a way to get cheap picks.

[Roger Moss]

On the surface it seems like a good idea, and I can see that it can have some limited applications, but considering the extra work involved, and the low cost of perfectly good picks, it doesn't seem like something most people would find worthwhile.

[DHopkins]

On the surface it seems like a good idea, and I can see that it can have some limited applications, but considering the extra work involved, and the low cost of perfectly good picks, it doesn't seem like something most people would find worthwhile.

You're probably right but it does allow for color customization like I mentioned above (#17). I have a laser etcher so it also allows personalization. I certainly couldn't make it my livelihood but it's sorta fun to knock out a few personalized ones in a day.

[Mike Floorstand]

Now if someone could invent a tool that made credit cards out of old picks, I'd buy two of those

[mandroid]

A hydraulic jack powered one could cut thru thicker stuff ..

[Backlineman]

I have one, and use it all the time. Hotel key cards work the best for me. I'm pretty good at squeezing 5 picks out of one hotel key card. I travel a bit for work, and always ask for two keys when I check in, so that's 10 picks per hotel stay, if I remember to keep both keys. I tend to agree with a previous post that these pick punch picks are maybe better for guitar than for mando picking. I tend to prefer a thicker triangular shape for mando, but then again I'm not that "picky" and will use whatever's in my pocket.