I've been interested in making sets of tools for some time now.
Last year I finished the first complete set that I used last season
and the beginning of this season. They use Petzl Picks and were quite heavy.
The newest version is built around a water jet cut 6061 aluminum frame. I built
2 different tools to see what I preferred on top of this frame and to see
what would perform better. One has 1/4 inch
maple covering the aluminum, the other has birch in the lower handled and is covered
by carbon in the upper. Both tools were covered in carbon using a Vacuum Assisted Resin
Transfer Method (VARTM) with PTM&W epoxy resin. The tool with maple has one layer of fiber
reinforced with extra fiber where impact would be high. The other has the same treatment on
the lower handle and 6 layers on the upper shaft. Weight is 1lb 8oz for the maple covered tool
and 1lb 6oz for the birch and carbon tool.
I was happy the first swing I made with the tools as the pick angle is gentler than
the last set of tools I made.
Fit and finish will improve with the next tools I make.
Grivel, although pulling out of North America, still has a
desirable pick as it can be bolted directly to the tool.
The opportunities to make any design with this method are there. I was thinking
a set of traditionally shaped tools for ice or alpine might be the next project
as well as improving these.