Want to give those expired credit cards a fresh lease of life? Then purchase a Pickmaster Plectrum Punch and turn your unwanted plastic into a handy strumming device. I used to cut my own plectrums with scissors - but the size wasn't regular, and they ended up looking more circular in shape than the classic teardrop '351' design. The Pickmaster punches out plectrums which are roughly 3 x 2.5 centimetres in scale, which roughly equates to the industry approved size.

Price & Design
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Costing £19.99 from play.com, the Plectrum Punch looks a little like a nutcracker, although it's flatter and embossed with the Pickmaster branding. Measuring 16 x 9cms, the device is fairly comfortable to hold but doesn't feel quite as sturdy as it looks. To use the punch, simply slide the piece of plastic you want to use into the 'jaws' (credit cards are an ideal thickness, although it will do a little thicker if required), and squeeze firmly. A fair bit of force is needed, but it's not something which requires a bodybuilder's physique.

Performance
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In my experience i've found that the Pickmaster works very well, yet leaves a fairly ragged edge on the plectrums it produces. To be honest, this is a little disappointing, but the edges can be smoothed with some sand paper or a file. I've found that as i've used the product more and more, producing plectrums is getting a little more difficult each time - I guess the punch teeth are becoming blunter, which leads me to ask how much longer the Pickmaster will be useable for.

Final Word
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"Free plectrums for life" was one of the phrases using in the marketing of the Pickmaster - and in theory this could well be the case; it's very satisfying being able to take an unwanted piece of plastic and forge from it something which is useful to a guitarist. However, whilst my experiences with the Pickmaster have been satisfactory to date, i've read a number of reports from people which state that their one's have suddenly snapped in half! - watch this space for updates...