Plenty of contractors have stuck with OEM picks for years, and for good reason. They know what they’re getting. But a few common beliefs about aftermarket picks don’t hold up once you look at them closely.

Here are five we hear most often.

Myth 1: A lower price means lower quality

Price tells you about a supplier’s costs, not the quality of the pick. OEM pricing carries brand, distribution and overhead costs that have little to do with how the carbide performs on your drum.

A well-made aftermarket pick from an experienced manufacturer can wear on par with OEM. Contractors who trialled PPA picks told us exactly that, and some said ours outlasted what they normally run.

[Read: What contractors told us]

Myth 2: All aftermarket picks are the same

They aren’t. Carbide grade, recycled vs virgin carbide, tip geometry, body steel and brazing quality all vary between manufacturers. Two picks can look identical on the bench and wear very differently in the ground.

That’s why it matters who you buy from. A good supplier knows where their picks are made, how they’re tested, and what conditions they suit.

[Read: How to compare carbide grade in cutting picks]

Myth 3: The cheapest pick saves you the most

The pick with the lowest unit price isn’t always the cheapest to run. If it wears fast, you buy more, change more often and lose more time at the drum.

The real measure is cost per metre: what you spend on picks for each metre of road. A pick that costs a little more but lasts much longer can work out cheaper.

Myth 4: Switching means changing your setup

PPA picks are made to standard 22mm and 20mm shank sizes to suit Wirtgen and other common milling and stabilising machines. They fit your existing holders, so there’s no change to your drum.

[Read: PPA milling and stabiliser picks compatibility guide]

Myth 5: There’s no one to call if something goes wrong

That depends on the supplier. Buying online from an overseas seller can leave you with no local contact and no easy way to sort out a problem.

PPA is based in Western Australia. We hold stock locally, we answer the phone, and we stand behind what we sell.

The easiest way to test it

If you’re not sure, run a trial. Put some PPA picks on your drum alongside what you normally use and compare the wear yourself.

Get in touch and tell us your machine and the type of work.