The C2010 Lock Pick Set

[amcutem]

Hello everyone. I hope im allowed to post here.

My name is Andy and im new to the hobby.

After getting my first lock pick set, a cheap 8$ set from hongkong, which got me into this hobby about a week ago, i've have decided to get a decent set of picks. I ordered the C2010 Lock Pick Set today. Its a 22 piece slim line lock pick set made by Southord for 70$, and I wanted to know whether i made a decent choice picking my first real lockpick set. Also, will it be easier to pick locks with this set compared to my 8$ ones?

I do not know yet how far I will get in this new hobby, but I would really like to learn it properly and start with proper gear.

Last week, within receiving my first lock pick set, I have managed to pick a couple of locks. I picked my craftsman toolbox, our work flatbed truck, and a 96 acura integra for sale at work. It din't really take much. I inserted the tension rod and slid one of the picks inside out untill the plug turned.

I then tried to pick my first house lock, our back door door knob. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out. Now, i can not even open it with the proper key. Bummer. I guess i did something wrong...

Any comments is appriciated....

[Jeremym0411]

I would recommened a dvd called lock picking for the new millenium by david storm. The dvd is really good for beginners. Also as a rule of thumb don't pick a working lock that is in service. Buy a padlock or key in knob lock to practice on.

[amcutem]

I would recommened a dvd called lock picking for the new millenium by david storm. The dvd is really good for beginners. Also as a rule of thumb don't pick a working lock that is in service. Buy a padlock or key in knob lock to practice on.

YOu know what, you make a lot of sense. Thanks for telling me that...

I was just about to listen to the voice inside my head that's telling me to try picking the front door.
Your advice made it just in time... Thanks...

I think i might follow your reccomendation about the DVD, but not quite yet.. Let me payoff the lockpick set first..

[amcutem]

Do you guys mind telling me whats a good lock to practice on....Anything?.

[Solomon]

Slimlines are designed for locks with very tight keyways... take a look at this example. From left to right are Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, Asec, and EVVA. You need slimlines for the latter 2 because they're so narrow and jagged, but you can pick the others with standard picks just fine.

You're not gonna come across many locks that you can't pick with standard size picks, especially in the US. So for the most part the slimlines you bought are unnecessary... there is a good selection of hooks and offsets there though, so you've got plenty to experiment with and you'll find 2 or 3 that you really like. Just go easy on them, you can push them every now and then but if you're heavy handed in general then they won't last long.

In all honesty though, the ones you had were fine. Cheap doesn't mean rubbish, I have a set of picks which I got off DX for $5 and they're surprisingly nice to use. I actually find myself using them more than my petersons, which is a sin... but they get the job done. And out of that cheap set I have one hook I like; I don't need to reach for anything else 90% of the time. Buying a bigger or more expensive set of picks won't make it easier. Practice, patience and understanding will. Take your time, concentrate, know what you're doing - and then you'll know what kind of picks you need.

Oh yeah, and buy some locks off ebay. That way if you break something, it doesn't matter.

[lockpickfan]

The Southord 22 pc. Slimline was my second set too, after the 5USD hook set from Dealextreme.

The picks are fantastic, but with harder moves, you can bend it very easy.

Now I use this set only in the tighter keyways, like Abus Pfaffenhain, EVVA, etc.

To the normal keyways i like the standard HPC and HPC 2000 picks more, cause the slimline pick is not so stabile on the top of the pins in wider profile.

For practice to any lock, my friend make a practice-cube.
In a wooden cube, there is 5 double sided euro lock. In the first half, there is a single pin, there is a spool in the next, 1 spool and 1 single in the third, and so on.
If you make something like this, you can practice the feeling of pins, it helps a lot.

Lockpickfan