good at bending picks (noob)

[supergas]

hi guys
im new into lockpicking and have bought a nice set of slimline picks southord c2010
and when using them noticed them on a yale 5 pin i have i have noticed 1 or 2 starting to bend slightly i presume this is due to my ineperience and maybe being a little too heavy handed
i have managed to pick the yale only twice so far .
so i have started to make some picks to learn with so if i brake or bend them it doesnt matter, i was wondering is bending picks common? also i am making them from starrett senior hacksaw blades.
any tips would be greatly apprechiated

thanks in advance

Rich.

[deception]

They shouldn't bend, maybe after repeated and excessive use, but not after picking a couple of locks.

You should try to lighten up on the tension, it's good to practice light tension, you not only get better feedback from the lock in my opinion, it will also result in being able to pick security pins much easier and will allow you to get better.

[supergas]

thanks, i was been heavy handed, since lightening my tension i have managed to pick the lock a further 2 times, i guess i just got to keep at it.

[GeneT]

After you've made a couple of good picks, you'll start using your purchased picks for fear of bending your good homemade ones...

GsT

[caphector]

I've been picking a lot of locks recently and I haven't had any tools bend. I've got a set of picks from Southord and the only issues I've seen is when my 2 year old niece tried to "pick" a lock I set down by jamming a hook in and twisting.

How much tension are you putting on the lock? That might cause the pins to bind too hard and require you to push harder than you'd need to when attempting to pick the lock. I generally find myself barely pressing on the tension wrench.

I haven't made my own picks yet so I can't help you there.

[supergas]

it was purely me being too heavy handed with the tension wrench then beause of this requires more pressure through the pick, i have corrected that now and my success rate has shot up i stil get beat by some of my locks but its all about putting in the time on them.

cheers
Rich.

[raimundo]

Have you heard about sanding picks, smooth picks and rounded edges make them flow through the warding much better.

especially those sharp 90 degree edges that catch on all the warding, when rounded and sanded they work much better.

[supergas]

cheers raimundo ill bear that in mind

Rich.

[MrMandelbrot]

I bent the tip of my hook early on in my picking career. Ramundo is right - when I sanded my pick down after bending it back into shape, it was easier to use than ever.