Buying an Electric Pick

[Exodus5000]

I've searched the forums and I see that most people prefer the HPC electropick, which I assume is this: http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... &ProdID=12

I'm in the market to buy one, and just want to double check to make sure there isn't a superior tool out there. Thanks in advance.

[tsleddens]

I really like the Wendt (Zieh-Fix) electropick. But it makes a lot of noise. Thats the only "problem" .
It is the best electropick i`ve ever tried

[vector40]

The HPC pick seems widely regarded as being at the top of the field... well, aside from something like the Multipick, but I think that's something else altogether.

Doesn't mean it's easy to use, though. Sunuva bleepity bleepin' murble murble tmriao,i,d.

[Ezer]

So Vec, you figured yours out yet? I finally hit the jackpot last night and found a setting that works with mine. It took me about a week of playing with those screws on top.

Have you used a mechanical pick gun? I don't think I'd have ever figured out the Electropick if I hadn't already learned how to use my Lockaid before hand.

[vector40]

I haven't. (On both counts.) Maybe that would've helped.

I've sort of set it aside while I get back to basics with manual picking for a bit. One of these days I'll lock myself in a room with six apples, a jug of water, and a padlock, and just not emerge until I figure it out... unless the thing's actually defective (doubtful), I guess it's merely a matter of fiddling until I grok it.

[vector40]

BTW, any tips from the snap gun perspective?

[Ezer]

I don't know if you've read this or even have the Lockaid gun, but it really helped me. viewtopic.php?t=164

I don't have the tools he talks about using on the picks to smooth and round their ends. I just used one of my hand files. The best tip I got out of that post was putting a mark on the pick where the bow of a key starts. I filed a notch in the top of the pick just big enough to see, and checked that I wasn't putting the pick in farther than that notch. Eventually you get used to how much of the pick should be sticking out of any particular lock by comparing different sized keys to the pick.

Once you've gotten depth down, you just have to figure out where to have the needle in the plug. You want it resting on the ward directly beneath the pins. If you have to keep alot of upwards pressure on the gun to keep the pick from being pushed down or to the side it's probably not going to work there.

I've found that with some locks it's much easier to use either the Electropick or the Lockaid depending upon the force exerted by the pins on the needle. If the springs in the lock are pretty strong and the pins are pushing on the ward they're touching with a good amount of force, I usually go with the Lockaid, because it's sturdier and will stand up to that better than the Electropick will. If their is room between the pins and the ward, that seems like the best situation for the Electropick.

After saying all that, I have to also say that I've only been using the Lockaid for a week and the Electropick for a day and a half. This is just what works for me, nothing more.

[Ezer]

I meant to say something about tension as well. I know most posts on the subject of tension when using a gun say to use varying tension or to apply tension right when you pull the trigger, but honestly my reflexes suck. I just use constant light tension, and I still usually get the lock open by the third pull of the trigger. I use that standard L shaped black wrench that came with the Electropick. That's my favorite wrench now. I use it with my manual picks as well.

[Exodus5000]

I'm glad to see that my thread on electropicks has become something more valuable than just me asking for advice. I get my HPC electropick on tues or weds, i'll let you know how it works out for me.

[tsleddens]

I`d really like to hear your opinion about it. Good luck with it, and have fun

[Exodus5000]

Ok, My Electropick just arived today!

I eagerly tore the packaging open, and found the electropick, the charger, and a little yellow envelope with 2 straight pick heads 2 bent pick heads, two tension wrenches, an extra spring and an extra screw/nut.

The inside cover of the box read that I need to charge this beast for 14 hours before the first use! Well, it got through maybe 3 hours and I started playing with it. I really live the tension wrenches they included, they're rapidly becoming my favorite wrenches - and i've got probably about 100 wrenches laying around.

I put on a straight pick head and messed with the throw a bit, I opened the first lock I stuck it in, a cheapo no-name in-handle lock on a closet door. I used the pick upside down and gave it a few short bursts and she opened pretty quick.

I'm making sure that i'm real careful to keep the pick still and straight when it is in the lock, but after this little use th epick head already has some scratches on the sides is this normal wear and tear? It's finishing charging right now and im anxious to let it rip on some harder locks.

[vector40]

Yes, it seems to be basically impossible to avoid scratches.

[Ezer]

There's not a bit of black left on mine on the part of the pick that's inserted in the plug. As long as you're careful not to put the pick too far into the plug when you're first starting, you will have a clearly visible line of how far to put it in on most standard sized plugs once it gets that way.

[Exodus5000]

After i've played with my electropick for a few weeks im completely convinced that it's a magic wand. I must have gotten lucky when I set my throw, because everything i'm working on just keeps opening within 10 bursts, usually under 5 bursts of my EP.

What i'm working on is a variety of locks commonly found on household doors, kwiksets, masters, brinks, and schlages. I ran it briefly once on my best SFICs with no success, but I have yet to really give it a decent chance.

This is the perfect tool for my lockout business, especially on those cold wisconsin nights when I get out of bed at 3 in the morning. I just have to be concious enough to insert it correctly and my hands don't get cramped from picking in the cold.

[vector40]

Okay, tell us your technique, Mr. Wizard