Electric Pick Help

[Wolfe]

Ok ive been picking locks for a few years manually. A friend has givin me his 3V southord Electric pick. Ive never used one before in my life.This is how he told me to use it. Slide the pick into the lock until it touches the back with the stroke adjusted to about a 1/8 of a inch at the tip pulse the lock with light tension. Man this is very different to manual picking. Ive done a search and havnt found any tips or tricks while using a electric pick. Maybe someone could point me in the right direction or throw me some hints (when i say some i mean everything he/she may know) heh.

[Wolfe]

Oh yeah the LP for the new millennium has a whole thing about electric picks been a while since ive looked at that. but if anyone has anything that i havnt covered or the LPNM doesnt cover feel free to let me know.

[Lucky1406]

I have the same problem, I have only gotten it to work on one lock, Not as cool as it could be,
Nick

[CVScam]

I try my electric pick whenever I get a new lock just to see how fast or easy it will open. I try clockwise and counter clockwise with a standard tension wrench, if I can't get it to open I then try a feather touch tension wrench and moving the electric pick in and out like a rake but slower.

[Wolfe]

Its like learning how to pick locks all over again heh.

[RodVT]

I have a 3V SouthOrd also. I haven't had the patience yet to get the hang of it either. Someone here mentioned a few mods. Smooth the edges on the pick, or use an opened diaper pin instead (got to remember diaper pins next time I go shopping).

There is like the last safety pin factory in the U.S. about 60 miles from here. If I can get the diaper pin mod to work maybe I'll have them make up a few thousand custom picks for EPG's, LOL!

[Shrub]

Ive posted many many times on how to use them and even posted a full guide on making one with instructions to use one only last night so search around,

Your mate was almost right but dont touch the pick on the back of the lock and while 'pulseing' the pick needle bounce the tension,

It does take practice like everythign else,

[Wolfe]

Ive searched around the information i keep turning up either has the same info i already know or how to make one and last but not least which is better electric or non electric. I was gunning more for tips n tricks from others that have used one for a bit.To be more specific is optimum needle vibration,modification to needle tips,stroke technique so on and so forth.

I understand that a few of you have been here for a while and it seems like you answer the same question over and over again hell ive only belonged to this forum for a couple of months and ive answered the same questions over and over again. Ive searched ive come up with a blank.

Shrub if you posted many many electric pick tutorials I think someone is deleteing your posts because ive yet to find one.

I undertand practice is needed when it comes all aspects of lock picking,bypassing,manipulation im not asking for someone to do that for me im asking for some tips.
Thx in advance
W.

[RodVT]

Well, I rounded the edges of my pick gun tips today and finally had some success. Just on one of my real cheapo deadbolts with practically flat biting, but that was a start anyway.

More practice tomorrow. I have a Kwikset in my practice board with very severe biting and I finally found a really deep hook, and got it open today via SPP. Once I can get that one open with the guns I'll feel like I have learned something....

[Wolfe]

Im having moderate success with most lower end locksets like kwick and defiant. The more paracentric the keyway the less success im having.

Ive also noticed that a lot of brass dust/small chunks are being ejected from the keyway. Is this normal?

I know that the vibration of the tip or torque is veriable per lock, but generaly anywhere between a 1/8-3/16 of tip vibration works for most.

[bonez]

the brass dust is normal,

the epg does wear pins very quickly!!

to be honest the southord does not cut it
compared with the higher end picks such
as the wendt.

j.

[zeke79]

A different battery configuration would do wonders. You could do 7.4V worth of lithium Ion batteries. I would try protected cells first as the amp draw is likely under the amperage protection cutoff of decent cells.

Try two 18500's for cells.

[Shrub]

Shrub if you posted many many electric pick tutorials I think someone is deleteing your posts because ive yet to find one.

Try the top of the stickies in the automatic section

Other than that im sorry but you havent looked properly, there may not be specific threads made by me other than the stickies regarding epgs but i assure you i have somthign to say on nearly all epg threads so read the full thread if you havent already,

The movement of the tip isnt a good indicator,

Batteries are your best bet for that gun as Zeke said, as swapping the motor, pivot arm and speed control leaves you with a homemade gun that you could have made for 1/3rd of the price,

[Wolfe]

I got it for free so i cant complain to much about the price.
I've looked though the loose info floating around the Automatic/Mechanical section not a whole lot on electric operation.
I Have some 3.7V 2200 mAh fully protected on order ill give em a try thx for the help.

[zeke79]

Great! Now you can fashion a tube to hold them. The lithiums are smaller in diameter than the C size battery. I use 1" pvc turned down in a lathe but anything such as heater hose etc will work.