New learning directions advice.

[taylorgdl]

yes, wires require more practice, but will allow you to open a greater range of locks

2 in 1's are normally sized to a particular lock, i.e. union 3 lever lock
You will need a 2 in 1 for each type of lock
and £40 is not to bad, I spend around £300 for each safe lock pick, and they are basically the same thing!

Those skeleton keys are a complete waste of time/money

Erdnaseuk - are you looking at becoming a professional locksmith or just interested as a hobby?

If doing this as a job, get on a decent course, as a lot of the job doesn't involve picking locks

Letterbox tools already exist

If this is all for a hobby, learn to pick whichever locks you are interested in, it doesn't really matter

[Erdnaseuk]

just a hobby at the moment. Have alway beem fascinated by lockpicking.
thanks for the advice

[Erdnaseuk]

I said that I would provide short details of the wires picks I used once I got around to making some.
So I ended up using a split ring (was difficult to straighten out, but you can do it with patience and two pairs of pilers). I then Removed the bit from a mini screw driver and glued it it.
The tools works but the diameter of the split ring could do with being a little smaller. Its also a little uncomfartbale to use (due to the ridges in the handle) but I dont think its a bad attempt for my first go
I havent made a bolt turner yet but I was just planning on using filing down a key to use (dont currently need it as I am using a vice and can manually push the bolt).

[mechanical_nightmare]

So far I have seen people recommending 1.5mm piano wire to do the task. Are there other sizes that you think I should get? Also the guy at the piano store told me that piano wire would probably not be a good material to try and do what I'm going to be doing, what wire do you guys use and how does it perform?

[GWiens2001]

I use bicycle spokes. Easy to acquire, fairly easy to work with, strong, and available in various thickness and lengths.

Unless the piano store guy picks locks, he probably does not know how well the wire would work. Was at a hardware store a few months ago, and an aspiring lock picker was asking which hacksaw blades would work best. The salesperson said they would not work at all. As the person was walking out the store in disappointment, I quietly flagged them down and old them what to get, and some other options. My favorite hook is from a hacksaw blade.

Good luck,

Gordon

[mechanical_nightmare]

Thank you Gordon, I am thinking of getting bicycle spokes and piano wire in several thicknesses and then making tools once I get my hands on some locks. One site I came across recommended .9mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.42mm and 1.6mm, so I'll get those to begin with. You are right about the piano store guy, he has no clue... As for hacksaw blades, I love the Swedish-made Bahco brand. They do not break, bend only with extreme pressure and are resistant to corrosion; I've seen other members recommend them too. What brand do you use?