Curtain/Mortice picks

[alex20005uk]

HI all, i have go tthe basic hang of pin tumblers, and wanted to try my hand at some basic mortice/sash locks, maybe some 3 lever ones to start with. I believe i need some curtain picks????

ok so ive read ALOT of posts now and cant seem to get and answer so i hope someone can help:

what is the best type of curtain/mortice/sash pick/s to start with? Do you need different types for different levels of lever lock? or is there one i can buy/make that will get me by whilst il learn the basics?

i have seen where to buy most and that 2 in 1 is popular, but apparently these sites you need to be a practising locksmith. I am a beginner and only starting out so on no course (yet) and not in the trade. so what are my options? make my own? can someone point me in the right direction of a tutorial please?? If there are any on here i have been stupid and completely missed them.

Im not the best at making tools, but il have a go.

[Shrub]

You need to make your own if not a lockie and you need to search better, lever locks are mostly in the european sections and i have posted 2 guides recently on these locks and tools,

[alex20005uk]

ok mate thank you, i must have genuinely missed them cos ive been searching for the last 2 hours!!!! il have another go.

[Shrub]

Look in the european section and look at the stickies

[alex20005uk]

i got it!!! cheeers. Looks like im gonna need some tools. Im crap at making this sort of stuff. gotta learn sometime i guess

[Shrub]

[alex20005uk]

Shrub that scares me just looking at that home made pick! il need a grinder, vice and the ability to bend a piano wire! GULP

Just noticed devonlocks sell curtain picks for £65. I bought my 22 piece southard set of him 6 months ago - maybe he will let me buy this one.

[Shrub]

You dont need a grinder you can bend a wire with pliers and file a key blank in your hand,

Be careful with curtain picks, very few of them will go under the low levers, the ones that will you can not buy unless you are a lockie but the others may but only may be able to be modified, but dont depend on that fact,

[alex20005uk]

ok Shrub cheers, if thats the case, il go buy the tools, il probabyl save a few bob too. I suppose once i get going, i can make my own tools and modify them fo rdifferent locks

So out of curiousity, cos i cant do anything with it anyway - are there special sites/companies for locksmiths? or can anyone view these sites you just need an account to buy?

il be going on a course soon anyway when i save up some cash

Thanks again Shrub

[Shrub]

Well you can look at the Safe Ventures site but their pick deosnt go under the low levers, the better one is the chris belcher tools or mark fransis tools which do, chris has his own web site but you buy the picks from M.E.Duffels, get an account with them and buy his picks, its what i use,

[alex20005uk]

nice one shrub - il give it a shot, but also be ready for a bit of filing tomorrow!!!!!

[bobc]

Shrub that scares me just looking at that home made pick! il need a grinder, vice and the ability to bend a piano wire! GULP

Just noticed devonlocks sell curtain picks for £65. I bought my 22 piece southard set of him 6 months ago - maybe he will let me buy this one.

Hi alex

Just to let you know the Lever pick priced at £65 is for non-curtain mortice locks only.
Take Shrub's advice and have a go at making one even if its just to experiment. Good luck

bobc

[Shrub]

If your buying one go for the chris belcher picks, they cvant be beaten in my opinion,

[alex20005uk]

Thanks guys, but i have no idea about the difference betwen the 2! il do some digging into wehthere there are some photos on the curtained and non-curtained pick.

So basically will a pick that picks curtained locks also pick non curtain locks?

Hmmm, i think il do just that and have a go making my own before i go wasting cash. Chrisbelcher says the curtain pocket pick is great for beginners. Think i may have some fun trying my hands at a homebrew pick this weekend,

[Shrub]

No a curtain pick is for curtained locks and things like a 2 in 1 is for un-curtained locks,

The CB pick is the most versitile and used by most but its not a true begineer pick but then again none of them are, its all about practice,