Is SouthOrd a respectable brand?

by **Lock Jockey** » 4 Mar 2006 2:21

I bought their 11 piece set recently from a local store (later I found out they were much cheaper online) and I think they are great. Although I need to get another tool that will keep me from oversetting the low pins when there are high ones behind it.

by **dmux** » 4 Mar 2006 11:57

yea i have southord picks.. they work well, dont seem cheaply made to me

by **CapnCurry** » 6 Mar 2006 16:17

Southord is still making quality goods. I've had some picks from them, and have had no complaints about durability or quality. As has been mentioned previously in this thread, they do make some peculiar choices about tension wrenches, so I supplemented my tool set with a couple fancy wrenches.

Their "feather touch" wrench (the one with the red plastic handle, and the coiled spring between the handle and the part of the wrench that goes into the lock) is all but useless - I've never found a keyway large enough to accomodate the wrench by itself, let alone the wrench and a pick.

On the other hand, though, their circular tensioner tool is fantastic! I had to bend the wire prongs in just a little bit with a pair of pliers in order to get it to fit keyways, but man... does it ever make the picking job easier! I haven't bothered with the spring-loaded tensioner or the "adjustable" circular tensioner, just the $20 jobbie does the trick. The first time I picked a lock with it, I literally giggled.

Sorry, little tangent there. Bottom line is that Southord = good tools.

by **CPLP** » 6 Mar 2006 16:30

I like their tools, most of my picks are from them. Quality tools in my opinion. Like all tools, you just need to be gentle with it. They bind if you force them too much but I guess that's normal, with such a tickness if you apply to much pressure they will end up binded. Some times when a lock is giving me a hard time I just get nuts and start raking and scrubbing like a maniac but then I realize I'm being unconscienced and so I stop it, take a break and start again when I'm calm. They are nice picks and only break one so far since I beggan picking (it was from the jacknife and because of getting irritated like I mentioned). I like their tools.

by **sams choice** » 7 Mar 2006 15:02

southord mpx14? or something like that was my first pick set. Then i upgraded to a hpc npdk 32. In all i miss my southard set a little bit. They are the most used by people starting out because they are the easiest to find. If you go to google and type in "lockpicks buy" southord stuff comes up. They make wonderful 7 and 8 pin tubular picks, and everyone loves their shems. shims or shems? someone help me.

by **CPLP** » 7 Mar 2006 19:07

shims

by **ilvg2k** » 13 Mar 2006 21:55

I ordered the MXPS-32 kit from Southord (my first). The set came with 33 picks, not 32 as advertised. Guess I got my moneys worth on that one.

As for quality I have no other experience using any other brand but I am very pleased with them from a beginners perspective.

As a side note, I was pleased that the leather case they came in was nice soft leather and not the cheap cardboard leather. I would buy from them again.

by **Dartan** » 14 Mar 2006 11:18

ilvg2k wrote:I ordered the MXPS-32 kit from Southord (my first). The set came with 33 picks, not 32 as advertised. Guess I got my moneys worth on that one.

As for quality I have no other experience using any other brand but I am very pleased with them from a beginners perspective.

As a side note, I was pleased that the leather case they came in was nice soft leather and not the cheap cardboard leather. I would buy from them again.

Reading this made me think of something.

I have the MPX-17 from SouthOrd which I love, but find that I only use a few of the picks in the set ever. Is there really a use for having more than a handfull of different style picks?? Personally, I think I would be overwhelmed if I was just starting out and got a 32 piece pick set.

Dave

by **ilvg2k** » 14 Mar 2006 17:11

Dartan wrote:
ilvg2k wrote:I ordered the MXPS-32 kit from Southord (my first). The set came with 33 picks, not 32 as advertised. Guess I got my moneys worth on that one.

As for quality I have no other experience using any other brand but I am very pleased with them from a beginners perspective.

As a side note, I was pleased that the leather case they came in was nice soft leather and not the cheap cardboard leather. I would buy from them again.

Reading this made me think of something.

I have the MPX-17 from SouthOrd which I love, but find that I only use a few of the picks in the set ever. Is there really a use for having more than a handfull of different style picks?? Personally, I think I would be overwhelmed if I was just starting out and got a 32 piece pick set.

Dave

Reading THAT, I have to agree. Ive only made real use of 5-6 picks and tension tools. I might find a use for more as i get my technique down?

by **Blink** » 15 Mar 2006 17:23

I also purchased the MPXS-32 kit when I was starting out. I purchased the kit because it looked like a great kit, and wasn't a small 5 piece set, I figured I'd buy this and it would last me a while so I wouldn't have to order picks from the US for a little while.

I would not recommend the 32 piece kit as basically, it is 11 main picks with re-inforced handles, then copies of those picks, but they are not reinforced, the handle is as thick as the tip. If I were to do it again, I would go for a smaller set, something like 8, 11, or 14 piece, but I would make sure the handles I got were re-inforced, I love the feel. I might also consider looking into some HPC (small kit) as I have used these and they are great.

Out of the 11 picks that have re-inforced handles, I use about 4: small hook, snake, W rake, and half-diamond. I can't imagine using the large hook for anything, it's almost too large to fit into the keyway, and the two large rakes I haven't been able to pick anything. As for the balls, I'm sure they'll be useful as I hear people using them often, I haven't picked many wafer locks though.

For me, a perfect set would be:
Small hook
Med. Hook
Small Deforest
Med. Deforest
Snake
W rake
Maybe a double ball rake as well.

Just my $0.02

by **Buggs41** » 17 Mar 2006 7:08

Bump

by **LeaKeD** » 17 Mar 2006 12:09

first Picks i ever bought were a cheap $20 SouthOrd 2 Picks and 1 tension wrench Set. Then i got into grinding my own picks and then heard about HPC and was looking for those but I ran into that SouthOrd set with that Brass Handle and it had a bent pick in it and i realized i only needed 3 picks total the Snake, Diamond, Hook. so i sold that set to my friend and only had a few home mades and my 3 piece i bought for $20 . I then found out a HPC supplier that didnt need a Licence to buy from and i bought only the picks i needed, Snake, Diamond, Hook and WOW HPC is Awsome!! 6 months later i bought back-up picks incase any broke . then i ran into the HPC JackKnife and after hearing that all Jack's are crappy, Mine is actually VERY GOOD.. I carry it everywhere with me, unless i know im gunna be around some very difficult locks.. So SouthOrd is good but HPC is .... BETTER!! :lol:

by **Blink** » 17 Mar 2006 14:42

Leaked, just wodnering, where did you buy your HPC's, and are they the stainless or spring steel?

Blink

by **LeaKeD** » 17 Mar 2006 17:31

Spring and some place on the net i think they went out of business

by **skedone** » 7 Apr 2006 13:05

i have the 2010 and jacknife jpx-s set and i love them both very good for uk locks so i have found there worth a look they do need a bit of finishing in my opinion, as these are stped out so edges are a bit sharp. so my verdict is that they are very good as long as u sooth blade face and slightly round the edge

Is SouthOrd a respectable brand?

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