Recommendation for padlock pick

[Kenny_N_1985]

Hi all,

New to the forum, only had one post and that had to be filtered as im still in my induction period. Im in the market for padlock 2in1 pick. Heard mixed reviews on the icl mainly negative. Been told the big 6 ERA pick will open a lot of its type. Matrix lock-tools has its version. I have the matrix regular 2-1 pick. I liked it that much i purchased another and customised it for mortice locks with keyway on outside only. Any opinions would come in handy.

Many thanks

[zeke79]

If I recall correctly, the big problem with the ICL curtain picks were with working around low setting levers and either being stuck behind or in front of them thus not being able to access levers on the other side of the low setting lever. The issue with the 2 in 1 picks from several years ago that I remember were issues with quality control and issues with users having to modify the pick end and tensioner end to allow them to work in some locks which resulted in them not working in all cases on other locks. I've never used the ICL tools so I cannot give a first hand review of them but most lockies I know from the UK chose other tools instead of the ICL picks. The CB picks being very popular.

If you are mechanically handy at all and have basic silver soldering skills you can easily make your own 2 in one picks using stainless steel hyopdermic tubing from a supplier such as smallparts.com. Here is an idea of what you can chose from and as you can see it is easy to find an inside diameter that will allow the outside diameter of smaller tubing to work in with more than acceptable tolerances http://www.amazonsupply.com/stainless-s ... 5485702011 . Using this material, some aluminum bar stock about 2" diameter, a couple set screws, a bolt that is not fully threaded and you have the makings of a few 2 in 1 picks for less than the cost of one ICL 2 in 1 once you silver solder the pick tip and tensioner tip on.