so it's time for me to buy some more picks

[south town ninja]

So it's once again time to buy some picks, and maybe some more tensioners. I'm thinking of buying some stuff for SPP from peterson, a slender gem maybe and a slender reach pick for sure. also, a peterson pry bar. would it do me any better to buy the non-slender versions? also, what other peterson picks should i include to make sure i have the tools i need for any SPP situation? Also, does anyone know what Schuyler Towne's competition pick set consists of? Oh wait, one more: where can I get a king/queen pick>?

[l0ckcr4ck3r]

depends on your picking style... if you are a little heavy handed (like me) the spenders 0.015" tend to bend pretty easy. I know Ken has just released some slightly thicker ones at 0.018" with Purple handles.. i need to get some but they might be a better bet than the real thin picks. The regular black handled picks i think are 0.025" and they work ok for most wide open keyways. Petersons are still my favorites by far. Get both thickness pry bars while you are at it and the " flat 5" tensioners are good as well. If you don't have a large chunk of change right now, "Kens Pick Set" in Gov steel is pretty good value to start with, you get the flat 5 in there and you can build your set from there.

[BSG_314159]

depends on your picking style... if you are a little heavy handed (like me) the spenders 0.015" tend to bend pretty easy. I know Ken has just released some slightly thicker ones at 0.018" with Purple handles.. i need to get some but they might be a better bet than the real thin picks. The regular black handled picks i think are 0.025" and they work ok for most wide open keyways. Petersons are still my favorites by far. Get both thickness pry bars while you are at it and the " flat 5" tensioners are good as well. If you don't have a large chunk of change right now, "Kens Pick Set" in Gov steel is pretty good value to start with, you get the flat 5 in there and you can build your set from there.

Those Petersons (0.015") do bend quite easily but they are amazing for SPP. Just bend them back and don't break the tip.

I recommend these picks
http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/default.asp
Affordable sets and they sell individual picks if you just need a new hook or half diamond.

[lsouth]

I recommend Sparrow picks as well. Excellent control and feedback. Also, on the note of tension wrenches, I just bought a Peterson pry bar, and I absolutely love it. Great top of the keyway tool!

[nickmannnxx]

I bought a batch of petersons a few weeks back. I ended up getting a few different peterson gems.
I ordered the slim in .015 (green handle) the slim euro in .018 (purple handle) and the euro in .025 (grey handle). The slender euro is very noticeably stronger than the original slender. I havent had any problems with it bending. I have bent my original slender picks some, but they do just bend right back. I am pretty rough with them.

Next time I order Im going to buy the whole slender euro set. I really like how these feel and they fit anywhere.

[nite0wl]

I find the .015 slenders to be a bit too flexible for my taste and they aren't available in euro profile which is another issue for me. Personally I mostly use Peterson's euro profile Hook 1 and half diamond in standard thickness (.025); and euro slender (.018) Hook 1, half diamond, and bogie 1.
If you prefer gem and reach picks try them in the euro slender version rather than the .015 thickness if you work on keyways that need euro profile tools.
As for tensioners, get both thicknesses of the pry-bar, and the Flat-Five tensioner set helps when you get something that is too tight even for the pry-bar lite.

If you really want a King and Queen set, Sparrows sells one.

[UnlockingBoredom]

I need a new pick thats for sure!!! I need something that can reach the back pin (6th) in an American 1205 and set it without over setting the 5th pin.... I purchased the lock a few days ago and pinned it up myself with 3 spools and 3 serrated pins... Stupidly, I put a #3 cut in the very back with a spool and a #8 cut pin right in front of it with a serrated pin. Every time I go to set that back pin, I really hit that #8 and it shoves it up and all my other pins drop....grrrrr

Anyone know of a pick that can get into the back of the American keyway and push the 6th pin up to a #3 without setting the 5th thats an 8?
I would really hate to shoot this thing with the 45-70 to open it....lol

[KPick]

I need a new pick thats for sure!!! I need something that can reach the back pin (6th) in an American 1205 and set it without over setting the 5th pin.... I purchased the lock a few days ago and pinned it up myself with 3 spools and 3 serrated pins... Stupidly, I put a #3 cut in the very back with a spool and a #8 cut pin right in front of it with a serrated pin. Every time I go to set that back pin, I really hit that #8 and it shoves it up and all my other pins drop....grrrrr

Anyone know of a pick that can get into the back of the American keyway and push the 6th pin up to a #3 without setting the 5th thats an 8?
I would really hate to shoot this thing with the 45-70 to open it....lol

Use an offset diamond from Southord or a Long Hook from Southord, slimline versions are great and they work like a charm on american locks.

[Big Jesse]

just wanted to throw in my 2 cents... i just bought the entire Peterson Euro Slender Picks .018, and I freaking LOVE them. they are my favorite. typically i use 3 different picks,
1. a short hook, 2. a gem, 3. a rake, for general picking. and i have all 3 picks in the .025, .018, .015 thicknesses.
and of all 3 thicknesses, i love the .018 the most. The whole set cost $70 i think. i love it!

however, there are many other brands to chose from, heres a comprehensive list below of brands below. some are created by the same company, but use different distributors, some are just for dimple locks. i feel that petersons are the best of all!!!

Lock Pick Companies:
A1
Dino
ES
Falle
Goso
H&H
H&M
H&S
HPC
HUK
Ilco
Klom
Lab
Lishi
LSI
Lock Technology
Lockmasters
Majestic
Peterson
Pro Lock
Rytan
Secure Pro
Sere Pick
Shalon
Souber
Southern Specialties
Southord
Sparrows
Storm
Toool

Homebrews with sizable distribution and sales (50 or more):
Legion 303
Locknewbie 21
Raimundo
Ratyoke

[south town ninja]

well, i went with the euro slenders, and they work great. honestly, everyone was talking about feedback this and that, and i was like "how much better can a peterson be?" well, lemme tell ya, they are the TRUTH! now, i think I'mma order and Monstrum XXL set from sparrows, along with their king and queen, and call my set complete, at least insofar as my pin tumbler pick collection is concerned. Thanks all.

[Big Jesse]

well, i went with the euro slenders, and they work great. honestly, everyone was talking about feedback this and that, and i was like "how much better can a peterson be?" well, lemme tell ya, they are the TRUTH! now, i think I'mma order and Monstrum XXL set from sparrows, along with their king and queen, and call my set complete, at least insofar as my pin tumbler pick collection is concerned. Thanks all.

nothing wrong with that! i love collecting whole sets, i have many of them, but i have found it more financially viable to realize which picks i use the most, or at the least, the ones i dont use like the half ball, and half snow man, or double snow man, or half diamonds. i have my picking needs narrowed down to 3 or 4 styles of picks. and now i can just buy those 3 or 4 from any brand and save money. bosnianbill does this, wizwazzle did it, Xeo does this. i dont know about schuylar or deviant but most of the top buys end up favoriting a style or particular pick and sticking with it.

you know the old saying, 'all a carpenter needs is a hammer'. well, theres nothing wrong with buying whole sets, but if your in a pinch money wise, and really want to try a different brand, consider just buying the bare essentials to your picking style.
thats my 2 cents.

[UnlockingBoredom]

I purchased the Sparrows "Wizwazzle" set and found I pretty much only use the short hook and 1 or 2 of the other hooks that can set pins deeper behind tall pins, and the half diamond. I really dont use the rakes, but I want to keep them just in case I need them at some point... If I order any other picks it will only be Short hooks.