So....Peterson picks and Southord tension tools?

[DivideByZer0]

http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=peterson&btnSearch=GO&Page=1

I'm thinking of either going for the rubber handle picks, as I've heard good things about those, or the Assorted Pick Set (7 plastic-handle picks with the 4 "most used" repeated with rubber handles), since I hear the 4 'most used' would be all you really need for the most part, and having quality replacements would be nice (I'm new to this, by the way; I've only been given a crash course in picking by a friend and screwed around with his picks...)


Then, I hear Southord picks are iffy but their tension tools are quality, so I'm looking at:
http://www.southord.com/catalog.asp?cat=locksmith&rowstart=20

I have no idea what to look for in tension tools, though....should I get one of each or duplicates of one or anything?



Also, I hear the Peterson 'gem' Deforest pick and the Southord L-pick are nice, should I throw either of those in as well, since I'd be ordering from both sites anyways?

Thanks alot for your help; I don't think this post is too redundant, I've tried to glean as much information as I can from previous posts so this is pretty much the summing-up of what I've found...

[n2oah]

I'm thinking of either going for the rubber handle picks, as I've heard good things about those

I'm not even going to let Zeke comment on that one.
Yes, that is a good selection of picks you have there. You could also look into getting the "Flat 5" tension tools from Peterson. At $30, they aren't a bargain, but I've heard good things about them, also.

[zeke79]

I love the flat 5 tension tools but as you said they are not a bargain priced tool. I also prefer the plastic handled peterson pick over the rubber as they seem to transmit better feel. That is purely opinion though. The southord tension wrenches should serve you fine for a long time. With all of this peterson talk lately though, don't overlook some of the nicer HPC sets and the southord slimline starter sets can be a bargain if you are just testing the waters. Its not really the pick that opens the lock, I can pick just as well with my SO slim lines after some adjustment as I can my HPC or Petersons once I get used to them again.

[zeke79]

also, lockpicks.com's stainless tension tools are made by southern ordinance so you do not have to order from 2 places.

[DivideByZer0]

Okay, great...I tried searching for tension tools on that site before but only came up with one, but now I found the southord ones. Which/how many should I get?

Also, the rubber peterson handles (not rubber coated, rubber handle), do they dampen feedback or should I go with plastic instead? The DO look a whole lot more professional (the rubber ones)....but yeah thats not really what im worried about.

[DivideByZer0]

(also sorry i know you already said you dont prefer the rubber picks zeke, just want some more opinions...)

and i meant to say THEY do look a whole lot more professional in case somebody thought DO was some odd abbreviation for something...

[zeke79]

The peterson picks are great no matter which handles you get. I was just stating a personal preference of the plastic handles. My opinion is that the rubber does dampen some feedback but quite a few people here use the rubber handled picks and have great luck with them. As far as how many tension tools to buy, I would buy at least 3 of the standard tension tools and modify them as you find is needed.

[DivideByZer0]

I ended up going with the rubber ones since I'm a novice anyways; I also got the Slender Gem and a slimline half diamond, 2 standard tension tools, and one slimline tension tool (I was fooling around with some locks my friend had in his dorm today with his pickset and saw the usefulness of this extra stuff...)