Newbie looking for better lockpicks

[userdnl]

I just started picking locks about a month ago. I didn't exactly ease myself in as I should have. The first lock I picked was a BEST SFIC. In an attempt to make things easier on myself, I figured I'd pick up a cheap master padlock and try my hand at it. Go figure, apparently the M1 isn't such an easy lock to pick. Supposedly it was used in the third round of lockpickcon. I have terrible luck at choosing locks, but I have succesfully picked these locks a few times and built some experience along the way. Unfortunately, my inexperience has taken its toll on my tools. I purchased the 5 pick southard standard set and my feeler pick has become bent from excessive force and heavy use. I will attach a picture below for reference. I'm wondering if I could heat the pick with a propane torch, bend it back and quench it - although I'm worried I may just make matters worse. If repairs fail I'm thinking about buying a better pick. The first pick I'm looking at is a max yield feeler pick from southord. These seem like they would hold up to abuse better. My only concern is that the standard pick I have now is a bit large for SFICs and padlocks. Which is why I'm also considering a southord slimline feeler pick. Anyone know if there is a max yield/slimline? Lastly, and this is a bit more expensive, I'm considering getting the specialized sfic tension wrench from peterson. If I went this route, I would also get the slender gem pick peterson sells. Does the gem compare well with the southord picks? Thanks to anyone who can provide insight on the picks I've mentioned, or others for that matter, or to those who can advise me in the possibility of repairing my damaged pick.

[userdnl]

Sorry for being such a noob - but I guess there is no way for me to edit my previous post? Just felt that I should add that I'm hoping having a smaller pick, like the slimline series, will make it easier to feel around in the lock. That way I will not need to use as much force. Its hard to tell whether I'm on a tumbler with the standard pick. I think a lot of times it will be stuck on the keyline or I'll be trying to pick at the back of the keyline behind all the pins. Then I'm just pushing on an immovable object.

[Doctor Hexagon]

Haha, tough break on the difficult locks you've chosen. A Kwikset deadbolt, or some inexpensive padlocks,
like the laminated school locker locks would definitely be a lot more forgiving. The locks you have now are
good at teaching you what -not- to do though.

I have the same SouthOrd picks you do, and over time, and especially in the hands of people I've tried
to teach, my short hook has been bent also. All I did to fix mine was bend it back. I'm not an expert on
metallurgy but usually bending and re-bending steel will work-harden it and cause it to become brittle
and eventually break. Since I don't know the grade and composition if the standard SouthOrd picks I
cannot really say what heating would do to the steel. With most ferrous metals you must cool them
slowly or they don't anneal properly.

As for the Peterson tools, I have that exact set. Its main purpose is to pick IC cores to the control position
so if you're looking to be able to do that to the SFIC you have and others you intend to acquire in the
future, then it's a good buy. If you don't plan on working on IC core locks more then it's not a good investment
for you.

I like the slender gem pick but I use it rarely. It is very easy to bend. If you are a heavy handed picker you
-will- bend this pick and you'll be constantly re-bending it back to its original shape, which will stress the metal.
I find it useful for more heavily warded keyways, and reach up, under, and behind pins without as easily disturbing
others. With this pick you need to have a sufficiently gentle touch.

To help you with understanding if you're trying to move an immovable structure of the lock I suggest you don't go
immediately in to trying to pick the lock. What I do is probe the pins individually with a short or long hook before applying any
torsion to the plug. This is useful for determining how far the pins are in to the lock, where they end, and how much
space there is beyond the tumblers. It will also let you know if the pin stacks are damaged, fouled with debris, or at all
movable to begin with.

If you're looking for quality and inexpensive picks, getting a SouthOrd Slimline set is a good way to go. I can't yet vouch
for the quality of the Max High Yield picks until I get a set of my own (hopefully soonish). Peterson and HPC pick sets
are notoriously high quality and many others here at the forum stand behind them as their go to tools, so that's also
something to think about.

I hope this helpful for you

[userdnl]

Thanks for the reply Doctor Hexagon. Sounds like I should avoid the slender gem until I get a better feel for things. Perhaps I used the wrong name when I said feeler pick. Right now I only have the picks included in the five pick southord set. I thought what I was using was a feeler pick but perhaps it would more properly be called a hook. Would seem I don't actually have a feeler pick (this is what most people use for the actual pickng of the pins right?). I usually use the diamond when I try to get a feel for where the pins are. Its not particularly well suited to this task, but it does catch on each pin. When I order my next picks it sounds like I should get a short/long hook and a feeler. Definitely leaning towards the slimline, although I would be interested if anyone can comment on the max yield picks.

I've tried to bend the pick back but it just wont stay. I thought heating might help this.

I've actually had a lot more luck with the sfic than I have had with the masterlock. I got the masterlock over spring break and I've picked it twice since then. Before my pick got all out of shape I could pick the sfic in about fifteen minutes. Will probably buy a deadbolt sooner or later, but now that I'm back at school its hard to get to the hardware store.

[raimundo]

the picks do not bend when properly pushing pins into their springs, however commercial lockpicks are made thick and can take quite a bit of this, its quite common to see them as you show in your foto.

you can make your own picks, there are a lot of threads here on that, in this way you can make thinner shafts and round then and sand them smooth, this actually helps quite a lot because the wide pick shafts of those tools you have are actually getting in the way of learning to feel the pins. Handmade picks are actually better if you sand them well.

[userdnl]

Thanks for the reply raimundo. I've given some thought to making my own picks. I read a pretty good how to here. One detail I'm stuck on is how to mark the pick material so that I will know where to grind. Would something like the toner transfer method for printing pcbs work? Cutting out a template and spray-painting? Maybe just sharpie? Also, I'm wondering what the best method is to make the picks. As far as making them with my own resources I'm pretty much limited to files. I do have machine shop available at school. Not sure whether I will go the homemade route but I would like to consider the option.

Still wondering if someone can advice on the differences between hook/short hook/long hook/feeler pick and how each should be used.

[chriswingate]

Some people just put the pick that is to be copied on to the piece of metal, then outline it with sharpie, and color it from the outline to the edge of the metal. Then you just grind down the metal until the sharpie marks are gone, that way you have the pick ground out. Or you can just outline it and grind down until the line disappears.

As far as picks, standard short hooks are good for SPP. Going by the tip of the short hook, I like to have standard type lengths, also like to have long shaft hooks for deeper locks. I don't use feeler picks...any pick can "feel", diamonds, hooks, etc.

I always find it helps to have a different variety of hooks, ones that have longer shafts, shorter shafts, more extreme angles, for deep cut pins, know what I mean?