Ideal Pocket-Sized Pick Set

[tonsofquestions]

Hi all. I've been around for a while, going through the forums off-and-on for a bit. Let me start off by thanking everyone for the all the information here. It's a great community and resource.

That said, let me preface my question by saying two things. Firstly, I already have a set of lockpicks (that I enjoy), so please avoid the the "buy a real set first" response. Secondly, I've done a fair bit of research and looking around, so please don't think I'm asking the same "is this set any good" question.

I'm hoping my asking this here might spark some ideas or thoughts, and perhaps produce something useful. That said, here's my question: I'm doing a bit of rework on my EDC (Every Day Carry), and I've decided that I'd like to have a small pocketable set of picks with me (let's try to avoid the issue of whether one should carry/conceal picks here). I know the bogotas are really nice picks, and I'm thinking of getting a set of those as well, but I'm a little wary to carry those in my pocket, as I'm afraid they'd get lost too easily. I also think they might be a little small, given that I have large hands.

The KGB-Belt set didn't sound great to me, and several people said that they lost parts from it. The "simple jackknife" (http://www.lockpicks.com/index.aspPageA ... &ProdID=21) isn't worth talking about. The SouthOrd Jackknife set didn't get great reviews from people here, and to be honest, I'm skeptical about their claims that it was an "overnight success".

The only one that seemed decent was Southern Specialties' "Folding Pocket Pickset" (http://www.lockpicktools.com/lockpicks.htm), which is supposed to have a nice weight, good sensitivity, etc.

However, I'm not a huge fan of the pocketknife style (another point against the SouthOrd one), partly because I don't want to look like I'm carrying a knife. I don't want people to ask to borrow my "knife", and because of the recent terror scares, there are some places where you get more scrutinized if you have something like it. I don't mind having to explain the lockpicks, but I'd rather not get noticed and need to do so. It's simpler all round. I'm also not particularly happy with the knife-style, because it's a little larger than I'd like.

My pockets aren't that large, and I'd prefer something a little shorter, which also makes it less noticable. Ideally, I think I'd like a set that's just a little bigger than a key, to potentially mingle on my keychain.

Quite by accident, I discovered the "Key Chain Lock Pick" (http://www.idealcreations.net/ls09.htm), which is great in terms of size, but I'm very skeptical about the quality of the picks. They look to be substantially inferior, and I'd guess they'd be hell on the inside of a lock (even if not thrashed around wildly as in the videos).

Today, it occurred to me that it might be possible to use some sort of combination of pieces to obtain a better product. I don't know if it would fit, but putting the SouthOrd Jackknife replacement picks (or the ones from the Southern Specialties' set) inside the keychain set would result in a compact, unobtrusive set with high quality picks, that might actually be usable. The problem, of course, is that it's on the expensive side to test (perhaps several people here might be able to provide measurements for the various components; I doubt anyone has all the pieces to test my theory).

However, thinking about this made me think that perhaps there might be others with a desire for such a product, and that a discussion of it might produce some good, feasable possibilities. I know a lot of people have made their own picks; the homebrew thread has some amazing tools, such as the swissarmy knife conversions, and a very impressive jackknife set made by TheMikeMan (viewtopic.php?t=11707). Unfortunately, I do not have the skill or tools to make a set myself.

Does anyone have ideas or thoughts? I hope that I'm not the only one searching for such a tool; how have others filled the niche? Maybe with a few people thinking about it, we can come up with something that could be useful to many.

(Please my somewhat rambling post. I hope it was mostly clear, though I realize it is a little on the long side. I think I'm coming down with a cold, and I should probably go get some sleep now. - Thanks)


Shrub: Mad format reformatted lol

[tonsofquestions]

Hmm. Not sure why it formatted like that. Apologies. I'll fix it later.

[ericm115]

I totally agree. It upsets me also that all of these pocket picksets come with one hook generally and 4-5 types of rakes (snakes).

I'd rather have more sizes of tensioners, 4 different hooks, 1 small diamond, and MAYBE 1 rake... a bogota

To cope until I find such a set, I clipped about 1cm off my SouthOrd short hook, and about 1.5cm off my SouthOrd "long twistflex tensioner" and slid them diagonally into a credit card slot on my wallet. The tensioner partially hangs out but they are both secure.

It's sort of a temporary fix until a good set comes along. I share your opinions though.


em

[Shrub]

Hmm. Not sure why it formatted like that. Apologies. I'll fix it later.

You either have your profile set wrongly or are manually doing it but you are disableing bbcode and smilies in your posts, if you are doing it manually by ticking the boxes under your post then dont, if you have set it in your profile then unset them,

This is what seemed to have messed it up somehow, it took me a few edits of your post to realise that was the issue, all sorted now though

[dsd5150]

I usualy carry the "pen pick set" made by Dyno when I don't have my favorite all-around kit on me. It has nine picks and a tension wrench that isn't too bad, but i still made another that fits into the pick storage area.

The form-factor to me is superior to the jacknife type sets that I have used in the past and although it is not a "cpomplete" set of tools, it does get the job done.

here's a link to it:
http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=322

[Kaotik]

tonsofquestions,

Well, I do happen to have the parts to come up with and test your theory. However, it's not likely I will test it, for I have no problem with pocket pick sets in general.

I will tell you that the keychain picker from idealcreations is to to small to attach the blades from the jackknife (the pick baldes are to long, and you cant cut off the back of them because there isn't much there to begin with).

It may be a good idea to invest in something that will work for you (with the proper dimensions) because you have big hands and small pockets, or come up with a couple of ideas maybe a drawing or schematic with dimensions and i'm sure someone here or myself will go through it and test to see if it is a workable idea or atleast give you their opinions some pointers.

dsd5150,

I also have the Dyno pen pick set, dont use it to often but carry it in my car so it is there incase I leave my traveling set at the house. I don't know if you recognized this but, the tension wrench seems to be to thick for most of the locks (prolly because of the thick chrome plating applied to it) so I made one identical to it out of stainless and through the other out. It works well and fits in all medium-large padlocks and majority of all door locks.

[undeadspacehippie]

I carry 4 wiper blade picks (hook, half-diamond, half ball, 3pt bogota rake) all with tension tooled ends.. I find if I lose one, no big deal, I have made about a dozen or so thus far. I have not lost one though... . I am trying to get it down to three picks, but I like having the fourth (bogota) as a quick solution.

[tonsofquestions]

[quote="Shrub"][quote="tonsofquestions"]Hmm. Not sure why it formatted like that. Apologies. I'll fix it later.[/quote]

You either have your profile set wrongly or are manually doing it but you are disableing bbcode and smilies in your posts, if you are doing it manually by ticking the boxes under your post then dont, if you have set it in your profile then unset them,

This is what seemed to have messed it up somehow, it took me a few edits of your post to realise that was the issue, all sorted now though :wink:[/quote]

Ahh, thanks much. The smilies I'm not so fond of, personally, the BBCode is just HTML-type tagging, to my knowledge. I think the problem was that I wrote the post in notepad (I'd written most of it, and then my browser decided to crash; for some reason lp101 has been doing that to me recently). I think it was an artifact of the copy-paste, but I didn't want to risk losing it all, _again_. This post also has BBCode disabled, and seems to be fine.

[tonsofquestions]

*mutter* It previewed fine, and now I can't edit it. Whatever. I'll go change my profile. *sigh*. Apologies. :P

[tonsofquestions]

I will tell you that the keychain picker from idealcreations is to to small to attach the blades from the jackknife (the pick baldes are to long, and you cant cut off the back of them because there isn't much there to begin with).

Ahh, OK. Thanks. That helps. I figured it would probably be that way, unfortunately. You don't have the Southern Specialties one, by any chance, do you? Those blades looked a bit shorter than the SouthOrd ones.

Out of curiosity, since you have it, what is your opinion of the key chain lock picker?

It may be a good idea to invest in something that will work for you (with the proper dimensions) because you have big hands and small pockets, or come up with a couple of ideas maybe a drawing or schematic with dimensions and i'm sure someone here or myself will go through it and test to see if it is a workable idea or atleast give you their opinions some pointers.

Well, it's not som much "small pockets" as I like to travel minimalist, so I don't like large, bulky things. Designing something isn't a bad idea, I'm just not sure I have enough know-how to create something that would work well.

Thanks for the idea, though. I'll see what I can do.

[bpc293]

here's a few things i use to do when i was worried about being seen with picks. for my car i would open the inside of a cd case that black plate that holds the cd in place. i would put 3 or 4 picks and two tension wrenches in there with a napkin over them before i put the case back together. it stopped them from raddling. when i had an older phone i would slide picks down in the case.
i also would gut a pen and slide the double ended picks in the pen with a unbent piece of windshield wiper metal and one that had a small bend.
lately i use a stainless steel cigarett case the 120's size case fits full size picks. i have picks stashed everyware but if i forget them i have my southord jack knife.

[Kaotik]

tonsofquestions,

No, I don't have the Southern J/knife (I believe that's the only one I don't have) but, I do have the SouthOrd J/Knife. I have heard and seen better reviews on the Southern one though, it's smaller and has a different locking mechanism.

The only thing I didn't like about the SouthOrd is that the locking screw keeps loosening and the hook pick needs modifying. However, the size doesn't bother me and the feedback could be better but, I have no problem with it. The idealcreations keychain picker IMO is an overall good size for pockets and keychains, but the only negative thing I have to say about it is the black cover constantly slides off (can be fixed with a piece of Heat Shrink tubing), the blades are not stainless so they will rust (just surface rust, but to me rust is rust ) and, the picks also need some minor modifications, trimming and smoothing out mainly.

As far as coming up with something, just let you imagination flow. Start with a few sketches and see what happens, you never know, it could be good.

[scampdog]

here's a couple of ideas you might like to have a go at, first my modified southord,with extra larger diamond,rake,key extractor and modified hook

next is my pen pick set,the 9 computer picks on the left, are homemades, the rest are originals,and yes they do all fit in the body.

and lastly,a wire set, made from spring steel,from an old indoor clothes dryer,a king,queen,hook,diamond and tension wrench

give them a try tonsofquestions, and let me know how you get on.

[tonsofquestions]

i also would gut a pen and slide the double ended picks in the pen with a unbent piece of windshield wiper metal and one that had a small bend.

Hmm. What kind of pen do you use?


Kaotik, the picks not being stainless bothered me a little bit, too (I think they're spring steel). But it's nice to hear that they don't need too much modification.

scampdog, those are very nice looking. What did you use to shape them? I didn't know dryers had nice spring steel like that. Where in the dryer was it?

[bpc293]

those pocket clip pens. they come in all sizes.