A full pick set?

[therealmuffinman]

Ok well i have made a basic 4 pick set and a tension wrench for myself, the picks include, 1 hook, 1 s rake, 1 half ball pick, 1 half diamond pick. what other picks do you guys suggest i make for my set besides bogotas (im making a set now but they take forever with hand files )

[FFVison]

What about an offset diamond? I have heard about people using those. I want to get one sometime.

[josh0094]

a short hook, full ball, shims are always nice.

[Raymond]

Howdy RealMuff,

Your basic set is as complete as it needs to be until you need another variation. When you get your Bogatas made, they will replace the rake. A comfortable curved pick and a half-diamond can do anything the rake can and will probably become the first thing you reach for when you are ready to do some serious picking.

I know it sounds like some of are preaching or just have a hangup about it but it really is important to get the working end of any pick really smooth. Most of the ones I have purchased still need a lot of work before I will use them. It makes me sick to see some lockies picking and to watch the "gold dust" falling out of the lock and covering the pick.

Make several different sizes and styles of turning tools. I mean different blade tip variations and different width materials. Many keyways are either too narrow - which will block your pick. Or, too wide - which allows the turning tool no bite and will slip with no control. I still prefer street sweeper brushes, windshield wiper reinforcements, and ground down allen wrenches (rigid.) There are a lot of samples to look at on this site. Check them out.

Make your same curved and half-diamond picks in scaled down sizes or buy a set of really thin stainless for those tiny keyways. Making offset picks are neat because you can see past them while picking.

This is my thought of the moment.

Invest in luck, it pays off in wishes.

[maintenanceguy]

offset half diamond or offset half ball.

[josh0094]

dont forget to sand! makes all the diferance!

[digital_blue]

Why would anyone need more than a hook?

[therealmuffinman]

Why would anyone need more than a hook?

agreed but im looking to expand my set just to have the tools, and also i have never heard of an offset diamond (im a lockpicking newbie) can anybody show a pic?

[Raymond]

To see one example of an offset half diamond look at my post on 10-02-07 in the '2' group of previous posts. The title is something like New Life for Old Picks.

Another type is a normal half diamond with a bend in the shaft about one half inch from the tip. (I dont know why you would need that one at all?)

[EvoIIIMan]

is there a difference between an offset diamond and a deforest pick? i'm thinking that the offset diamond has a more abrupt bend and the deforest is more of a curve. just a guess.

[Beyond]

Why would anyone need more than a hook?

Exactly.

When I first to learned to pick at the shop I apprentice at, I was given a hook and a tension wrench AND THATS IT. Funny enough, every pin tumbler I practiced on could be opened with just a hook pick and a tension wrench.

In other words, you don't need all the tools in the shed to drive a nail.

[Wrenchman]

To see one example of an offset half diamond look at my post on 10-02-07 in the '2' group of previous posts. The title is something like New Life for Old Picks.

Another type is a normal half diamond with a bend in the shaft about one half inch from the tip. (I dont know why you would need that one at all?)

You tell us to look at YOUR post on 10-02-07 but you didn't make any on
10-02-07!

'2' group of previous posts

New Life For Broken Picks

Another interesting thing to notice is the fact that you joined
in Jan 2004 but your first post was in Apr 2007



Wrenchman

[Eyes_Only]

For 90% of locks I pick I use a Peterson short hook, gem and a couple of slimlines. And sometimes a "M" rake for wafer locks. The rest of my tools sit quietly in my case and try to look pretty.

[Raymond]

Thanks Wrenchman for fixing the reference and date. I dont know where that date came from. I think I am getting A.A.A.D.D.

As to the dates? I joined to look around. Then had a lot of personal problems and just did not get back until recently. I'll admit, I missed a whole lot of good info. There are one heck of a lot of talented and intelligent people in here.

And, regarding what picks I use, 98% of the time it is one turning tool and one curved pick. I try the Bogata when I am in a hurry then fall back to SPP with a curved pick.

I started out with street sweeper brushes that I found in the gutters. Never made handles. Just ground them on my dad's grinding wheel and finished them with a file. I also used them to make shims for shimming cylinders. I thought I invented shims until I got my first wholesale tools catalog in the 60's and found them available. Ha HA !!! on me.

[ObiWonShinobi]

Why would anyone need more than a hook?

Because you still have to turn the plug with SOMETHING, silly!
:-p

I thought I invented shims until I got my first wholesale tools catalog in the 60's and found them available. Ha HA !!! on me.

Ohhhhhh crap!
I thought that it was ME who invented shims back in the 80's
When I found 2 numbers on a cheap combo lock and it opened enough for
me to cram a paperclip into the gap and pop it open with brute force.

oh wow.... new thread, using a paperclip on combos....
I will try to remember to post about it later, but Raymond is
right, and I feel my A.D.&.D. kicking in as well.....I'll prob forget.