Peterson rubber or plastic

[Richie Rich]

So, I've been through old threads and read that you seem to be split on the rubber or plastic handles on the Peterson gov steel picks.

Some have said I preferred plastic, or I like the rubber one best. But I can't see WHY you said that!

I understand that the rubber picks have a full tang. And that this allows the handle to be changed if I ever want to..... Not that I plan on doing so.

What I am really interested is some background on how you use these tools and then why you prefer a plastic or rubber handle? Perhaps there is clear favoritism between handles, depending on what you use them for in your job / hobby

Are you a locksmith and just get more feedback from a plastic handle, so it's quicker? Or are you into locksport and using your picks 4 hours a day so the rubber is more comfortable.

Or is there no difference in feedback, and it is simply the feel of the pick against your skin and flesh?

I'd be interested to hear your background and use of these picks / handles as to why you prefer which handle - it seems to be a pretty definitive split of love or hate for one or the other.

[cdf]

I've asked the same question of a Pro . He has both kinds , and likes both . The robber is classy / Iconic , cash not being an object - try a few of both !

Being a tool junkie , thats probably what I'll end up doing .

[Squelchtone]

I started with blue plastic handle Petersons.. the handles are ok, but they feel very dry and very light. If you've ever held a skeletal bone before it is light like that and same dry feel. They are very good at transmitting the feedback and sounds from the tip of the tool all the way to the handle, but the black rubber is more comfortable to hold. The black rubber ones are soft and great to hold for long periods of time.

The other difference at the time I bought mine was that the blue handle picks were a black metal, and the black rubber was their "govt steel (stainless) I have managed to snap a few of the blue plastic handled picks, where the black rubber stainless have never broken off while picking or misusing them.

I still have both black rubber and blue plastic in my case, but go for the rubber ones first. I would like to add that I like Peterson's dipped handles.. both the smooth silicone ones and the older textured dip which felt more like hard foam. The Just Picks dipped set is very thin, bendy, and comfortable, I recommend it highly: http://www.lockpickshop.com/JP-SS.html

your mileage may vary,
Squelchtone

[zeke79]

My experience is that the pastic handles give better feedback. The spring steel set with plastic handles has just as good or slightly better feedback as the govt steel with rubber handles at a fraction of the price (the feedback from the government steel is awesome). Now if I could get the govt steel in a plastic handle i would be all over them as the feedback would be outstanding. i have tried to get Ken at peterson to throw in a set of the govt steel pick blanks with a run of the plastic handle picks but the "logistics" of it brought the price to almost double the cost of a rubber handle govt steel set.

If I had to rate them on feedback it would be as follows

10 - govt steel with plastic handles
9
8
7 - Plastic handle spring steel picks
6 - Rubber handle govt steel picks
5
4 - Dipped handle picks
3 - Rubber handle spring steel picks

[jeffmoss26]

I prefer the dipped picks but can't get them anymore, still have a couple dipped handle gems
The black rubber are not bad, I have a government steel hook that has become my go-to pick.

[Richie Rich]

Great feedback - thankyou!

Still doesn't make the decision any easier! ha ha!

I think I'll wait a while to see what kind of locks my local security firm generate for me. If it's few and far between with specialty stuff, then I may go for gov steel plastic. If it's a bunch of general stuff where I'll be getting high volume, then perhaps a gov steel rubber set.

We'll let the Lock Gods guide me

Anyone else - feel free to chime in, if you have your preferences

Thank you all,

Richie

[smokingman]

I like the rubber handles best, but I kept the plastic handled tools
in my shirt pocket set because of the weight difference.
As long as they are the GOV Stainless you have a tough tool that should last.

[easy-e]

Locksport guy here. I first bought a few spring steel picks in both rubber and the new plastic handles to try them out. I found myself mainly using the plastic handled picks. The rubber handles flex and I like the rigidity of the plastic handles. I recently got a deal on a large government steel set with molded plastic handles including the slenders and I absolutely love them. The government steel is superior to the spring steel in every way. The stainless slender are stronger than the spring steel and extremely thin and flexible.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy the spring steel picks again if I was going to use them to train beginners. They are plenty strong and i didn't really have any problems with them.

[phrygianradar]

I am a lover of the rubber Gov steel from the first time I tried them. But I put together a little kit for the back pocket and chose plastic Gov steel and the pry bars. Now I can 't tell which I like better. The plastic handles are cheaper with great feedback, so I just bought two of them rather than just one of the rubber handle equivalent. Unlike Squelchtone, I have snapped quite a few of the rubber handled Gov steel picks and it is a real bummer at 15 bucks a pop. I haven't broken one for a while now, so I must be getting a bit better with my touch! But it is way less of a bummer to break a cheaper pick, especially when I have a duplicate to replace it with on standby.

I love this topic. There is no right or wrong answer, I think you just have to see what you like for yourself. 90% of those asked could say one thing is best, but if you disagree, it doesn't make you wrong and them right or vise versa. Unlike the question of hook or half diamond. The correct answer is hook, of course, but this is totally different...

[Richie Rich]

20% off Peterson goodies until Dec 20th.

Man, I hope I can scrape the funds together by then!

[mechanical_nightmare]

I am thinking of eventually getting a pro pick set, a couple of hooks and diamonds and a few rakes... How do the Peterson picks do on narrow Euro keyways? I was thinking about Southord Slimline, but then I also see a lot of positive comments about Peterson too. Which is better when it comes to maneuvering through narrow, snaky keyways?

[Richie Rich]

Their gov steel blue handled picks are thinner than their standard black handled picks. These are specifically designed towards the thinner euro key ways, whilst relying on the stronger steel design to keep th stronger.

Bosnianbill did a nice little review on YouTube of a Phoenix ultimate set he got sent to test. I'm actually planning on buying that exact kit (with a lifter pick added), since Ken is offering a 20% discount on everything from Peterson until 20th dec. use Xmas as your discount code. Have a look at some of Bill's other videos and you'll see both thicknesses of pick in use

RR

[mechanical_nightmare]

That sounds good, I will definitely eventually get them but probably not soon. I've already spent the budgeted amount on 'smithing instruments and locks for this month. Since most people don't know I do this for a hobby it is also an unlikely christmas/new year's gift

[huxleypig]

I have sets of both the rubber and plastic varieties and I think the harder plastic gives you better feedback. The rubber ones by no means kill feedback but another consideration is the life of the rubber ones; they tend to split and die quicker for me than the plastic.

[teamstarlet]

I have sets of both the rubber and plastic varieties and I think the harder plastic gives you better feedback. The rubber ones by no means kill feedback but another consideration is the life of the rubber ones; they tend to split and die quicker for me than the plastic.

That's good to know. I just ordered some new plastic Peterson's and was tempted to go for the rubber mainly because it's always nice to have something in your hand that's nice to touch. Might pick one rubber one up next time.