by hawkn2805 » 15 Aug 2025 5:05
Hi all, I’m an apprentice locksmith in Australia, my father was a locksmith himself and did teach me some things before I started and I use picks in my job pretty much daily, I have a few too many sets and guns and everything in between. Just looking to see what people like using in particular and methods they use.
I’ve always used half diamond picks for pin tumbler cylinders when hand picking (usually use a pick gun because customers want quick jobs) in either a single picking motion or a rake/zip and sometimes lishis if I need to decode locks.
On wafer cylinders I tend to use a wave rake or snake rake (I personally call it a snake rake) just because it works best for me when raking because let’s all be real, raking wafer locks just works.
I also do a lot of automotive and high security restricted locks which I do practice picking on but that’s a whole topic and essay in itself.
I’m trying my absolute hardest to learn new ways to pick locks to make my job easier and more efficient, and trying to bring new skills to my pick sets.
I am a pretty efficient lock picker (in my mind because obviously I’m the best) but I know no matter what we can always improve.
I also love to practice on new lockwood 201 rim cylinders because they have spool pins, so I’m trying to also see what other techniques people use to pick these. Thanks to all
