Mortice Lock Picks

[barlowtoad]

Hi
I think i have read most of the post about mortice locks and picking them and have decided to give it a go but here is my problem.

On looking for a good set of mortice picks I descovered that I had not got a clue what to get as a starting point.
Can some one please explain the diference between over lifters and 2 in one picks. Do I need left and right handed picks or are the univeral ones ok, can a 7 gauge pick fit in a 6 gauge keyway (i think i have that round the right way the size goes up as the number goes down!)

help please!!!!!!

(P.S. i am not looking at curtain locks yet)

[Shrub]

If you have read up on the stickies in the european sections on lever lock picking you will have already found your answers so i suggest you read up there or read up again,

Breifly however,

Over lifters lift all the levers at once and then with a bouncing of the tension and lowering of the overlifters the lock in most cases will open,

2 in 1 picks manipulate each lever individually,

I use universal 2 in 1 picks and never bothered with the handed ones so its preferance i guess,

Picks are for the gauge your lock is, if you have a 6 gague lock you use a 6 gauge pick if its a 7 gauge you use a 7 gauge pick, you could use smaller picks in bigger locks of course but theres little point in a pick rattleing around the lock giving off no feeling,

The other thing is that you buy the 2 in 1 picks and then file them to fit the lock, once filed they will only woirk on that model lock, its true that you can get away with useing the same tool on many locks but you will inevatably end up with a box full of them to cover most locks,

The brand i would reccomend is RB Medical or the Rimmer brothers as others call them, you have to be trading to buy them but as your wanting to buy them im guessing your trading anyway,

[horsefeathers]

If the OP is trading then I will eat my own ears!!!!

RB 2in1 is the best in my opinion. Never used handed ones either just universals. I followed Snapcarps excellent tutuorial (stickied somewhere) and made a 7g just for the hell of it, and it worked great. Alas broke now as i used inferior metals.

Its all personal preference but i rarely use overlifters, except on ERA 3 levers which for some reason I find awkward with 2in1s.

regards

[barlowtoad]

Sorry shrub your right found out the difference between over lifters and 2 in 1's in "Regarding Simple Lever Locks - A Complete Guide by illusion" and I think I know the the difference to the Left handed right handed part from looking at the photos in snapcarps diy 2 in 1 post. (is it the wave in the tang?)

P.S. Horsefeathers you don't have to eat your ears learning to be a locksmith one day but not one yet