What To Buy. Picks Sets For Beginners.

[pridelock]

I own the HPC Novice Pick Set. The basic pick set will do the trick and like the other posters have stated that the money could be more wisely spent on locks and other tools required in the trade eg Mortice picks etc.

The Peterson's "Government Elite Set" looks really great to have. One thing puzzling me is the last two tools in the picture. What is it, some form of broken key extractor.

I just helped a friend get a HPC Novice Pick set and he paid +- $24. Is that an okay price to pay. In SA our suppliers only stock HPC products, but I will look out for the Peterson pick set. The hook pick looks has more of a "curve" than HPC.

+1 on the HPC Novice.
Biggest problem for newbies is over-tension, so get thick (.028) picks and and a rigid tension wrench (I love the HPC TR-4)

[mihalski]

I ended up getting the 15 piece Southord slim set as that was recommended for Australian locks on the lockpickshop.
I also got the Peterson pry bar in both thicknesses.

[docjon]

I personally like the rubber handles of the Peterson but the Majestics are slightly narrower. By about 3-4 thousandths of an inch. At least that's been my experience. Most everyone here suggests buying just a few picks and a wrench. They are exactly right. Very little money spent yields bigs results. Good luck. Jon

[HerrMannelig]

The Toool.us lock pick set is pretty good. Has some great pick selections and a wider variety of tension tools than normal beginner sets: http://toool.us/equipment.html

Southern Specialties makes them: http://www.lockpicktools.com/12e-piece-set/

I bought a set to review, and I found them to be very well made and I use components of the set when picking along with other other picks I have.

I'd recommend getting an extra short hook or two for beginners...just in case one is heavy handed. The old beginner set by Toool offers a very good HPC short hook (and Southern Specialties sells picks individually as well).

[Mansoarusrex]

Hello, I have a set of lock picks i have been using for the past couple weeks. I am not sure if i am just a heavy handed picker or i have just been practicing to much. Either way the set i have is just bare metal. I have seen picks with rubber coating on them and i wonder if this would help the soreness from picking. The finger where i rest my pick is getting beat up pretty good. I imagine this is probably a rather n00b problem but i am hoping someone with a nice set could provide a link to where they bought them. If i could just buy it by the pick it would be even better. I am partial to the hooks right now as i am just trying to get a feel for the locks and learn how to figure out binding order. Any links anyone could provide would be helpful. Thanks!

[rontgens]

Hello, I have a set of lock picks i have been using for the past couple weeks. I am not sure if i am just a heavy handed picker or i have just been practicing to much. Either way the set i have is just bare metal. I have seen picks with rubber coating on them and i wonder if this would help the soreness from picking. The finger where i rest my pick is getting beat up pretty good. I imagine this is probably a rather n00b problem but i am hoping someone with a nice set could provide a link to where they bought them. If i could just buy it by the pick it would be even better. I am partial to the hooks right now as i am just trying to get a feel for the locks and learn how to figure out binding order. Any links anyone could provide would be helpful. Thanks!

Depending on which picks you have, you can get some grips that push onto the picks from Southord here http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... ndles.html . I have seen that they fit on Sparrows picks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8TwspWH3jc and probably a few others, failing that you could try some layers of heat shrink.

[sterry20]

when i was first starting out i wish i had started to buy over seas there is a company i do biz with now honrow.com very cheap and i dont know if it will apply to you but i got an email saying they had a sale going on you might ask them but you wont find lock stuff any cheaper and i have a big order going out today for about 300.00 buck of stuff i need and with my savings stuff i just plain want to play with check em out!

[sterry20]

for getting started try the short pick it will help you when you get to security pins trust me on this one but if you are unsure try lockmasters.com they will let you buy picks one at a time and they are life time warranty!

[sterry20]

when useing your tension wrench if you see white at the tip of your finger you are useing alot of tension unless im useing binding tension i never see a white on the tip of my tension finger

[sterry20]

as a way of saving money i go to the hardware store and buy clear plastic tubing and slip over my pick handles that way i dont have to wait on ups or usps and its very cheap like 34 cents a foot!

[JoshuaWest]

Hello, I have a set of lock picks i have been using for the past couple weeks. I am not sure if i am just a heavy handed picker or i have just been practicing to much. Either way the set i have is just bare metal. I have seen picks with rubber coating on them and i wonder if this would help the soreness from picking. The finger where i rest my pick is getting beat up pretty good. I imagine this is probably a rather n00b problem but i am hoping someone with a nice set could provide a link to where they bought them. If i could just buy it by the pick it would be even better. I am partial to the hooks right now as i am just trying to get a feel for the locks and learn how to figure out binding order. Any links anyone could provide would be helpful. Thanks!

Depending on which picks you have, you can get some grips that push onto the picks from Southord here http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... ndles.html . I have seen that they fit on Sparrows picks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8TwspWH3jc and probably a few others, failing that you could try some layers of heat shrink.

I've been adding "glue lined heat shrink" to my picks. It's essentially normal heat shrink with a think layer of "hot glue gun" type heat melting glue which acts to make the handles thicker than just heatshrink. I couldn't be happier. (except maybe with proper grips, haha)

[SwayX]

The HPC kit link appears to be broken. Can anyone confirm which set it's referring to? I believe it's the HPC Novice set, but I'm unsure.
Thanks!

[GWiens2001]

The HPC kit link appears to be broken. Can anyone confirm which set it's referring to? I believe it's the HPC Novice set, but I'm unsure.
Thanks!

Are you referring to the link in the first post? The one from 2008? The link is only 5 1/2 years old... should be good.

Try this link. It may work better.

Gordon

[Grendel]

I started with a Sparrows set due to cost, I have since upgraded to Petersens.

[Sublimis]

My 1st set was a Peterson set. 4 Picks and a case.
The Euro style .025 hook and Peterson Gem
The Stainless slenders .015 hook and Peterson Gem.

I still use them 90% of the time and have the .040 and .050 Peterson Pry bars!

You don't need a 500000000 piece set to get started. It may look cool but you will only use 7 picks out of the set.

Have Fun!