What To Buy. Picks Sets For Beginners.

[silvfox1200]

I have learned to make my own picks. I have made about 20 different Bogotas. They work great. No problem in open my two locks. I have made ones from a single diamond pick up to five different peaks. I even open my own kwikset locks. But only once. I did not want to destroy my door locks.

[MrTomorrow]

I've ordered from both Peterson and Sparrows. I live in Canada. Peterson offers more choices on individual picks but the shipping costs ( $35.00 minimum) prevent me from impulse buying. But I did break down and order a couple of Bogatas and S rakes. Thick metal handles. And it looks like they have more related to deep reach and car locks. I'll be back for sure. Fabulous web sites for both companies. No customs charges or additional taxes.

The Sparrow tools are excellent, strong, great price, but don't offer a lot of handle choices unless you order in sets. I've ordered from them three times, and will again. Their shipping price is cheaper than a pair of return bus tickets. Their little videos are helpful as well. I think I may try some heat shrink tubing for a handle but I do like the responsive feel of bare steel. The new bypass tools are tough, strong with big round rubber handles. It's hard to imagine any of these picks breaking from either company.

For fun I moved up from picks wrapped in cloth to trying out a couple of cases. Both the Sherman and Comp zipper cases are pocket book size and are perfect for the fellow who likes to see individual choices or just appreciates the art form of specialty tools. The Sherman is the one you pull out if you feel like impressing with its fold out expansion flaps. The Comp is stitched for folding into a stand up tray. I have over 20 picks, rakes, wrenches in mine along with some bump keys and a bit of room for more. They ship from Toronto. Delivery time from Sparrows is usually two days by ordinary Canada Post with a basic shipping cost of $6.50. For the price of individual picks and sets I find both companies to be excellent. Rumour is that Sparrows will feature individual picks in May.

[Seal_Tom]

I'm new to lockpicking and I'm looking to buy my first set. However I'm an Aussie so I'm not sure what type of set to buy. Would someone be able to point me in the right direction with a type of lock pick or a particular product? Thanks

[Tachyon]

I'm new to lockpicking and I'm looking to buy my first set. However I'm an Aussie so I'm not sure what type of set to buy. Would someone be able to point me in the right direction with a type of lock pick or a particular product? Thanks

Seal_Tom, I have just started with lock picking and I bought this set: http://www.lockpickshop.com/C801.html with a double ball pick and a bogota pick (this one: http://www.lockpickshop.com/SLS-12.html).
I bought slim line because I'm in Europe, but I don't know what sizes the normal Australian lock is, but slim line would basically fit any lock, big or small inside the cylinder. I would recommend a set with 8-9 picks (5-6 would also work) as you don't really need a 14 piece or 20 piece set or so.
The more picks you have, the more picks you won't use or rarely use!
I don't really use all of my picks (have 9 picks in total + 2 tension wrenches), but I like to have some to choose from.

The only manufacturer I have bought a set from is Southord and I love my set very dearly. Best to use more money on locks than it is on a big set btw.

[eanselk]

Hey all,
I just bought the ultimate lock challenge and still need some picks. I've never lockpicked before, so I'm completely new to this.

I'm not really willing to spend much money on picks right now, but I found a couple of cheap sets that seem ok to me; I just wanted to hear what you guys have to say about them.

http://www.lockpicktools.com/8-piece-set-prh/

http://www.lockpickshop.com/SouthOrd-Lock-Picks.html

both of these are about how much I'd like to pay for the set. And i'm not really looking for picks with the big rubber handles or anything like that; i'd like to keep them more portable. Any idea of how long these will last a complete beginner?

[eanselk]

http://www.lockpickshop.com/SouthOrd-Lock-Picks.html

Oops, this link is wrong; http://www.lockpickshop.com/PXS-05L.html

I'm leaning towards the 8 piece set simply for the extra tension tool, but that's not based off of the quality or variety of these picks.

Any opinions?

[sterry20]

sets for newbies if you look over seas you will not be unhappy with tool that are available especially when you can purchase 25 to 30 piece pick sets for about 20 $ with freight later on if you need specialty pick get you some good ones from ken he really is the snap on of the pick industry but for getting started get as many rakes and picks for as cheap as you can!

[KPick]

Nothing beats a quality set though

[sync_below]

Nothing beats a quality set though

I read a lot on here before buying and went for the GS-14-5 set from Peterson, that and my Bogota's is enough to keep me busy for a very long time I think.

Peterson is pricey here in the UK but you get what you pay for

[Durzo Blint]

I guess im the only noob who refuses to buy picks lol, not saying i never will but its pretty gratifying popping a 6 pin deadbolt with some junk you found under your work bench

[mseifert]

I guess im the only noob who refuses to buy picks lol, not saying i never will but its pretty gratifying popping a 6 pin deadbolt with some junk you found under your work bench

I have yet to buy a single picking tool.. I have made my own picks from hacksaw blade and tension tools from Wiper Blades..

[KPick]

I'm not saying that you have to buy your picks. Just a good quality set made by your own hands works wonders. In fact, I've heard that if you make them, you are most likely to fit them well since they are made to your necessary specs.

[nachonickname]

Yet another new person set of questions here :)

For a birthday gift, I purchased the following set:
* iFixit: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/iFix ... /IF145-135
* Ugh: It appears to be the same as DealExtreme's $6 set: http://bit.ly/1vUFY7a
* Conclusion: I paid a lot for a basic cheap set. I wish I had been able to do more research before hand.

Questions:
1) Missing: What items would you say I'm missing and would make my set more well rounded?
2) Set Aside: From the set I have, which ones are redundant and best set aside?
3) Identifying: In the picture in the following link, could anyone help me by telling me what the specific tools are, from left to right? The first two I am not sure about, and the rest it would help just to hear people more knowledgeable than I identify them for me in case my research is askew.
*

Thanks in advance.

[The Lock Artist]

The set in your picture is one of the first I owned. I got it from deal extreme for around $9. Nowadays I have a more expensive set by Peterson that is what I primarily use.
From left to right

Lifter style pick, I have a Peterson one as well, its the same basic design and from what I have read it is for "rocking" spool pins. It also can help grab pins better when spp. Mainly, I use the cupped tip on my Peterson lifter pick for rotating the pins in medeco locks.

2nd is what the makers of the set call a riffle pick. Apparently it is supposed to be for car locks, I honestly ever used it and its sitting in the bottom of my toolbox.

next two are different profiles of hook, you use it for single pin picking, they will be your most used picks.

I'm not sure what the next one is called,kinda resembles one of my Bogota singles by serepick, you use it for SPP or raking. I honestly never used the one that came with this set because it came in the mail bent so I threw it out, but my serepick Bogota is great.

Next one is another hook.

Next is a shallow half diamond. These are pretty useful you can SPP or rake. Half diamonds really are great picks, the angles help you get under a stubborn low cut pin as well, but I prefer my half diamonds a little steeper, like the southord one I have.

Next are two more hooks. This set has a lot of hooks, which is good because if you break one you'll always have a spare. The different profiles will let you open a wide variety of locks.

The set is a decent starter one and should be sufficient to allow you to see if you like the hobby and if you do, you can invest in more expensive tools later on. Good luck.

[smokingman]

That second pick from left,looks like a dimple rake.
At least they work ok for that. ymmv.