Picking #0 and 7 Pins

[stilte]

Do we get a preview?

[lockjaw]

It is a shameless plug.
Bear in mind that my first market is the hobbiest crowd. I am just hoping that it spills over into the locksmith and LEO supply as well.
Romstar

What will you be selling? Will you be shipping beyond North America?

[lockjaw]

You could always sit on your duff and wait until my stuff comes out in Mid January or first of Febuary.

Romstar

You're on the "Bad Seller" list of this site.

[lunchb0x]

if your after good picks, go for HPC

I beg to differ I way prefer peterson over HPC...
if your after good picks, go for Peterson

we dont get them in austraila ( as faw as i know) so they could be better

[lockjaw]

if your after good picks, go for HPC

I beg to differ I way prefer peterson over HPC...
if your after good picks, go for Peterson

we dont get them in austraila ( as faw as i know) so they could be better

We don't get them from 'Locksmith Supply Company' or 'Lock & Key' but you can order them via the WWW from numerous vendors including the manufacturer ('Peterson Manufacturing http://www.peterson-international.com/).

For the sake of locksmithing and especially lock sport in Australia spend as little of your money at either of the duopolists as is practically possible.

HPC are overrated and overpriced and Australian locksmiths only know and use HPC because that's all the duopoly sells. As far as traditional lockpicks for pin tumblers go I would rank Peterson as the best, followed by SouthOrd, then Rytan, then Dino and lastly HPC. For non-traditional pick styles the Falle Basic Pick Set is the best. To be honest I don't think HPC picks are any better than hacksaw blade picks. Picks made out of street sweeper blades are more durable and have a better feel than HPC (my Bogota rake is in the same shape as it was when I got it in the mail).

Peterson's are more durable than HPC (they don't appear to mark and they are very flexible), they are slimmer and more suited to narrow keyways and they have comfortable plasticised handles.

I don't know why HPC picks have any traction in Australia (besides the duopoly marketing them): a HPC pick barely fits inside a Lockwood 120/50 padlock keyway. I just tried the three different HPC small hooks: single piece spring steel, spring steel (thicker) with rivetted handle and stainless steel (thinner) with rubber handle and they barely fit. HPC picks are designed for gaping huge North American Keyways. I tried the same three HPC in a Lockwood 530 cylinder and they fit but not comfortably. They HPC spring steel and rivetted handle small hook barely fits and the 'gun blue' is scratched off after picking.

Can you pick a Lockwood 120/50 padlock with a HPC pick set? If so I'd be interested to see a video.

[pickmonger]

Lockjaw wrote

You're on the "Bad Seller" list of this site.

Lockjaw, in no way is this post meant as an attack. Unfortuantely the "Bad Seller List" doesn't tell the whole story.

Yup, Romstar screwed up, he had some problems getting product shipped and some people were pretty angry. It was partly Romstar's fault, but.... there were some significant extenuating circumstances.

For what its worth I understand that factors that contributed to the problem in the past, have been resolved.

I for one, am looking forward to being able to order product from Romstar.

Many of the newer users don't know all the facts and what happened in the past with Romstar.

In fairness to Romstar, I did not want that comment about being on the bad seller list going unanswered.

He took a long vacation from this site, fought to get his health back and thankfully returned to giving us the high quality content that he writes.

Fact is, his workmanship is fantanstic, he knows his stuff, contributes a lot of excellent information to this site ..... I say give him a chance to prove himself again.

[UWSDWF]

HERE! HERE! pickmonger....
I as well am waiting with bated breath for Rom's new stuff

[Romstar]

Thank you Pickmonger and UWSDWF, I appreciate the support.

Yes, I am in fact still on the bad sellers list.

Not something I am really proud of to be honest, but it was in fact the only thing Varjeal could do. I regret having placed him in that awkward position.

I disappeared without any explanation, and then it took forever for me to complete my outstanding obligations. I am sure there is at least one that I haven't taken care of.

I am working to get off that list, and to be honest I have fixed the problems that lead to my earlier difficulties. Including I hope my health problems.

I had some difficulties shipping product to Australia, and to be honest, if any orders do come from there, I am going to be sending them on a COD basis, or work out some other method. I do not want the same thing to happen again. I do believe I know what I did wrong in those cases, and I believe it has been corrected and will not offer any further difficulties.

With the exception of the current King and Queen sets, I am not offering any other products for sale until such time as I have stock with which to fulfill those orders. I may sell a few of the expanded Royal sets before the other products if I have the bugs worked out before the rest of the product is ready.

I have been developing a mass production technique that will allow me to offer extremely high quality products, and still be hand finished.

The cork handles will become a mainstay in my product line, and as soon as I have established a new rivet supplier, so will riveted steel and plastic handles.

At this point, I do not have plans to offer moulded plastic or rubber pick handles because of the difficulty in making them in small batches. If the response to the products is very good, I will investigate those further.

I expect that my web page will be available by mid January, or first of Febuary. As I said, I am not going to go live with this until I have sufficient product to meet demand. So while I am aiming for mid January, please do not be surprised if it takes a few extra weeks.

Regards,
Romstar

[lockjaw]

Lockjaw wrote

You're on the "Bad Seller" list of this site.

Lockjaw, in no way is this post meant as an attack. Unfortuantely the "Bad Seller List" doesn't tell the whole story.

I'm surprised you thought it necessary to respond at all. I won't take your post as an attack but I will take it as a wounded response on behalf of someone else.

I can't comprehend the apparent intention of your post. Am I not entitled -- are not the members of this forum entitled -- to an explantion regarding an apparently delinquent seller that is actively soliciting trade on this forum?

The intent of your post appears to be to shame me for raising the matter. Perhaps I'm more thorough than you have decided. I read through most of the posts regarding the delinquency and I am aware (as is possible using the material on the forum) of the issues surrounding the matter.

Yup, Romstar screwed up, he had some problems getting product shipped and some people were pretty angry. It was partly Romstar's fault, but.... there were some significant extenuating circumstances.

I'd be pretty angry also if I was ripped-off. So it was partly the delinquent seller's fault? Where then does the balance of the fault lie? With "society"? With his parents? With the weather? With the alignment of the planets? Where exactly?

Are you then Romstar's official apologist? A good indication that there has been no genuine redemption is that responsibility hasn't been fully accepted. I believe in forgiveness and redemption but only when sincere. Blame distribution -- in this case -- is the weasels way out.

For what its worth I understand that factors that contributed to the problem in the past, have been resolved.

Unless you are willing to act as a guarantor for the completion of Romstar's commercial contracts you shouldn't throw comments like that around. It is morally irresponsible and cheap.

I for one, am looking forward to being able to order product from Romstar.

As I'm sure the people that are yet to receive their order were.

Many of the newer users don't know all the facts and what happened in the past with Romstar.

That's a euphemistic way of saying that I don't know the full "story" so I shouldn't judge. The point is that Romstar is currently on a delinquent seller list that I don't have any control over. I am in no way responsible for Romstar being blacklisted.

The material facts are that contracts of sale were not honoured by Romstar. That is germane when assessing the probity of a seller.

In fairness to Romstar, I did not want that comment about being on the bad seller list going unanswered.

So you feel indignant about me pointing out the irony of a forum member that has been labelled a 'Bad Seller' using the very forum that has labelled him a delinquent to ply his trade? Have I got it correct? So, in your worldview I'm somehow culpable?

He took a long vacation from this site, fought to get his health back and thankfully returned to giving us the high quality content that he writes.

That doesn't exonerate someone from their contractual obligations. Romstar isn't the first sole proprietor to fall ill. Many of us have problems. The mark of the morally responsible and mature person is to contain his/her problems so they don't become other's problems. The mark of the moral coward blam offloading.

I don't think Romstar's content is especially good (it's vague, imprecise, unsympathetic to the beginner and typically devoid of any form of substantiation). But even if his content was pure gold that is immaterial -- it's besides the point.

Fact is, his workmanship is fantanstic, he knows his stuff, contributes a lot of excellent information to this site .....

So what? Tell that to the people whose orders remain unfulfilled. Romstar's workmanship only becomes relevant when the goods are actually shipped.

Marc Weber Tobias "knows his stuff". Romstar appears to merely know (some) of Tobias' "stuff". Credit should go where it is due.

I say give him a chance to prove himself again.

In what capacity do you say this? Wouldn't you have been singing Romstar's praises before he was blacklisted?

[lockjaw]

I am working to get off that list, and to be honest I have fixed the problems that lead to my earlier difficulties. Including I hope my health problems.

Don't you think you owe your prospective clients an explantion of why the same thing won't happen again? Since your apologist has stated you are only partially responsible for what happened before that leaves you ample 'weasel space'. You can't -- after all -- be held responsible for things you have no contraol over.

I wasn't aware that the weak grasp of irony extended as far as Canada. You're one of the people that's eager to pour scorn and vitriol on anyone that questions the legitimacy of "lock sports" with an argument that runs "we're a bunch of honest guys interested in locks" yet you've gone and acted like a knave. Acting like a knave isn't going to convince our detractors that we're not knaves. Is it? What do you think our deractors would say in response to your behaviour? I suspect that they'd say "there is no honour amongst thieves".

I know you aren't the only delinquent seller on the list -- and it embarasses me that such a list even exists -- but you are one of the most self-righteously morally indignant members on the list. I'm suprised you are (a) still on this forum; and (b) allowed to use the forum to "sell" your products. Were you not overtaken by the incongruity of your voluminous posts directed at ecshots (or whatever his handle was)? I was embarassed to read your moral posturing. It made me cringe. Is irony not part of your conecptual vocabulary?

[Stray]

Before I even say anything I barely know anything about what happened between all of you during the time that i wasn't visiting the site, but I do know something: Can we all calm down before we say shite that is just going to get everyone pissed off at eachother more.

Things will get sorted out, and for god's sake stop digging holes that you can't climb out of. No point having a forum where everyone hates eachother...

[Romstar]

You know what lockjaw?

Not only do I know my "stuff" as you so euphemistically put it, but I spent a number of years going places and doing things on behalf of others to learn that "stuff".

I can't even begin to tell you about the things I have seen, or done. Some of them I don't even think I am allowed to talk about.

As for Mr. Tobias's "stuff" I respect the man greatly. However, I did not learn any of my job or my work from Mr. Tobias.

Nothing about what I put here is vague, and I am one of the first people to help beginners. You would see that if you tookk the time to read the material I have posted.

Yes, I had a helth problem, and quite simply the people I thought would take care of my business did not in fact do as they were asked.

I believe I have one outstanding issue that needs to be remedied. I didn't screw up. You don't take responsibility for having a heart attack, you simply deal with it and try to move on.

I do take responsibility for what happened as a result of that attack, and I have absolutely nothing to hide.

What is vile and reprehensible here is that all of this is perfectly out in the open, and yet you feel the need to drag it out again and personally attack me or my activites at every opportunity.

If pickmonger felt the need to defend me, or say something on my behalf, I take that as a gesture of friendship, and an indication that he values my contributions here.

Oh, and for your information, Marc Webber Tobias is a lawyer. He knows his stuff by virtue of study and close contact with a number of his contributors. He wrote a book. From what I understand the first edition wasn't received that well. If Mr. Tobias feels that is incorrect, I stand perfectly ready to be corrected by the man himself.

I on the other hand fave the benefit of over 20 years of practical in the field experience using, building and designing lock tools and other devices. A number of those years spent in the service of my country.

Oh, and as for Pickmonger, I do believe he was quite generous with his comments previously as well.

You seem quite willing and ready to come after me. Did I kill somebody you knew?

Romstar

[Schuyler]

lockjaw.

Get off it.

[Schuyler]

Good call, Stray. I wish I had read faster.

Anyhow, the bad seller's list is doings it's job just fine without grand exposition, and most of what you're writing is out of line with the rule about personal attacks.

That is, of course, for a moderator to decide, but it seems over the line either way.

[Stray]

Everyone stop arguing...

You do realize the topic of this thread isn't bash eachother until others tell you all to stop...

Until then I'm going to go sit in the corner.


**gets up goes and sits down in the corner, covers ears, starts rocking, then crying and repeats over and over again "mommy and daddy are yelling, stop yelling" **