I got $20... what do I buy next?

[hzatorsk]

Derek06 post a recent thread where he chose these picks as a starter set.

S Rake
Single Ball
Long Hook with Metal Handle
Large Diamond with Metal Handle
Short Hook Pick with Metal Handle
Tension Wrench - Long Twist Flex
Tension Wrench - Short Twist Flex
Small Diamond

...and quite frankly... I think he did an excellent job getting started.

Now the question:

"I got $20... what do I buy next?"

(If $20 is too tight... you can go SLIGHTLY over budget... but please... only the essentials for a newcomer to the hobby)

Assume there are no tools or stock to make your own picks!

Knock yourself out...

[cracksman]

Just Picks Stainless Slender Set: Price: $32.00 *(a bit pricey, but nice for tighter keyways, and they are colorful!)

http://www.peterson-international.com/picksets-detailed.htm#Stain

U-Bend-IT USA: $22.00

This set lets you build the normal width tension tools typically supplied with pick sets. Contents:1 Bending Tool, (5) 0.025 Blanks, (5) 0.020 Blanks, and (2) 0.030 Deluxe Blanks. *(you can hand make your own wrenches how you like them-it's fun!)

http://www.peterson-international.com/tensiontools.htm


Or you can mix and match your own sets: (usually about $3.75-4.25 per pick)


http://www.peterson-international.com/individualpicks.htm


A set of Southord "Slimlines" may be helpful:

Euro/Japan Slim-Line 5 Pc. Pick Set

Your Price US$19.95



http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=271


Euro/Japan Slim-Line 9 Pc. Pick Set

Your Price US$29.95


http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=270

[Shrub]

I think $20 is around £10 so with that theres not a lot available over here especially with postage.

You could go to your local garage and get used wiper inserts from the bin for free after asking of course so you could concievably get stock.

I think a god move would be to invest time on here and then look at buying either a lock or two or better still get the afore mentioed wiper inserts and buy a cheap set of files and some emry paper and make somthing like some bogatas, tenion wrenches, rakes, small dimonds, half snowman etc

Its a hard one really since the first kits was pretty much all you need to begin with so locks from ebay or a local lockie has to be a good idea.

[Derek06]

Derek06 post a recent thread where he chose these picks as a starter set.

S Rake
Single Ball
Long Hook with Metal Handle
Large Diamond with Metal Handle
Short Hook Pick with Metal Handle
Tension Wrench - Long Twist Flex
Tension Wrench - Short Twist Flex
Small Diamond

...and quite frankly... I think he did an excellent job getting started.

Now the question:

"I got $20... what do I buy next?"

(If $20 is too tight... you can go SLIGHTLY over budget... but please... only the essentials for a newcomer to the hobby)

Assume there are no tools or stock to make your own picks!

Knock yourself out...

ooh I see the tread has been made for me already. So first off since I didnt have time to read my previous tread and clear things up I should state that my budget isnt accutaly $20 but more like $40 (could do more but dont really want to for an advanced beginer set) and I found while looking at sets I could get what I would need for around that amount if i built my own and got just what I wanted.

You could go to your local garage and get used wiper inserts from the bin for free after asking of course so you could concievably get stock.

I think a god move would be to invest time on here and then look at buying either a lock or two or better still get the afore mentioed wiper inserts and buy a cheap set of files and some emry paper and make somthing like some bogatas, tenion wrenches, rakes, small dimonds, half snowman etc .

Its a hard one really since the first kits was pretty much all you need to begin with so locks from ebay or a local lockie has to be a good idea.

So you would recomend a pre-made kit instead?

Wiper inserts? what would you use those for?

I have considered making my own picks, because I have a very lenient teacher for a metal working class that I have, and nothing left to do in it, but I would still prefer a set of professionaly made picks because I know that I will screw up.

I was gonna go for an all slim line set but I have read that they are very breakable and not recomended to get till you are experienced, is this being overstated a bit?

Also I saw some circular tension tools are they any good? or even worth it?

Thanks for the help.

[SFGOON]

The circular tools aren't so great, give them a miss. If you want higher end tools, save up for some falle-safe gear.

[Blink]

Wiper inserts are used to grind your own tools out of. Many people use these to make the infamous "Bogota's". If you don't know what these are, you can do a search, and will have more than enough reading.

A search for "wiper and inserts" would also yeild you many posts and pictures about what people have done/planning to do with them.

Don't worry about screwing up making picks, just used hacksaw blades, wiper inserts, oil dip sticks, street sweeper bristles, or anything else that is cheap or free. Just remember, every mistake is a lesson learned, keep at it and before you know it you'll have nicer picks than had you purchased them, plus it's more rewarding to open up a lock with something you've made.

About the Slimline's breaking, they aren't fragile or anything, it's just that a common mistake by new pickers, is using extensive tension, causing the pins to bind harder, and require more force to push them up, so the picks break, but if you learn proper tension, they shouldn't be a problem, unless of course the lock is really "gunked" up.

Just my $0.02

Good luck!

[Shrub]

To just answer your question to me i would say that if you have bought the set mentioned then yes i would then go down the route of making some, especially if youve got tools and know how to do it.

If i am mistaken and you havent bought the set mentioned at the top of the thread then yes buy you first set so you have the proper tools for the job to get you going.

[Raccoon]

"I got $20... what do I buy next?"

(If $20 is too tight... you can go SLIGHTLY over budget... but please... only the essentials for a newcomer to the hobby)

hzatorsk, Do you have ANY lock picks yet? Will this be your first set or your second set?

For your first set, I would NOT recommend buying a set of slimlines. They are too fragile for one's first set, and too expensive to be damaged. If you are on a tight budget, I recommend Southern Ordinance as they have very affordable (yet nice) picks, and allow you to customize a set without gouging you for buying picks individually. This is where I bought my first set.

http://www.lockpicktools.com/

Don't forget to buy some tension wrenches, too. Get the one(s) with flex twists in them.

[Raccoon]

n/m, I didn't realize this was a hypothetical thread -- hzatorsk obviously has plenty of tools.

[hzatorsk]

Can one really have 'plenty' of tools?

[Shrub]

Can one really have 'plenty' of tools?

Oh yes

You know you have enough tools when it takes longer at someones door to decide which tool with by which method you are going to use than the actual opening lol

[srm]

How about a gift certificate...for me?

[Shrub]

How about a gift certificate...for me?

Sure, no problem, what kind of certificate would you like