Amazing....first pick

[MRsteve]

Thankyou one and all,
I found this site and was hooked, hooked enough to manufacture my first half diamond and allen key wrench...
It surely looked good(I have a trade background and good tools) but I had my doubts(certainty would have have come in a leather pouch )

Ok, off to the hardware store for a cheap padlock......

1 hour of picking(with breaks) and pop!!!

Got it down to 30 secs and less....Im astonished!!

I can see this becoming a v.enjoyable hobby and maybe even do it professionally some day.

Thanks again all

P.S For a minimal kit, what you guys call bare essentials? Half Diamond(Steep and soft angles) and maybe a snake type pick?

[Grudge]

Some people swear by diamonds, some people just swear at them

I prefer Euro hooks because they still work in large keyways but can manage smaller ones too. Unfortunately Southord doesn't sell their Euro picks individually .

So, if I had to stick with the standard Southord picks I would get one long and short hook picks (Southord SP-08, -09). For rakes, one snake and maybe one long jag (often seems to work when the snake won't do it) (Southord SP-10, -12). Don't overlook tension wrenches, you need more than one! Maybe a Southord Standard (TW-01) , Thin Line (TW-11) and Double Sided (looks like tweezers) TW-15.

So 2 picks, 2 rakes and 3 wrenches for a total of 7 tools. For a REALLY minimal kit, I would go with the SP-02 (a hook on one end, snake on the other) and TW-18 double ended tension wrench. Only 2 tools and 3 dollars.

[Grudge]

I forgot to mention that my last post wasn't meant to be a Southord advertisement, I just used them as a readily available reference for various pick styles. In fact, making your own tools is both great experience and adds to the hobby of lockpicking (IMHO).

[MRsteve]

thanks for the recommendations ill have to find some photos to work from. And AGREED making em is a big part of the fun for me also.

Also I made my pick from MIT but they are oversize when printed,as are most, any knowledge of plans perhaps? I also used photos with rulers on but would rather be more exacting.

Thks again,

MRsteve

[CitySpider]

I prefer Euro hooks because they still work in large keyways but can manage smaller ones too. Unfortunately Southord doesn't sell their Euro picks individually .

Get. I've been assured that they'll start, as soon as they get around to updating their web site.

And as for my "minimum" lockpicking kit: one wrench, one short hook, and one rake, and the rake is debatable. Specific brands don't much matter, but if I get to pick, then an HPC TR-4, a Rytan blue diamond hook, and a Southern Ordnance sp-10.

[Grudge]

Thanks to Matt Blaze, a one stop shopping site for a great set of pictures is at:

http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/picks/

All of the pictures are shot with a ruler and include both a small and larger version (just click on the small picture). Pick sets shown are from LAB, Rytan, Falle-Safe and others.

Enjoy

[MRsteve]

Great reference, thankyou very much.

[Grudge]

I've been assured that they'll start, as soon as they get around to updating their web site.

Good News! Thanks

[CitySpider]

Get. I've been assured that they'll start, as soon as they get around to updating their web site.

That first word should be "yet." Sorry about that.

[Hawk2064]

Some people swear by diamonds

I think it is a great all around pick. Definitely a must have item in any kit.

[CitySpider]

I think it is a great all around pick. Definitely a must have item in any kit.

And, just because it's good to have opposing viewpoints, I think they're pretty much useless, and only own one because I haven't bothered to chop it off of my pocket set yet.

[Pheniox]

I think it is a great all around pick. Definitely a must have item in any kit.

And, just because it's good to have opposing viewpoints, I think they're pretty much useless, and only own one because I haven't bothered to chop it off of my pocket set yet.

i have one, i just start with it and use it for a minute or 2. if it doesn't work, I use my good old hook.

still though, i think I swear at it more than i swear by it. would rather use a S rake most of the time than a half.

[Hawk2064]

i have one, i just start with it and use it for a minute or 2. if it doesn't work, I use my good old hook.

Try raking the lock with the diamond, that works for me (i suck at just picking, better at raking).

[Pheniox]

i have one, i just start with it and use it for a minute or 2. if it doesn't work, I use my good old hook.

Try raking the lock with the diamond, that works for me (i suck at just picking, better at raking).

thats how i start, i rake till i get annoyed then I attack with a S snake, then hook

only thing I like about a half diamond is how easy you can feel the pins before you start.

[Hawk2064]

Yes feeling the pins is nice, but I'm still relatively new to picking so I try to get a lock with all the main picks, so I can truly "master" that lock.