UPDATE!:
I made a couple Sawtooth rakes and I must say I was impressed when I popped my American series 40 by raking a few times and then setting the front pin! I can open that particular lock in less than 30 seconds almost everytime that way! It has no spools but does have lots of serrated pins. (Possibly all of them) Before the sawtooth, it would take me at least 3 or four minutes to open this lock single pin. I still practice single pin on this lock, but at least I know I can pop it quick with a sawtooth... I still need to try a W-Rake and many other rake shapes. I also had pretty good luck with a triple half diamond rake where the first half diamond was larger than the other two.
Great fun! Another interesting fact is that this is the first American brand lock that I can rake so consistently. The bitting is relateively close together, but the serrations seem to make that a curse when picking single pin.
The Sawtooths that I made work well on good old master locks with a rocking technique!
So I guess they could be considered rocker picks if you want. They certainly can be used that way!
(L-Rake? Doesn't sound right to me!? Sawtooth seems more correct, but it is good to know what other names things go by... Most of the other names seem to make sense.)
Made a couple random rake shapes and they were a little too large, but they worked well on a couple BEST SFIC locks!? Go figure!
I've yet to really experiment with ball shapes, but it could be interesting. I'll have to look for pics of what a ripple rake looks like as I am not certain what they look like, although I can guess.. Might have to make one or more of those as well.
I still prefer a simple hook or half-diamond, but I am adding a sawtooth rake to my idea of a useful pickset. I find it useful even though I don't use it all the time.
It sure is good pickmaking research to read other's thoughts about different shapes and how they like to use them.
Thanks to everyone who posts about the subject!
