nightarya wrote:I was reading the FAQ's for my first set, and i saw his suggestion for the starter set.
I wonder wether or not that many picks is really necassary, I kept coming back to one set on the Southern Specialties FPS-8 after reading for awhile. Some people say you cannot "feel" much with the tool. But that brings me to my question/s. First, has the locking mechanism improved enough that you can "feel". Second of all, is it enough picks/tension tools to make it a decent starter set. For that matter, is Southern Specialties a reputable seller?
Thanks,
Manny
The FPS-8 is arguably the best jackknife set made, but that doesn't mean that it will feel the same as a set of honest-to-goodness picks. If you absolutely must have a folding pickset you can't go wrong with either of the FPSes, but most people will also recommend that you get a proper set before moving into the more novel picksets. As to your question of ordering from SS, I've ordered from them multiple times without issue.
As for the picks. My advice? Get something inexpensive like the smaller southord / HPC / SS picksets, and use the extra money you save to buy a couple locks. If you enjoy the hobby after picking with a starter set, then maybe consider buying the jackknife, or maybe a larger traditional set. The more you read the forums here, the more you'll find that even experienced pickers tend only to consistently use 2-4 picks out of their collections; for most people, a large pickset is just a gimmick. A couple good rakes and hooks is all you need for 90% of pin-tumbler locks.
