*Help me pick a small pick set from Peterson or better

[Brother Paul]

I want to buy a better class of picks today the ones i bought are already wearing and not very smooth ,im thinking a small set from Peterson unless i can find better i like the sound of there "goverment steel" i was thinking on either the " just picks or the city set ,, any input in VERY welcome and wanted ,, tyvm

[Squelchtone]

I want to buy a better class of picks today the ones i bought are already wearing and not very smooth ,im thinking a small set from Peterson unless i can find better i like the sound of there "goverment steel" i was thinking on either the " just picks or the city set ,, any input in VERY welcome and wanted ,, tyvm

What do you mean by "already wearing" ? That Brockhage set you bought is just fine for a beginner, in fact they're nicer than Southord. If by wearing you mean they're bending out of shape, then you are being too heavy handed with your picks. You cant force pins to lift into position, if picks are bending or deforming or pick tips are snapping off, then as they say "you're doing it wrong"

A big reason people bend picks is because they apply so much tension that the friction on the pins binding against the sidewalls of the lock's plug and shell is so high a pick will not be able to lift them and in turn ends up bending under the forces.

Can you post a hi res pic of your picks or tell us more about the wearing you are seeing?

I have a feeling if you buy Petersons, the same thing will happen, and at $15 a pick the govt steel picks are not cheap.

Squelchtone

[Brother Paul]

I want to buy a better class of picks today the ones i bought are already wearing and not very smooth ,im thinking a small set from Peterson unless i can find better i like the sound of there "goverment steel" i was thinking on either the " just picks or the city set ,, any input in VERY welcome and wanted ,, tyvm

What do you mean by "already wearing" ? That Brockhage set you bought is just fine for a beginner, in fact they're nicer than Southord. If by wearing you mean they're bending out of shape, then you are being too heavy handed with your picks. You cant force pins to lift into position, if picks are bending or deforming or pick tips are snapping off, then as they say "you're doing it wrong"

A big reason people bend picks is because they apply so much tension that the friction on the pins binding against the sidewalls of the lock's plug and shell is so high a pick will not be able to lift them and in turn ends up bending under the forces.

Can you post a hi res pic of your picks or tell us more about the wearing you are seeing?

I have a feeling if you buy Petersons, the same thing will happen, and at $15 a pick the govt steel picks are not cheap.

Squelchtone

First let me say ty for your response ,, now for wearing i mean these picks are made of spring steel but are coated with first copper then chrome the the tips of the 3 picks i use are all showing the copper and the steel , and have gotten a little rough, there not bent at all , but when i but my other tools in life i buy snap on brand , i believe you get what you pay for , is this is not the same in picks pls let me know . im practicing a lot i know prob 5-6 hours , through out the day , when i set out to learn something i really get gun ho ( my bad) , i am a Lapidist and jeweler so i really hope in not being to heavey handed ,, thanks for the info

[Brother Paul]

here is the pic you requested ,, best i can do

[Squelchtone]

I'd call that normal. You're just breaking them in. Both my Peterson's and HPC's look like that.


Squelchtone

[ToolyMcgee]

My A1's looked like that after a day or two. Chrome plateing doesn't last long before it starts wearing off, then it starts to flake. You can either sand off all the plating, or buy something you might like better. Not all brands appeal to everyone. These are the cheapest sets http://www.peterson-international.com/picksets_detail.html#ShirtPocket The picks are spring steel, and the tensioners are government. Honestly, I haven't found an appreciable difference in strength for the standard size tools to justify the price. PM7B-PS is the one I would go for, because you can get a spring steel shorthook, halfdiamond, snake rake set from any manufactorer, but the gem, hybrid, and city rake the way peterson makes them is unique.

They have alot of nice sets you could buy, but if you go small set you can try out the shapes and get a stainless government slim tool or two without dropping a bill.

[lock2006]

I got this set KPS-15, Ken's Pick Set awhile ago
and i still have them in good shape,also i have a couples of govt steel picks
like ToolyMcgee say here I haven't found an appreciable difference in strength
for the standard size tools to justify the price, besides they are not cheap
i will go for this set PM7B-PS, Shirt Pocket Pick Set or if you can spend more
this one here CIT-1 The City, hope this info helps good luck.

[loki-aka]

Based on the photo, I would say the "wear" on the picks is not unusual. Mater of fact , the tool marks are consistent
with the amount of use you say they are being put through. Quite normal pattern.

If you want another set --say for backup-- try the HPC. I have used the brand for some fifteen (15) plus years.
I have not been dissapointed. I think they would be a beter deal for you than the Peterson Government Steel.

[rontgens]

If you're a jeweller couldn't you make your own picks, surely this would be more rewarding than buying some?

[nostromo]

Not only are the picks wearing normally, you might even want to smoooooth them even more to a Raimundo standard. There's a difference when you pick. As a jeweler, do you have tools and supplies that would smooth and polish steel even better than the 'variable grades of emery paper' method the rest of us use?

Sounds like you're doing wonderfully. Hang in there.

[Brother Paul]

If you're a jeweller couldn't you make your own picks, surely this would be more rewarding than buying some?

i Will make a set sometime ,one thing im still trying to get some good steel, not much of that around the shop
and if i make a set id like to have a good set to use as my jumping off point

[Brother Paul]

Not only are the picks wearing normally, you might even want to smoooooth them even more to a Raimundo standard. There's a difference when you pick. As a jeweler, do you have tools and supplies that would smooth and polish steel even better than the 'variable grades of emery paper' method the rest of us use?

Sounds like you're doing wonderfully. Hang in there.

well i have 12000 grit micro sand paper , and about every grade of buffing rouse

[nostromo]

If you get some of the (realtively) rougher abrasive grits to work up to 12000 you are in business!!

As far as steel sources, good quality hacksaw and jisaw blades work well so long as the temper is maintained. Used ones are just fine and have the benefit of dulled teeth. Give a pass on plumbers snake/tape, banding metal and the like- not high enough quality. I usually use a lower speed grunder to hog out rough shapes, then a one inch belt sander to get closer to the final profile, then files or a dremel for final work. For some it is a LOT of work. For a jeweler probably a joy. I find a certain zen to working steel - you have to take the pace of your tools and stock, no faster or slower. Very 'mindlessly mindful'.

The pick profiles and steel quality you have should stand you in good stead for quite awhile. My carbon steel HPC set is over 30 years old.

[CylinderHead]

If you're a jeweller couldn't you make your own picks, surely this would be more rewarding than buying some?

i Will make a set sometime ,one thing im still trying to get some good steel, not much of that around the shop
and if i make a set id like to have a good set to use as my jumping off point

Hi there. Utter noob here - just in the process of making my own set from cheap hacksaw blades. I haven't got any experience with the "good" picks, but I can tell you this - my homemade ones seem to work just fine. I started with the info from a video on youtube "how to make your own lockpicks". Only misinformation was that he didn't want you to heat treat twice on the torsion wrench. I found if you anneal the blade material, bend it the way that you want it and then heat treat it you get exactly what you want in a serviceable form without breaking them in intermediate steps.

If you have a dremel and patience, there's lots of templates on the net for different pick profiles. I think you'll be able to make at least as good a set as you can buy.

I'd show you a picture of mine, but haven't got any way to get the pics off my camera right now. My card reader doesn't work under Windoze 7 for some reason... Suffice to say, they are not "jeweler's quality", but they do the job.

Cheers!

[loki-aka]

To the last post;

Sounds like the card reader problem may be a driver issue. Try getting un updated driver from the card reader maker.