New! Question bout heads etc

[J@ck]

Hey what's up, new here but been watching this forum for awhile now. It's an awesome site, so much information. It's an awesome hobby but I love how you do not support vanadlism or burglury. Way to blow away the stereotype.

Well I'm looking to get into the art, was thinking of going for this set: http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... &ProdID=29 (good for starting out?)
It amazes me how many heads there are though. How do you know which head is for what? Maybe I don't need so many to start?
I was curious about tubular locks as well. I saw videos of people using the SouthOrd tubular pick, it was rad. But maybe I should wait for that until a later date, is it to much for newbs to start with?

Thanks for the help.

[Shrub]

You choose which pick style suits which lock by experiance, you will get a favorite pick that you will use most of and always try first.

The set looks ok to me but the handles look a bit iffy, depends how you want to hold them.

A tubular pick is realy for locksmiths, theres no skill in them, if you want to have a ago at a tubular lock theres no difficult bits other than getting tension on, do it by hand forget the commercial pick.

[Mad Mick]

A tubular pick is realy for locksmiths, theres no skill in them, if you want to have a ago at a tubular lock theres no difficult bits other than getting tension on, do it by hand forget the commercial pick.

I'll second that. For a hobbiest, a tubular pick kinda ruins the fun...DIY, DIY.

[SpaceCow]

the hok like ones are for picking each pin individually, while the round ones are good for wafer locks, and the one that looks like the tops of a mountian range are for raking (moving the pick forwards and backwards quickly).

[Auto45]

Very true on picking tubular locks one pin at a time, its so exciting when you open your first one. for now its the only why I can unlock them till I get a commercial pick.

I need a commercial pick that will not only open the lock but give me the code, so I can made a new key for the own of the locks. I have a new Chickie-Cheese account and will need a good tubular pick soon.

If you a just doing this as a hobby I agree with the others theres no skill in using commercial ones.
auto

[Chrispy]

I'd say that set is more than adequate for a beginner.

[DrStu]

I bought a set like that and I like it but, I find that I only use about 3 of the picks regularly. If I could go back knowing what I know now I would have bought picks individually and made my own case. Having said that I am still happy with the set I have.

[SFGOON]

That set has a good balance of different rakes and hooks, which is what you need to determine you personal preferences. It looks like an excellent buy for a beginner - go for it.

[Auto45]

I tried to order that brass handle by itself, they won't sell apart from the set. Good set get it.
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[digital_blue]

Aye, that was indeed my first set, and until my recent acquisition of a Falle-Safe set, it was my only professionally made set.

You could probably save a few bucks and just buy the few picks that you'll actually need, but then again, you won't know what you like until you have a chance to play with all of them. Also, regarding the brass handle, I *rarely* use mine, but my L-rake is pretty well permanently installed. I find that when I'm single pin picking, the handle gets cumbersome and doesn't really translate the feeling as well as no handle at all. But with raking, it doesn't matter much, so I like the additional grip that it provides.

HTH, happy picking!

db