raking

[vector40]

Aren't those tremendous rakes supposed to be for mailboxes or something?

Er... tremendous hooks, rather.

[digital_blue]

Aren't those tremendous rakes supposed to be for mailboxes or something?

Er... tremendous hooks, rather.

Ohhh... ok. And I thought you'd just missed the point. Anyway... I dunno. Are they? Could be. Never picked a mailbox lock. I don't own one.

db

[east_stingray]

So would you leave the bogota picks until later too, or go ahead and incorporate them into my "beginner thru intermediate" southord set training?

[digital_blue]

It all depends on what you can manage financially, and what you're willing to spend. The Bogota's are great fun, though using them is a different skill entirely from single pin picking. If you get well into this hobby, you will eventually want to own a set. However, there are a lot of things you'll eventually want to own so get ready for that.

db

[east_stingray]

I thought I wanted to own a tubular pick because that sounds like a fun challenge, but the I saw that they are like $70 a piece, which wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so many different kinds... 7 pin, 8 pin, 10 pin... and if you want to be ready for one, you have to have picks for all three! I see what you mean, though, about having a lot of things that I want. I would like to try out a snap gun just because it looks cool, but where's the challenge? For 50 bucks I think I'll just buy some nicer picks (read: bogota picks).

[digital_blue]

Probably a good call. I'd leave the tubulars for the time being and focus on more standard pin tumblers. Bogotas are fun. I think you meant to say "Pick Gun" not "Snap Pick", but you can make a snap pick pretty easily and I have found it to be at least as effective as my SouthOrd pick gun.

Cheers!

db

[east_stingray]

I see the other threads concerning this, but it seems like no one really explains it well. Is it better to have both slimlines and regulars? None of the kits offered by southord have this combo. From what I understand, slimlines can do the restrictive locks AND locks with all the space in the world equally well. The only negative aspect I've found in these threads is that they're easier to break (when new and using too much force). I'm pretty sure I don't use too much force, so it seems like I can get a kit of slimlines and be able to open most any lock (with reference to keyhole size, not lock type) or get a regular kit and only be able to open some locks. Do I have this down right, or are there other advantages to the regular picks? Because if so, I'll just order one of the smaller slim kits.

Which dimension of these picks is "slim"? Are they not as "tall" or is the metal not as thick?

[digital_blue]

If you're willing to be careful with them, you may do fine with the slims. However, if you're new to this you haven't really had the chance to test the bounds of what is acceptable and sometimes necessary force. I've got a couple locks that require quite a bit of force to get past a spool pin. If I go with lighter tension I simply end up dropping other pins when the lip of the spool passes the shear line. I wouldn't even THINK of using one of my Falle Thin Curve picks in this situation because, as good as the Falle tools are, I know that the amount of force I use to pick the lock is too great for those thin little picks to stand up.

But, you'll still likely do ok with the slims. I would advocate learning to make your own picks though, this way you're not as worried about damaging the picks as you're learning. But I would not advocate *only* making your own picks. It's nice to have some commercial picks to compare with.

db