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Should I make my own lockpicking set or buy it?

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
Forum rules
Do not post safe related questions in this sub forum! Post them in This Old Safe

The sub forum you are currently in is for asking Beginner Hobby Lock Picking questions only.

Postby Shrub » 22 Dec 2005 19:22

Yes our illusion is a little heart breaker :lol:
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Postby Omikron » 22 Dec 2005 19:29

Shrub wrote:Yes our illusion is a little heart breaker :lol:


You too!?

Illusion broke my heart, and I'll never be able to love the same way again... :lol:
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Postby Shrub » 22 Dec 2005 19:32

Hes just a user :cry:

And he wont even send my puncture repair kit back :cry:
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Postby illusion » 22 Dec 2005 19:38

sorry about thatShrub ... it's getting some serious usage... now I'm riding my ...... err..... bike everyday...

Illusion broke my heart, and I'll never be able to love the same way again... :lol:

I'm sorry Omi... it would have never worked out.. we're just two different kinds of people :wink:
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Postby Chrispy » 23 Dec 2005 3:06

*Shudders again.*

Not that there's anything wrong with that.....
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Some things may be pick proof, but everything can be bypassed....
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Postby Olcaytug » 23 Dec 2005 14:30

I thought and decided to make my own lockpicks. Although it may prevent me from learning picking locks in a shorter time, it can give me a chance to design my own picks whenever I want.

At this point I need to ask a question. The lockpicks shown on the e-shops are very straightforward; usually having the same precise & predefined shapes. But the self-contructed ones I saw on some videos are a bit random in shapes. Would this randomness be a major hinderance?

For example; learning to use so many different non-regular types and shapes of snakes... Isn't it a bit difficult?

And whould you reccomend me to use a grinder (I have never used that and I would need to buy one), or files and git papers. I couldn't decide.

Regards..
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Postby Auto45 » 23 Dec 2005 14:47

If you can get a grinder,dermal tool,files and git papers, It will take forever to make a pick with just a file out of a haw saw blade, if you are making them out of street sweeper blades, you will be ok with files and it git paper
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Postby digital_blue » 23 Dec 2005 15:00

I personally have not found a material I like better for pick making than hacksaw blades. Street sweeper bristles are good, but the width does not accommodate enough handle for my liking. As Auto said, you'll have a big job ahead of you if you're going to just use files to shape picks from hacksaw blades. You could get by with just a dremel, but the grinder is a good investment.

And one more thing... polishing is key. Get those picks to shine like a mirror and your success rate will go up dramatically.

Cheers!

db
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Postby Auto45 » 23 Dec 2005 16:43

digital_blue wrote:And one more thing... polishing is key. Get those picks to shine like a mirror and your success rate will go up dramatically.

Cheers!

db


Yes even on your commercial made ones that you have bought, go over them and get a good shine on them.
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Postby zeke79 » 23 Dec 2005 17:09

digital_blue wrote:I personally have not found a material I like better for pick making than hacksaw blades. Street sweeper bristles are good, but the width does not accommodate enough handle for my liking. As Auto said, you'll have a big job ahead of you if you're going to just use files to shape picks from hacksaw blades. You could get by with just a dremel, but the grinder is a good investment.

And one more thing... polishing is key. Get those picks to shine like a mirror and your success rate will go up dramatically.

Cheers!

db


Don't forget the small plumbing snakes. Nice steel, and it is a good size to start out with.
For the best book out there on high security locks and their operation, take a look at amazon.com for High-Security Mechanical Locks An Encyclopedic Reference. Written by our very own site member Greyman! A true 5 Star read!!
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Postby Shrub » 23 Dec 2005 20:27

if you want to use files and grit paer, anneal your blades first and harden then afterwads.
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Postby Olcaytug » 24 Dec 2005 8:55

Thank you all friends; Today I'm going to buy a grinder and the other equipment.

I have two last questions:

digital_blue wrote:I personally have not found a material I like better for pick making than hacksaw blades...
db



Is this material appropriate for european standard locks? Because in our country we usually use european criterions (in electricity, video formats, etc). But I have doubts about lovks...

Secondly, do I need exact dimensions for the lockpicks tips? I haven't seen any on the tutorials, so if I need could you give an example.

Regards
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git paper

Postby raimundo » 24 Dec 2005 10:48

some types of sand paper are only for wood and softer materials, to be sure that the sandpaper you get is made for cutting metal, ask at an auto body repair shop, and look for the finest grits, some are only made for grinding, while the smaller grit is for polish.
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Re: git paper

Postby Auto45 » 24 Dec 2005 12:12

raimundo wrote:some types of sand paper are only for wood and softer materials, to be sure that the sandpaper you get is made for cutting metal, ask at an auto body repair shop, and look for the finest grits, some are only made for grinding, while the smaller grit is for polish.


yes, you wast whats called wet and dry, you can use wet on you last pass over on you tool. After all done with tool,wipe down with WD-40 or light grade oil (baby oil) to keep from rusting.
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Postby Shrub » 24 Dec 2005 12:26

Wet n dry is the best but if you want a rougher one to begin with only get one that are a cloth backing, the pepers are as raimundo said for wood and plastics.

Glass and sand are not what you need, grit is :wink:

Just to ellaborate on auto's post, wet n dry can be used wet or dry, dry is a bit more abrasive and wet is a lot finer, to wet you can use a soapy water or for picks use light oil like wd40.

When useing emry etc, do not cut it with scissors, you will damage the cutting edge, tear them up, the cloth results in a clean straight tear anyway so you dont need to worry.

Tear off twice as much as you need and fold the piece in half, this will give you grip on the other side on your fingers/hand so the paer doesnt slip allthe time.

If doing somthing flat wrap the emry around a wooden block and if doing somthing that is an edge but a small crevice then wrap it around a file or somthing.
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