Places for hobbyists to buy HPC picks, and advice on them.

[blake1803]

Hi again everyone,

After playing with my SouthOrd MPXS-14 set for a few months, I feel like it's time for an upgrade. Nothing wrong with the SouthOrd set, but I'd just like to see what else is out there, grow my toolselt, and see what other picks feel like. HPC seems like the next step. As I add more and more picks to my set I don't want to be filling up with what seem to be regarded as lower-quality picks -- I know quality is subjective, but the price isn't much of an issue to me and I certainly haven't read anything negative about HPC whereas I have about SouthOrd.

From my searching, it looks like lockpickers.com, lockpicks.com, and possibly locksmithtoolandsupply.com & lock-depot.com (these two I'm not sure of) will ship HPC to hobbyists. Lock-depot's store policy says "Anyone purchasing locksmith tools must be a locksmith, a locksmith in training, or an individual who lives where it is legal to have appropriate tools" -- seems simple enough, but when you actually add tools to your cart, they ask for your job title. Kind of contradictory.

So, I guess, first off -- can anyone vouch for these companies, and does anyone know of any others that will sell to hobbyists?

And second off -- I know this will be a hard question to answer because it is fairly subjective in nature, but which HPC pick sets do you think I'd do well to buy?

It seems like people on this board are in favor of the "2000" series of HPC picks -- is the PIP-2000 set made up of all of the 2000 picks? Is it worth it? Why have I read in some places that they are mostly European locks? Living in the US and having access only to US hardware stores to buy locks, a Euro set wouldn't make much sense for me.

How do the computer-generated picks compare?

It looks like a lot of the HPC sets come with picks that don't have stainless steel handles -- would that present a problem?

Stainless steel vs. spring steel? I'm confused on that one, too.

The NDPK-16 and NDPK-32 both look nice, but I worry that those might be the lower-end of HPC picks, when what I'm looking for is something nice.

Lots of questions, but I know you all can help

Thanks in advance!

[blake1803]

Whoops, this should be in the "Lockpicks - Manual" forum.

[SFGOON]

Too easy dude!

[TriannaX]

Well here is something to note:

or an individual who lives where it is legal to have appropriate tools

You say you live in the US, so I would suggest finding the laws for your state and check if it's legal to simply have lockpicks. Most states allow you to have them, as long as you are not trying to break into somewhere with them. If that is the case with your state, then ordering from sites that use words like the quote above would be fine to order from.

I have no idea why they would ask for your job title. If I had my own locksmith business, I don't know that I'd give myself a job title or what to even give myself as a job title.

Hope that answers a part of the questions. Happy Picking!

[darrel.h]

I can answer a few of these questions:

Personally, I would take the NDPK-60 or NDPK-100 pickset because first, you may need an ocassional odd tool that may not come with a smaller pickset. Second, It looks cool. Obvously "the more the better".

Computer generated picks don't actually make too much of a difference. they may be more ergonomic and might offer smoother picking but I don't think it is worth the extra money unless you are planning to become a lockie.

Why do you want a stainless handle? I doesn't make much of a diffrence because it is just a handle. There shouldn't be too much of a problem with regualr handles.

Spring steel is just tempered steel and stainless steel is well.... stainless steel. I would go for spring steel because It is more durable and it wears less compared to stainless.


Hope this helps,
Darrel

[illusion]

Computer generated picks aren't strictly picks IMO. You insert then into the lock, and then whilst bouncing torque you raise, lower and rock the pick. If one pick doesn't work then you you try another from the selection you get in a set. It's not picking, it's like simulating a key. If you have serious money to burn, and always wanted to try them, then by all means do, but there are other more usefull things your money could buy.

Stainless steel won't rust, and tends to be stiffer than spring steel. Get whichever is cheaper, or if similar price I'd personaly go for spring steel.

People dig at Southord, but for the price you get them, and the suprisingly long life I fail to comprehend how people do them down - my 9 piece slimline set has picked countless locks, and is still in my collection. My favour has shifted to the Falle Safe set at present though.

[blake1803]

Well here is something to note:

or an individual who lives where it is legal to have appropriate tools

You say you live in the US, so I would suggest finding the laws for your state and check if it's legal to simply have lockpicks. Most states allow you to have them, as long as you are not trying to break into somewhere with them. If that is the case with your state, then ordering from sites that use words like the quote above would be fine to order from.

I have no idea why they would ask for your job title. If I had my own locksmith business, I don't know that I'd give myself a job title or what to even give myself as a job title.

Hope that answers a part of the questions. Happy Picking!

Right -- I'm familiar with CA law and buying/possessing them isn't a problem. The store is confusing in that it seems like they want to verify whether or not you are indeed a locksmith despite what their policy states. I was just wondering if anyone had ordered from them before.

Why do you want a stainless handle? I doesn't make much of a diffrence because it is just a handle. There shouldn't be too much of a problem with regualr handles.

I like the feel/response of the stainless handles. Personal preference, I guess. When investing in a larger set of picks, I don't really want to settle for something that I don't want/won't be comfortable with.

Is the PIP-2000 the only HPC set that comes entirely with handles?

The NDPK-60 looks nice, but again, it looks like many of them don't have handles. I've also read that many of the picks are duplicates, which seems like a waste of money to me since I'm just a hobbyist and don't go through my picks very quickly. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

I guess the main thing here is that I would like to upgrade from my Southord picks and it appears that HPC is the only other "high quality" brand that I have access to. I just don't know what to get. I'm leaning toward the PIP-2000.... it's pricey for the small number of picks, but they seem to be very high quality? Once again I'm not sure if they are meant for all locks or only European locks...

Probably too expensive, but how does the Peterson "Government Elite Set" perform?

[dmux]

upgrade to peterson or maybe falle safe, i know peterson makes some very nice tools

[illusion]

At about $200 US (I think...) a pop for the Falle safe set, you'll be blowing a lot of money unless you're serious about picking. Nice picks for sure, but a lot of cash.

[blake1803]

The more and more threads I search through, the more I think that HPC is making the best picks for the price, for a hobbyist. It wouldnt make sense for me to spend the money on Peterson, Falle, etc, even if I were able to buy them.

But it also seems like everyone has a different opinion on the HPC locks

Very hard to decide on a set... though the "pro mixer" / 24 piece set is looking nice.

[blake1803]

different opinion on the HPC picks, I mean.

[illusion]

You can buy Peterson easily - their prices are fairly good also.

[blake1803]

$185 for a set of 10 picks seems very pricey for a hobbyist... I guess we are just on diffeent budgets

[SFGOON]

That's for the government steel edition, which you don't need. You can get the "just picks" set for about 40$ They unlike any pick you've ever owned! They're - they're awesome! They, oh man!

They're a good buy at the price. Peterson makes some pretty sweet gear and has my loyalty.

[blake1803]

Huh -- I overlooked that set because of the plastic handles. The handles have a good response/feel?