Picks for a newcomer

[Raeden]

Hey, I'm new to lockpicking, never picked a lock before, don't have any tools, but I kinda know where to start.

My main problem is that I don't have any access to any picks. I'm pretty sure it is illegal to purchase them where I live, so I want to make my own. But, I don't have any tools to make them.

I have a tension wrench. Got a really nice allen key, ended up being the perfect size.

Is there any materials around the house that can be made into a good pick without having to use angle grinders or any electric tools. I have a hammer, some pliers, nails and random things around the house.

Thanks in advanced.

[machinist]

You know I'm not any form of legal entity but, I would confirm that its ok to have picks before I tried to obtain them.

Your going to spend a while but I've finished several tools with files and a pair of locking pliers before. Several creative members have made their own tools out of hangers and nails hammerd flat to fit into keyways.

Above all I would reccomend running a search or just manually looking around the LP101 forums in the future.

[Raeden]

aight, thanks, I'll have a look.

[jb68]

There were a couple of threads about making picks from other materials, including I think credit card type material, safety pins, paper clips and my fav' DB's banana pick (yes made from a banana)
I'm no authority on this tho', just what I've seen around the site.
In my experince of what I've seen on here it ain't what you've got but how you use it. (like most things in life )

[VashTSPD]

I don't know if it's a sticky, but there is a thread dedicated to lock picking materials, also, check youtube for "making lockpicks" to find Pyro1234321's video on making them from hack-saw blades. if you have a grinder.

[!*AMP*!]

Are you in the US? Because I don't think you'd have a problem anywhere in the continental US...

[cL4y]

Welcome to the site,and i have heard bike spoke picks work quite well.
A guy around the site has been using bike-spoke picks and nail tension wrenches.

Thats right up your alley,good luck mate.

[Izekieal]

Welcome to the site,and i have heard bike spoke picks work quite well.
A guy around the site has been using bike-spoke picks and nail tension wrenches.

Thats right up your alley,good luck mate.

haha! I use bike spoke tension wrenches, and hacksaw picks

[alex20005uk]

mate why dont you check first to make sure its defo illegal to obtain picks? if your new like me you just want to get cracking. Plus i think you will need good picks to learn picking from the start and you may make below standard picks - depending on your ability. Me im crap and dont have ANY tools whatsoever so.............. I think once i get good at lockpicking and understand how a lockpick actually picks and manipulates a lock, il know how to make a good one. PLus i thik you need a fair few tools and a lot of elbow grease!

Saying that there are loads of tutorials on here, have a poke around you may find it a doddle. Let us know how you get on - it would be nice to see how you made your picks

good luck!