Upgrading picks?

by **Lockdown27** » 3 Oct 2006 19:03

If I were to upgrade my small pick set what should I get?
My current set consists of a tension wrench, a snake , and a short hook.
I am willing to pay up to 100$.

by **btierney** » 3 Oct 2006 20:23

I like the SouthOrd MPXS20 piece kit. I've had good luck with it. Several tension wrenches, lifters, and rakes. It runs about $45.

I'd spend the other $55 on locks to play with.

-Brian

by **What** » 3 Oct 2006 20:26

a half diamond.

you have all you really need, heck i have been picking all this time with just a hook and half diamond for picks...

by **Romstar** » 4 Oct 2006 0:39

In order?

Peterson, HPC, Rytan, L.A.B., Ilco, ESP, Majestic, SouthOrd, Southern Specialities.

Each of them carry an excellent selection of picks, and there is bound to be a set that meets what you are looking for.

Your set should consist of a selection of hooks and half diamonds, along with a good selection of assorted tension tools. Tension tools are the most overlooked component of any pick set and they are often just as important if not more so to your success as a lock picker.

After the hooks and diamonds, add 1 medium and 1 small DeForest pick, a ball and half ball, and then any rakes you may find interesting. The most common rakes are the 1/2 and 3/4 snakes.

If you can make them, add a king and queen pick to your set or buy them if you have to. When properly made they are very effective picks.

Look to our own Raimundo for his excellent "Bogota" picks and rakes. The quality is beyond compare.

After that, file, stone and sand your picks until they are as smooth as you can make them. You are looking for a velvet satin to mirror finish. Be sure that you have a good case for your picks and treat them with respect. Never use them as screw drivers or any other such nonsense. If your picks are spring steel rather than stainless lightly oil them on occasion with a light machine oil.

I hope that helps you in some way as to your choices.
Romstar

by **Amanita-Virosa** » 5 Oct 2006 7:42

That's a very good point about oiling spring steel picks. I never thought of doing this and when I went to get my picks after they hadn't been used for a while, they'd started to rust.

I'm much more careful now! I found the best thing to use is a silicone impregnated cloth - the same type that I use on the metalwork or my rifle to prevent rusting.

Does the job very nicely and doesn't even make a mess!

by **kodierer** » 5 Oct 2006 11:54

Lockdown27 wrote:If I were to upgrade my small pick set what should I get?
My current set consists of a tension wrench, a snake , and a short hook.
I am willing to pay up to 100$.

Sounds like a good set to me. Take your $100 to a fancy restuarant. If you insist on buying new picks look at slim line picks.

by **Lockdown27** » 6 Oct 2006 22:09

How about the Seventeen Piece Lock Pick Set or
"The PXS-17" looks like a good set its on southord.com

by **zeke79** » 6 Oct 2006 22:40

I have an MPXS-62 set from southord in the for sell section that I would sell to you for $100 if you are interested. Check out the post in the for sell section and pm me if you are interested.

by **Bud Wiser** » 6 Oct 2006 22:45

Romstar wrote:In order?

Peterson, HPC, Rytan, L.A.B., Ilco, ESP, Majestic, SouthOrd, Southern Specialities.
Romstar

Not having tried Rytan, LAB, ilco, my list in order of sets I have tried would be...

Peterson, Southern Specialties, HPC, SouthOrd, Majestic, Dino (Navagator).

I've grown to appreciate southern specialties lately. They are actually SouthOrd on steriods, beating HPC by a nose.

Of course this is just MHO

by **zeke79** » 6 Oct 2006 22:50

My choices in everyday use are as follows:

HOPE 2006 picks, Peterson, HPC, Southord

In specialty use they go:

Falle safe, LAB, HOPE 2006, Peterson DCAP, Peterson slender picks.

by **dmux** » 6 Oct 2006 23:37

zeke can you post pictures of your HOPE Picks?

by **zeke79** » 7 Oct 2006 0:27

Yes I can, but it will have to be in the next couple of days or so as my cam needs the sensor cleaned right now. I have to wait until I can turn off all of the fans in the house for a bit to do that first.

by **Lockdown27** » 7 Oct 2006 10:34

Well the MPXS-62 on southord.com looks pretty nice
Does any one have that set and is so is it good.

by **Schuyler** » 7 Oct 2006 10:47

dmux: http://www.toool.nl/blackbag/?p=20

There have been higher quality pictures of them posted to LP101 previously, but I can't immediately find them. And, my computer has died a second death (in as many months) so no photos from me for a couple weeks.

by **Lockdown27** » 7 Oct 2006 15:29

Lockdown27 wrote:How about the Seventeen Piece Lock Pick Set or
"The PXS-17" looks like a good set its on southord.com

Yes no ?

Upgrading picks?

Upgrading picks?

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