slim line pick vs standard.

[Elminster]

I am, obviously, new to lock picking. Looking at it as a hobby and to add another thing to my resume of jack of all trades. I tried a search and didn't find what I was looking for....maybe it's because it's late, or that I have been lookng at this site for the last 3 hours, or maybe my search-fu is weak

I am looking at the SO website and notice the slimline picks have a description that they are for euro/japanese locks or U.S. thin locks. The non-slimline picks don't list what they are for ( as far as thickness ). As far as I have gathered I should get a set with the basic picks and if I want one or two specific picks, like the circle or snowman picks, then buy them seperate.

My question is; Can the slim line picks be used on the same locks that the non-slimline picks are for. It makes sense that the thicker pick can't fit into the thinner locks, but the thinner pick should fit into the thicker lock and still work.....unless there is something with the pins on the thicker lock that require the thicker pick.

I ordered a jack knife pick set.....before I found this site and read about not being able to feel the lock as well as with regular picks. So I want to get a proper set of picks but would like a well rounded set that can get into most locks without having a set of 50 picks. In the mean time I will be looking at the write-ups and guides (like the MIT guide), and maybe if my impatience get to me I may try picking a spare deadbolt that I have with some household items.


Thanks for the help.

[gostone]

I am, obviously, new to lock picking. Looking at it as a hobby and to add another thing to my resume of jack of all trades. I tried a search and didn't find what I was looking for....maybe it's because it's late, or that I have been lookng at this site for the last 3 hours, or maybe my search-fu is weak

I am looking at the SO website and notice the slimline picks have a description that they are for euro/japanese locks or U.S. thin locks. The non-slimline picks don't list what they are for ( as far as thickness ). As far as I have gathered I should get a set with the basic picks and if I want one or two specific picks, like the circle or snowman picks, then buy them seperate.
Yes the slimline picks can be used on the wider openings, but not vice versa. The only downside to the thinner picks, is that they would be more prone to bending and breaking, so you need a light touch.
As for the jack knife pick set..... almost useless, trust me, I bought one. Very nifty to have, but not so practical or easy to use.

You really only need a very limited selection of picks, as follows:

a couple of hook picks
A diamond or two
A rake or W pick
tension wrenches, these are easy to make.

If you are buying a set, I would lean towards the Peterson "just picks" set, and make yourself a couple of tension tools out of wiper blade inserts, or from street sweeper bristles.

that's it! Just try to practise single pin picking................

[illusion]

I really don't like repeating this over and over again, but the 9 piece slimline set is great.

Bullcrap - I don't know what kind of Neanderthals keep saying that slimline picks are weaker to the point that it makes a difference. If you break a pick then stop using your dumb technique and learn to use less force - you're doing something wrong and the fault lies with you, nit the pick. It isn't a case of a light touch, it's just a case of not being brain-dead and realising that if "Ug-ug my pick broke ug-ug" then you probably have very bad technique. I am heavy handed in terms of picking and I often wonder how I manage to open locks, and yet I've never bent a pick, and I have never broken one - so go figure.

Yes - slimline picks will work on *lots* of locks, but the same does not apply to the wider versions. You're thinking right though in presuming the the thinner ones have a great advantage - it's not so common for a newbie to have that kind of perspective, and I suggest you apply it to lockpicking.

Hope this helps.

[raimundo]

I believe that the reason that thick shaft lockpicks are commercial is because the thick shaft is for heavy handed nubies, so that they have to pry harder to break or bend them, there is no other reason to have such thick shafts. Once you encounter warding that can do its job, you need the slimlines. thick shafts are also probably the reason nubies have touble with master#3's, I probably would have trouble with them too if I had such picks. I don't. they are for the prybar style of picking.

[Elminster]

You're thinking right though in presuming the the thinner ones have a great advantage - it's not so common for a newbie to have that kind of perspective, and I suggest you apply it to lockpicking.

thanks for the compliment. I have always had a very high mechanical aptitude, as well as a very good sense of spatial relativity, so working on anything from basic carpentry to automotive mechanics and electrical to house electrical to fiber optic fusion and installation comes pretty easy.

I saw a picture a long time ago of a lock tumbler and pins, showing how the key works, and from then on the "magic" of the lock was gone and a lockpicker was just someone with lots of practice acting like a key:) I saw a rudementry pic of a wafer lock last night on here and it explained why a car key was double sided, I had always assumed is was so you didn't have to worry about turning it right side up like a pin lock.

I'll be buying a slimline set today. thanks for the feedback.

[illusion]

Yup - the ability to see a lock for what it really is - a totally basic piece of engineering helps a lot when you pick them, and think of ways to get around them. Most people love the illusion that they are secure, and want to believe that there is something magical about their locks... hence the use of my forum name 'illusion'.

Actually, car most locks have wafers on the top and bottom, and they are double sided to allow them to be entered in both ways; this is the reason that most of them have the same biting on both sides of the key.

Good choice going with the slimline set - let us know how you get on with them, and how they all bend and snap due to their serious weakness. Just kidding on the last bit...

[Elminster]

I actually tried to pick a lock at work today when I had some down time. I knew I wasn't going to be able to open it, but I figured I might get lucky, or at least learn a little......and I actually did. It was an ace hardware padlock, like the masterlocks with several plates to make up the lock. I grabbed some stuff that was in my truck and improvised. I used a standard automotive screw type band clamp, and used some dikes to cut it down. since it has the slashes in it for the screw it made a good hook, and then I used another one for a tension wrench. The metal was a bit thick and I couldn't get the height of the pick short enough to get into the lock very far. BUT even with the complications and lack of experience and the sub standard picks, I was able to get a feel for the spring resistance and since I was able to set the first 2 pins...or at least bind up the top of the stack, I was able to feel the pin without the spring pressure.....I thought it would be a delicate difference but you can really feel how much more pressure the spring gives. I gave up after about 5 minutes when I couldn't get the back pins....but I did learn some stuff from it.

I can't wait for the picks so I can take a tumbler apart and start at one pin.

[tandres]

i am new to lock picking and had the same question. should i order a slim-line set and maybe some thicker single picks or just the slime line?

[illusion]

Mate, read my reply at the top of the screen.

[Dooms_day]

slim line picks fit in standard locks but not all standard picks will fit in slim line locks, so i would get a few slim line hook picks but nothing unnessisary

[Elminster]

I got the 15 piece slim line. Took about an hour picking a kwik-set deadbolt by doing 1 pin, then adding a second, then a third and so on. 4 pins was easy but when I added the 5th it got quite a bit harder. the 5th pin was the longest one and needed barely any lift at all, so I think I was lifting past the sheer line. Once I got the hang on it though it took no time. Then I grabbed a different kwik-set that I had laying around and since I didn't have a key for it I had no choice to pick it with all 5 pins first......took less than 60 seconds. I still have a long way to go before my skills are of any measurable level, but all the locks I have been looking at to pick, will accept the slim line....I have seen several that are too thing for anything thicker.

[illusion]

That's really cool Elminster.

So... Do you find the slimline picks too fragile?

[grim]

i am new to lock picking and had the same question. should i order a slim-line set and maybe some thicker single picks or just the slime line?

slime-line are only good for picking your way into a snail's house.

[illusion]

slime-line are only good for picking your way into a snail's house.

Why do you think I like them? There is nothing like B&E into snails' houses to pass an afternoon.

[Elminster]

That's really cool Elminster.

So... Do you find the slimline picks too fragile?

No they don't seem all that fragile at all. I wouldn't try to pry open a sliding glass door with them but treat them the same as a hacksaw blade and your ok. The stress that you put on them is on the thin edge which has more strenght than the flat axis of the pick. Don't use the pick as a tension wrench or that's all you'll use it for from that point on.