spring vs. stainless?

by **dinger** » 22 Feb 2007 23:27

Hi, I have picked about 15 locks now with some picks i made out off hack saw blades. I like this hobby and would like to buy a good quality set off picks. I've heard southord and majestic are good brands but wasn't sure? also do you guys prefer spring or stainless steel picks :?:

Thanks

by **Exodus5000** » 23 Feb 2007 0:00

Stainless steel locks won't rust which is their main advantage. With that said, I really prefer spring steel. They don't bend as easily, I get better tactile feedback, and you just need to wipe them down every now and then to keep the rust off.

Eventually if you really stick with picking you'll probably consider buying the peterson plastic handle kit. They're made of "peterson steel" which from what I can tell is spring steel with black paint on them. Wipe the black paint off with a scrubby dish brush and you'll have a rockin' set. These are by far my favorite picks.

by **dinger** » 23 Feb 2007 0:23

Yeah, I thought spring steel would be better for a begginer cause of the extra strenth. I will do a search for peterson.

by **gostone** » 23 Feb 2007 0:24

I've heard southord and majestic are good brands but wasn't sure? also do you guys prefer spring or stainless steel picks

Actually they are both ok, but I would recommend you look at the Peterson picks, they use excellent quality materials, the spring steel picks are the best commercial picks I have tried.

which from what I can tell is spring steel with black paint on them. Wipe the black paint off with a scrubby dish brush and you'll have a rockin' set. These are by far my favorite picks.

The spring steel picks are indeed dark blue, not black, this is the natural finish of most tempered blue spring steel, no need to scrub them off, with use the blue will polish off.

by **Exodus5000** » 23 Feb 2007 0:57

gostone wrote:The spring steel picks are indeed dark blue, not black.

Ahh, my bad. I'm color blind, it was dark enough that I thought it was black.

On a tangent, my set is starting to wear out, I think I might have to order a new plastic set soon. A shame they raised the price since last time I ordered.

by **Eyes_Only** » 23 Feb 2007 1:11

I bought some Peterson picks recently and they totally blow HPC spring steel out of the water. Provides better feed back from inside the lock.

by **dinger** » 23 Feb 2007 1:17

Ok, I found a few sets that I would be intrested in. Peterson (P-2) $98, (M-2) $109, or (E-2) $120. Do any of you have one of these sets that you could recomend. Also, are these a fair price for a quality begginer set? I was expecting to pay around $75, but if some of you are really happy with one of these peterson sets I think i'll go for it. Thanks

by **Eyes_Only** » 23 Feb 2007 1:28

I personally would recommend these picks, http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=354 and this case, http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... ProdID=504 . This will have you good and set for a long time. I wouldn't buy the already assembled sets from Peterson, way way way too expensive. And at least this way you can give yourself room to add and customize in the future as you start to tackle different types of locks like IC cylinders.

by **dinger** » 23 Feb 2007 1:51

Thankyou, that set looks pretty nice and good price. I'll add a few tension tools with it and is there any other things you think i'll need before I make the order? And what are IC cylinders? Thanks

by **Eyes_Only** » 23 Feb 2007 1:56

Oops, yeah you need tension wrenches too, hehe. This is a IC cylinder, http://www.taylorsecurity.com/store/ite ... ENT_ID=386 . This lock is a beast to many of us, even the long time pickers. I still cant get mines open even with the right tools. But don't worry about this puppy, focus on locks thats sold in hardware stores for now.

by **dinger** » 23 Feb 2007 2:10

Yeah

, looks like you'd need a fancy pick to get through that key hole.

by **LockNewbie21** » 23 Feb 2007 6:00

You know that keyway has such a striking resemblence to the Keymark keyway.

Anyhow, yea bro your best bet is by peterson, i have had SO's there cheep, but uncomfortable and P.O.S's after time.

As for tensioners, the Flat five are great, well atleast the ones i made in there style are, I know zeke and a few other use these, i am sure they could illaborate a bit.

But try and get some windshield wiper inserts and begin expierementing with your own tensioner designs thickness's, ect. for your own style (tension is obsurdly critical with picking)

And as always, break out the 1200- 1600 grit emory paper to run you new picks though, and your more well set then i was at first, good luck bro

by **dinger** » 23 Feb 2007 21:14

Hey guys, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I just ordered a peterson set of picks,case, and tension wrenches.

And to add to that, while I was at work today I found an AMERICAN LOCK series-2000 that had a key broke off in it. As soon as i got home I got the broken key out of it, so I guess ill have to go grind up some more hack saw blades untill my new set arrives

. Has any one done a series 2000 that can tell me how difficult it should be?

by **Mr. Glass** » 24 Feb 2007 2:26

Peterson was a great choice. (I have a set of southord picks myself, but hope to get some Peterson's when I come up with the money).

spring vs. stainless?

spring vs. stainless?

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