my first lock picking set

[n00bking]

Hey, total n00b here, i was thinking of getting a lock picking set.

I was thinking just 1 tension wrench, a Large Diamond, S Rake, and a Short Hook Pick from http://www.lockpickshop.com/BTKSP.html

or maybe...this http://www.defensedevices.com/concealed ... k-set.html

which one should i get?

Thanks.

PS, I think that I only really need those 3 and the wrench, but I am a n00b, so should I go for something better?

[UWSDWF]

get the 14pcs SO set..... that is all....
get the concealed one and I'll demand you wear a helmet for your own safety

[Exodus5000]

Don't forget to take some 600 grit sandpaper to your SO picks when you buy them. Seriously. 600 grit won't really remove material from your picks, but you'll get much better feedback if they're smoothed over.

[SlingsVaqueros]

As a general rule, I avoid anything that's marketed as a gimick. If you need tools, buy tools, don't buy a bunch of bells and whistles. I'm still new to picking, but I'm only making my own picks so I can learn the skill from the ground up.

It looks like the loose asortment of picks you selected are a good start, so why don't you just look up the templates on this forum and make your own. You'll get a lot more street cred around here too, from what I've seen. You can pick up a cheap hand file set from home depot for under $5. I went with the jewelers file set and it works well.

[JackNco]

hey first off where are you from. if its in north America you will be ok with a standard sized set. some people prefer a standard set some prefer a slimline. i use a mixture of both depending on what lock im working on.
If you are in Europe you will NEED a slimline set. We have some evil key ways here.

You will be best of with at least the following (IMHO)
Short hook
Long hook
Half Diamond
A couple of rakes
And a couple of tension tools (You will end up modifying them if you are in Europe)

But as UWSDWF said, the 14piece set is a good deal, thats the (psx14 i think, or something close) The slimline set is 15 piece.

Check them all out at www.southord.com

Southord are probably the best bet for a beginner.

And don't bother with that other set. they are more of a gimmick/second set. you can finf them at http://www.lockpicktools.com/ they also do some nice looking tools, although im yet to try them out yet.

All the best, hope that helped

John

[raimundo]

are slimline more expensive, or a different metal, anyone could make a slimline pick out of a thickline pick with some grinding and sanding. oh, and a little skill that you can only achieve by starting without it and getting smarter when you blow it.

[JackNco]

They are more expensive. each SO sell the slim lines for $2.20 or standard for $1.65.

But could you really be bothered to grind down each pick to save $0.55?

[n00bking]

I kinda want this to be semi cheap...
I think....

from http://www.lockpicktools.com/lockpicks.htm I'll get, like at least one hook, one snake, one Saw tooth raker, and maybe one of those camel back rakers or ramped raker, and that hybrid offset diamond looks kinda cool...

I have some questions though, which hook should I get? small, med, or large? or more than one? and which diamond? big or small, or both? and are balls necessary? and which one should I get, full ball, half ball, or double ball?

[n00bking]

bump

[UWSDWF]

don't bump it's rude....

http://www.lockpickshop.com/PXS-14.html get that and be done with it

[JackNco]

I have some questions though, which hook should I get? small, med, or large? or more than one?

Personally ide get them all, they don't make them just for fun.

and which diamond? big or small, or both?

Small AKA Half diamond

and are balls necessary?

*Giggles*

and which one should I get, full ball, half ball, or double ball?

Again they all have there uses.

And stop bumping threads

All the best

John

[JackNco]

don't bump it's rude....

http://www.lockpickshop.com/PXS-14.html get that and be done with it

agreed

[ud74nk]

Hello, i'm from Indonesia, have you ever heard?

Hi, I was made my own lockpick sets but i don't realy sure that it's working correctly because i don't know the right shape of lockpick sets.
Can somebody help me to tell where i can buy pick sets if i'm in Indonesia.

Thank you in advance.

Please no email requests. -Chuck

[JackNco]

ok first off you need to check your local laws, i don't think we have any members from Indonesia here yet (I could be wrong). so welcome to the forums.

Most places will ship to you if its legal so check the above links. but DONT order anything till u have checked your local laws. in some places it is illegal to own lock picks.

All the best

John

[fizzmahon]

Id recommend making your own picks first. Hacksaw blades are fine but if you can get your hands on some feeler guage its wonders. The 0.030" will do you well. Put some time into them. After using your home made picks for a while, if you know you are going to stick with lock picking, put a decent amount of money into your picks, you wont regret it. The peterson Ken set is great value. You get all the picks you will need in most situations and the beautiful Flat 5 set. For $85 USD you cannot go wrong.