different types of lock picks

[jasonw]

hello, everyone!

i'm a complete newbie to lockpicking, and several questions looms as i consider purchasing a lockpick set, would this set suffice for basic locks (normal door locks, padlocks and such): http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-PXS-14.html

Where should i read to get started on lockpicking? The original mit lockpicking guide piqued my interest in learning more about it

Also, what would be the difference between a 63 pick set and a 14 pick set which i'm considering?

Thanks alot for answering any of my questions

[UWSDWF]

64pcs by the same company has a bunch of doubles.

I must say though your name, concerns me..... stealthy indeed

read my obligatory gretting message for the rest;

Welcome everybody,
For all thoes new to the site and lockpicking, LP101 is a great place to start.
Take a look at the new users section, first and don't be afraid to ask any questions just remember to try a search before posting.

If you're looking for locks to pick, buy some but, DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON
I repeat DO NOT PICK LOCKS YOU RELY ON, they can and will break, then your house/car/safe/chasity belt is vulnerable or unable to be opened (think: emergency situation).

Cheers,
UWSDWF

[jasonw]

mmm.. well, its my normal username in most forums, no need to be alarmed

anyways, in an effort to save money, i was wondering is all of the 14 picks needed? as there is a 5 pick set here: http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-PXS-05L.html that sells for 10 bucks less (i'm a high school student, so any money saved is significant for me)

not sure if that'll be enough to carry me through to intermediate skill set (with some time, common locks can be opened)

thank you for that wonderful greeting!

[raimundo]

You will want several different sizes of hook, as well as varients on the half diamond, in different sizes, and you may like to try a rake, all the rest of the normal lockpick sets are just BS. Ball and double ball are both bad ideas, yes, I know that they work on disc tumbler locks, but they are design anomalies. Its like taking a perfectly good hook or half diamond and adding enough extra metal to make the tip a ball, this just gets in the way. Skeletonization is the way of the pick, reduce all the extra metal and make an instrument that will avoid warding and reach tumblers at the place where the key touches them, the ball picks are the opposite of skeletonization, they are fattened. Think of them as hooks maximized for inefficiency.
Think about making your own picks, if you learn to do this, you will easily replace them whenever you need to, without waiting for some company to send the replacements. design skeletonized picks, sanded and rounded to make them move smoothly around wards under tumblers.

[locknload]

Try the 14 pcs first you will want several other picks before too long. that will give you a general idea of what you want! While looking through here you will get a lot of great ideas on what you should have!