brockhage navigator set

[sofrgr]

I am new to this forum but have been picking for some time. I currently own a PXS-17 lockpicking set. It has been pretty good for starting out but I dont care much for the brass handle and the picks seem to be a little big for working smaller locks.

I am looking to upgrade my kit and right now am interested in the brockhage navigator set. I have read the other posts and it seems that everyone who has worked with this set really likes it. So for the most part I am decided on the navigator.

My question is, should I get some other individual picks or wrenches to augment the navigator set? I noticed that the nav set does not come with a diamond and some have said that the included tension wrenches are not the best in the world. From what I have discerned from other posts is that the nav set does include thinner picks for euro/smaller padlocks. So there would be no need additional thin line picks. Is this still the consensus?

If you believe that additional tools would be needed please include your recommendations.

Thanks for any info that you have and look forward to hearing from you.

SOFRGR

[CitySpider]

It's a matter of personal taste. My personal taste led me to remove the eight-ball pick, the two dimple lock picks, the wafer lock reader, and the medecoish pick from the Navigator set, and to replace them with a black Rytan DeForest, a blue Rytan DeForest, two SouthOrd short hooks, and two SouthOrd rakes.

The main wrench that came with mine is very cleverly made, and I've found it to be my second favorite wrench, after the HPC TR-4.

Would you be fine with JUST the Navigator set, though? Absolutely.

[mbell]

'Navigator' is the key word - mainly hooks. There's no traditional rakes (like HPC, Peterson, Southord...) and only a very small half diamond in this set.

The rest of the info you've found is correct IMHO. In the UK at least, the tension wrenches as standard won't even fit in any lock I've tried them in.

[CitySpider]

There are two rakes. They're just not the standard lab/hpc/whatever rip-off shapes.

[sofrgr]

thanks for the info cityspider. i am getting ready to head overseas for what will be quite some time and i am trying to get my lockpick set up to date. i appreciate the advice on the addition of the rytan picks and the tension wrench. as i said before i think i am set on the nav set and will pick up the additional equip that you mentioned as well.

i have been racking my brain trying to come up with other ideas or equip to ensure that i have a well rounded kit capable of handling just about all locks.

any other equipment advice for someone who is getting ready to head overseas and probably will not be able to get his hands on equip as easily as here.

[sofrgr]

one last thing i forgot to put in the earlier post. think i will pick up a set of computer designed picks while i am at it. what is your take on those? from what i have been reading seems like they are getting good reviews.

again thanks a million

[CitySpider]

I have never used them, but I've heard as much bad about them as I've heard good, and I don't think the theory is very sound. /I/ wouldn't waste my money on them, since there's a dozen lockpicking things I'd rather have.

With that said, I think Chucklz likes them, and I'd buy something on his recommendation any day of the week.

[Chucklz]

CitySpider, thanks for the compliment. If I had the money back now, I would skip on the computer picks and pick up the Navigator set. But probably because I want to get more heavily into dimple locks.

sofrgr Where in the world are you heading?

If you were to be in Europe, I would keep the dimple picks in the set, as you may want to play with a few of these locks. Instead of the ComputerPicks, I would get the Peterson U-Bend it tension tool set from lockpicks.com. Roughly half the price of the cheapest computer picks, and probably a ton more useful, especially if the Navigator tension tools are inadequate in any way. The Petersons may need to be ground down a bit, just FYI.

The smaller Rytans are probably a very very good idea. I have my own smallish picks that I have made, and I find them very very helpful.

[sofrgr]

Chucklz,

thanks for the info. i am heading to africa. dont know what type of locks that will be found there but if I had to guess I would say probably the euro type.

i will pick up a couple of the rytan individual picks in addition to the nav set. i will also look into the tension tool set that you are talking about.

any other equip ideas to round out my kit before i head over.

again thanks for the info and help

SOFRGR

[sofrgr]

One last question. went back to lockpicks.com and looked at a couple of other kits and they look pretty good.

remembering that i am heading to africa with different lock types than here in the u.s., probably euro which of the following sets would best fit my requirements:

navigator
bi-fold spring steel set
tri-fold spring steel kit

[Romstar]

Oh, sorry that's a different story.

Anyway, unless you are heading for the jungles you are going to find Yale locks no matter where in the world you go. These locks are ubiquitous.

While I have said before that the computer picks are not magical, they are in fact a very good set. Especially if you get the instructions with them. They are NOT meant for raking, although they can make very good rakes. They ARE meant for aproximating the shape of a key.

Once you become familar with them, and different types of locks, you will almost instinctively know which of the computer picks to choose.
The technique is similar to an automotive rocker. The pick goes in, you lift it up, and then move gently back and forth as you raise and lower the pick. If you have the right one, the lock turns.

It takes experience, practice and familiarity. All of these things take some time. After a while though, those picks might seem to be magical to some less skilled people.

That's my opinion,
Romstar

[CitySpider]

Warning: Slight thread drift.

Chuck,

Do you have any dimple locks or picks already?

Spider

[technik]

are you guys talking about the HPC computer picks, coz I didnt know you could still get them. Where abouts?

[Chucklz]

While you are in Africa, and are picking... do you think it would be too much of a hassle to keep a little log with impressions about various locks etc.

[sofrgr]

chucklz,

not a problem. will keep an eye out for the various type of locks encountered, etc.

i will have access to the internet so i will try to post an update every month or so.

sofrgr