my first lock picking set

[hellbent1979]

I never suggest making your own picks to people just getting started. Its just another way to get discouraged, start with a cheap store bought set if possible. Also start with easy locks such as a master padlock (m1). As you hone your skills then decide which way you want to go. Its much cheaper and more rewarding to make your own, but why shoot your interest down early. At least get to break the cherry on the first lock.

[n00bking]

why would you want to make your own? how would they possibly be superior to bought ones?

and where can you buy picks in a store? locksmith shop or something? I have never been in one, but where I have been in, hardware stores, ect, there haven't been any.

[dmux]

the basic pickset from http://safeventures.com/

is a good starter set

[Eyes_Only]

You are such a jerk.

[Chucklz]

n00bking

why would you want to make your own? how would they possibly be superior to bought ones?

You obviously have never used good homemade picks. Vastly superior to almost all commercial picks.

[raimundo]

there are picks that are not commercially available, such as for small keyways, etc. to be a real artist at lockpicking you will find it necessary to make picks sometimes to adapt to different locks. and you can make them better than the commercial ones.

[Eyes_Only]

Your bogota picks are a good example of a homemade pick tools that out performs many commercial rake picks I think.

[Sir_Wojak]

the basic pickset from http://safeventures.com/

is a good starter set

You are mean.

Well useally people buy their picks online. On sites like this http://www.lockpickshop.com/
Very few if any, buy their picks in a regular store. Mostly it's online.

[dmux]

sometimes check pawn shops and gun shows, i have seen them at quite a few gun shows

and my first set ever was bought at a pawn shop where my friend works

[thubanpete]

why would you want to make your own? how would they possibly be superior to bought ones?

and where can you buy picks in a store? locksmith shop or something? I have never been in one, but where I have been in, hardware stores, ect, there haven't been any.

Making your own picks has a few advantages. The biggest advantage is that you can customize them to your style of picking and the types of locks you most frequently pick. Another advantage is that you control the quality of your picks, instead of possibly laying out good $$$ for crappy picks.

As for stores, locksmiths probably won't sell to you unless you're a fellow locksmith, & hardware stores probably won't stock lock picks because liability issues. I bought my lock picks from a spy store called USpyStore (http://www.uspystore.com/), that's near where I work. From what I've seen, they're the exception rather than the rule, though.

-ThubanPete
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