Why would I use that?

[Guitar_J]

Ok I tried searching... maybe I'm an idiot but I couldn't find what I was looking for so I'm gonna ask... or maybe I've not tried enough.. but its 2am and I'm sleepy... and i don't even know why I'm rambling.. anywho

so here's the thing.. I'm wondering why you would need to use different shapes of picks... is there one shape that works for most locks? and the others are just for those strange/hard to pick situations?

in my limited (read "I've been able to open a 5-pin deadbolt, 6 different master locks, 2 different household locks, and a few wafer locks") experience, I've been able to open all the locks I've encountered with one pick using a combination of single pin picking and raking... I guess i'm just wondering what the others are for...

if anyone wants to point me to a resource or just tell me I'd appreciate it...

[Guitar_J]

Note: I do know the use of the snake rake... I'm mostly wondering about the ones with the Ball/Double Ball tip, and the "Large diamond" and Small Diamond
and situations where a longer hook is more preferable to a short hook and such... and when would you need to use something like a Deep Curve hook...

thanks for the help...

[CaptHook]

Depends on the lock and on the pickers style. Some people cant use a hook to save them, but can open most locks with a rake (and the opposite holds true). Lock wise, a double wafer (wafers on top and bottom), I would opt for a ball or double ball simply because I find it easier to rake these locks, and these picks dont require flipping the pick over. Sizes of picks... different sized keyways require different sized picks, hence the whole japanese/euro style picks (theyre smaller in profile size and thickness). Deep curve hooks are needed for certain pin sets where you have to carefully avoid disturbing the other pins. Diamonds small and large are just different sized picks, find which one fits your style best. When I was first picking, I always had my wrench in the bottom of the keyway, so I liked smaller picks. As I progressed and figured out you can use the top of the keyway too, I wasnt limited anymore on only using a small diamond.
So all in all, find what feels best and works best for YOU, and go from there. Your style will probably change several times over the years, so learn, adjust, learn some more.
Chuck

[Anarchyvocals]

The closist thing you can get for a "master" pick is the gentle half diamond. It is the most popular and widly used pick and can be used in many situations. It has good feedback and its easy to use.

The snake would be the other nominee. It's bumps promote more action while rakeing, and can be used to set when going pin by pin. The snake defonitly speeds up the job. The bad thing about it is its harder to use than the half dimond and it dosnt have as good of feedback.

[Chucklz]

I would seriously contest your assertion that a half diamond is the most used pick.

[CaptHook]

Amongst beginners, probably.
Chuck

[lockpickroy]

I have been picking locks for over 20 years and the half dimond is the first pick i start with 90 percent of the time if it dont work then i will go on to useing hook,rake,computer generated picks...ect but it could just be my personal preference

[CaptHook]

Well, its all about preference. I was talking to a couple of different locksmiths on the subject, one was a diehard diamond fan, the other used nothing but hooks, no rakes nothing... whatever works for the individual.
I have a few wrenches ive made that are in the 9-12" range and very flexible. If I come across a lock I cant feel anything, I break those out and usually feel the sets like hammer blows. Otherwise, I prefer short rigid wrenches.
Chuck

[Romstar]

For the most part we can break pick styles down into a few basic categories.

1. Hook or feeler picks.
So named because of their hook shaped appearance. These picks come in a variety of sizes, but mostly are short, medium or long hooks. The angle will also vary between obtuse and oblique. Vary rarely will you see a hook that points straight up. One of the defining characteristics of this pick is the radiused bottom edge of the hook. A variant of this idea is the deep curve, or deep hook.

These tools are used most commonly to lift pin stacks one at a time to set the shearline. The benefit of these picks is that they can be inserted on an angle, allowing them to slip under a deep pin stack to reach a high set pin further back in the lock.

2. Diamond, and half diamond.
Most people are only familiar with the half diamond, and consequently sometimes refer to it as a triangle pick. However, the original diamond is a two sided pick. Similar to the full ball pick.
There are also double diamonds and double half diamonds. The angles of these picks will also vary. They are most oftten characterized by their flat, straight shafts. Diamonds also come in small, medium and large.
Half diamonds are used in a similar fashion to the hook pick. However, it is normally inserted straight into the lock. The diamond also makes an acceptable tool for raking. Because of it's sloped entry and exit angle, the pick will impart force to the pins without catching. Additionally, the diamond is able to manipulate pins in a rotational fashion. Thus, assisting the picking of high security locks such as the Medeco.
Originally, the full diamond was intended for use in wafer tumbler locks (see ball pick). However, after creating the half diamond, it proved to be very useful for pin tumblers.

3. Ball, double ball, half ball, and double half ball.
These picks are shaped like small discs or balls at the end of the pick shaft. Sometimes you will even see three balls or half balls, but these are rare.
While some people report fair success in raking a pin tumbler lock with these picks, they are most commonly used for picking and raking wafer tumbler locks.

4. Snake or "rake" picks.
Rake is actually a misnomer, as raking is the action applied with a snake, or other pick. Rakes come in several forms. Their defining characteristic however is that they typically combine several opposing curves. These curves are meant to manipulate several pins at once. The most common snakes are designed to overcome a typical low, high, low or high, low high pin combination.
Aditionally, as stated they are often used for raking a lock. Raking is a technique where the pick is inserted into the lock, and withdrawn sharply. This action, combined with the proper tension causes the force to be transfered from the bottom pins, to the upper pins. The result is that all pins seperate at the shear line at once.

5. Profile or wave picks.
Often confused with, or grouped with snake picks, the profile and wave picks are designed to aproximate a large selection of key bittings. By selecting the proper pick, inserting it into the lock, and lifting the pick, an operator can often cause the pins to all raise to the shear line. The most common technique is to raise the pick while moving it in a figure eight fashion.

While there are several other picks this covers the basic groupings and their uses. Over time, experience will tell you the best pick, and tension tool to use with a given lock. Aditionally, some high security locks require the use of several tools in succession to open.
You may find that a hook works perfectly in an Ilco lock, but is difficult to use in a Yale. Further, you may find that a medium hook is too large for a particular lock.

Each of these tools has proven their usefulness over the last 90 years, and they are still made because they continue to be used for their intended purposes. Despite that same number of years in lock refinement.

Experiment with different tools in the same locks. Use different tension techniques, and tension tools. You will soon discover that all of these tools are very useful if you intend to pick a wide variety of locks.

Happy picking,
Romstar

[Guitar_J]

Another excellent and informative post from romstar -

Thanks for answering my Q

[Romstar]

Firstly, thank you for the compliment. Secondly, you are most welcome.

I'm sorry I took so long, there was a lot going on here this evening and was doing too many things at once.

Obviously it isn't a comprehensive list, that should come later once I have the time to sit down and organize my thought and ideas. I do believe that covers most picks you will find in a regualr set though.

I still have to sit down and do something about tension tools and their use. I get the distinct feeling that they are one of the most overlooked parts of picking.

Still in all, I am glad it helped you out.

Romstar

[LittlePeaceful]

Romstar, while we are enjoying reading your great posts we are waiting you decide to write YOUR book ... .
You definietly posses right attitude, capabilities and knowledge.

Personally I fully agree about the importance of the tension tool, there are many factors: size, shape, springness, positioning ... but I think is a really difficult issue to explain. Looking forward reading your post about them.

[007]

Awesome Thread you All.
Thanks

[Qingu The Hobo]

I am finding that I like the short hook when going pin by pin, but I can scrub them with a long jag pretty well. The diamond is nice but I first reach for the short hook.

[rakemaster]

I used to use the snake rake all the time but now I almost always
just do pinbypin with a hook.

I don't use the half diamond very much but one advantage if you
only want to carry one pick it can be used like you use a hook
for a single pin or as a rake, which is kinda cool.

Rakemaster