Question about a pick

[TheMutilator]

Hey, I'm sorry to bother you guys, but I just started learning how to pick locks. This is what I've got so far:

1 homemade tension wrench
1 pick (A rake?)
2 padlocks



The pick, tension wrench, and the Masterlock 130 are all borrowed,
but I don't think the pick is bent far enough up though. I'd like to get some more experienced opinions on that pick. Thanks very much.

[questions]

From the looks of it, the pick is too wide at the shaft. You could get lucky with that hook but to be more efficient make the shaft smaller. Templates of a hook pick can be found in the stickies under lockpicks - manual. This will give you a better visual of what im talking about. if that lock is pretty much like the 140 then the plug will turn a little one way. Just turn it that way til it stops and give it just light tension from that point on and for beginners just keep racking up and down and in and out. You'll get it.

[Kaotik]

Here is the link if you can't find it.
viewtopic.php?t=17326

The shaft is way to wide on that pick, I agree.

[tmaxx258]

After reduceing the shaft(tang)size sand them to a soft and smooth shine.this reduces wear on the lock and gives you better feedback.

[tmaxx258]

After reduceing the shaft(tang)size sand them to a soft and smooth shine.this reduces wear on the lock and gives you better feedback.

[Oliwerko]

I suggest everyone to begin with quality pickset. From SouthOrd or so. I started with the 22 piece one, and I learnt to pick simple locks in no time. Don't buy 7-piece or so, because of the variety of hooks and tension wrenches.

Really, it's BIG difference between home-made and bought picks.

[Shrub]

shaft(tang)size

Shaft and tang are two separate things, a shaft is not a tang,

A tang is the name of the part which goes into a handle, if a handle is not used then no part of that handle is called the tang.

[TheMutilator]

Thanks for the help everyone. I filed down the shaft, but I never sanded it, so I'll do that now

Also, I managed to open the lock today, which was the highlight of my dull day. I was sort of surprised when the plug twisted around and it clicked open, but very pleased.

[Gordon Airporte]

I'd download a template and print it out just to get an idea of the appropriate scale. That and remember what the pick it made for: manipulating individual pins in a cramped space. Once you can use the pick to accurately count the pins in your lock you're pretty much there.