SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED Help!

[Mr. Peach]

Did anyone ever buy a SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED pick set form the southord Outlet ? how massed up are they?

http://southord.com/catalog.asp?cat=outlet

[unlisted]

Edit since I did not fully understand what was going on... (what else is new?)

[freakparade3]

The only problems with them are related to the finish. They are the same quality as all of their other tools.

[assweasel]

They are the same quality as all of their other tools.

That was so tactful freak.
And it was most ambigous.
I nominate freakparade3 for 2 awards

1) for the most tactful answer of the week.
2) for the most ambigous answer of the week.


Seriously though freak did that just come right out or did you have to think about that answer and the phrasing.

No joke well done.

[robotmaxtron]

i have a buddy who bought a blemished set i believe and it was and still is a great set. It seems fine, with no complains from him and they look fine to me. Your experience may vary.

[freakparade3]

They are the same quality as all of their other tools.

That was so tactful freak.
And it was most ambigous.
I nominate freakparade3 for 2 awards

1) for the most tactful answer of the week.
2) for the most ambigous answer of the week.


Seriously though freak did that just come right out or did you have to think about that answer and the phrasing.

No joke well done.

So you think I should have said Southord tools are crap no matter what the finish looks like?

[Mr. Peach]

i have a buddy who bought a blemished set i believe and it was and still is a great set. It seems fine, with no complains from him and they look fine to me. Your experience may vary.

Thanks, i going to buy the MPXS-14 SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED so i can use the saved money to buy some slimline picks

[assweasel]

So you think I should have said Southord tools are crap no matter what the finish looks like?

You all ready did. Hence the tact used.

[MBI]

Did anyone ever buy a SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED pick set form the southord Outlet ? how massed up are they?

I bought a couple of blemished sets when they had a big sale back around Christmas. With the blemish discount and the sale discount the pick sets didn't cost much more than the leather cases would have been if I ordered them on their own, so the picks themselves were practically free. I looked them over and I can see the scratches that were the reason for the discount, but it was so minor that I probably wouldn't have even noticed it if I hadn't been looking for it.

I know a lot of folks don't like SouthOrd, but I think they're a decent value for the money, much like Southern Specialties picks. They're not what I usually reach for when I pick a lock, but they're nice to have around when I need to lend out some picks to a beginner, or if I'm picking a really stiff lock in the field and I don't want to mess up one of my good picks.

[Mutzy]

What's wrong with the southord's? Bad designs or something?

[freakparade3]

What's wrong with the southord's? Bad designs or something?

It's a matter of contention here. Alot of people love southord tools, I even learned on them. Now however after using tools from LN21, Raimundo, and Peterson, I personally feel southord tools are inferior for more experienced pickers, but OK for beginners.

[JackNco]

i still use my SO Slimline hooks mixed with peterson hooks. they are what I learned on and still recommend them.

[apb]

i bought the MXPS-32 set a while back from the outlet saving close to like 30 bucks. Slight Blemishing? Who really cares? It didn't interfere with any picking. You really couldn't tell. I'm one of the few that like southord. They've held up years and they've had some worthwhile deals in the outlet.

[vitti]

The quality of the metal is the main subject of contention with South Ord tools. They use a stainless steel that can be easy to bend (and easy to bend back into shape) rather than a harder, higher carbon content, steel that most homebrews and higher end production picks are made from.

The design of the pick is nearly identical from one manufacturer to the next without regard to handles. You'll see a lot of homebrew designs that are similar to production picks but those who make them tweak the designs to their personal preferences or for a specific lock/mechanism.

If a lock can be picked with a standard pick then it can be picked with a South Ord pick. If you don't abuse your picks and force them to do something they weren't designed to do (rotational force, excessive force, etc.) then South Ord tools will suit you fine.

The more expensive brands use a harder steel but that doesn't necessarily mean that they will last longer or work better. Harder also means more susceptible to breaking if bent or put under excessive stress.

Some say they can feel a difference in feedback between the brands. I personally can't, but it makes sense that a more rigid material would transfer vibration better.

A Honda Accord will likely last just as long as a BMW 328i and do just about anything the BMW can do. But what the BMW has over the Honda is the slight performance difference and prestige and style. That's how I see the South Ord vs Petereson (and other higher end pick manufacturers). They can both get you there, but how important are the extras to you?

That's my take.

[grv575]

I thought spring steel was used over stainless for better feedback.