SPP vs Raking

[Aleman]

I'm curious on the efficiency of SPP vs raking. I dont want to get into what is more rewarding, more fun etc. I'm talking about one thing, getting the lock open. Are there some advanced locks that cant be opened by raking but can be SPP, or vice-versa? I know both take lots of practice and a good raker probably has a good understanding of SPP but if we put the best pickers in the world in a competition, who would come out on top, the SPPers or the rakers?

[ToolyMcgee]

I feel like it could go either way depending on the lock, but I'm betting on the guy who mixes it up to win. You can't marry yourself to one technique if your goal is speed.

[freakparade3]

This question has been asked many times before. The answer is always the same, there is no real answer.

[ToolyMcgee]

Yes, this is very true. Just to name some of the most recent.
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=33575
SPP and Raking
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=36709
Spp Raking and the placebo effect
http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=28993
Spp>raking
Enjoy.

[Jaakko]

if we put the best pickers in the world in a competition, who would come out on top, the SPPers or the rakers?

The best ones raked like hell at first, then sat many minutes quietly SPPing

[ady1989]

Some locks open quickly while raking, and others don't. I like to rake locks at first. This usually either opens them or sets a few pins. I continue SPPing the ones that are half set or whatever with a hook. If not, I just start over and SPP them.

In conclusion, they are both good methods and they each have their place. Raking is usually faster so give it a try first.

[straightpick]

It all depends on how the cylinder is pinned. If the cuts do not vary by much, say 34535, then it will rake open fairly easily. On the other hand, if the cuts are, say, 95283, you can rake it until your fingers hurt and you probably won't open it. So I would say a combination of both.

[LearningTheArt]

I would just learn and master both, why not you, always want to be a Jack of All Trades.

[stimky666]

For me I only spp. Since I don't have a rake... I might make one though, there the ones with the multiple triangular things (Hm?) on them to push all the pins up at the same time right?

I can get up to pin 4/5 by SPPing with the following tools:

A Coat Hanger portion with 1 inch bent at a 90° angle with the smaller portion smashed to to fit snuggly with a hammer. Tension Wrench.

A Heavy Duty Brass (or copper) staple I ripped out of a box used for my sterio system, straightened perfectly using my special method (tut coming soon) and the tip grinded down to a Katana like shape. Pick.

I say I'm decent with them, but sometimes I get to into the picking part, I loosen up on the tension and I drop a few pins, so I get pissed and put down for a while cause it's difficult to do a task which requires little movement at a time for me... Next time, I go for a bike ride to the hardware store for HS blades.

[le.nutzman]

For me I only spp. Since I don't have a rake... I might make one though, there the ones with the multiple triangular things (Hm?) on them to push all the pins up at the same time right?

I can get up to pin 4/5 by SPPing with the following tools:

A Coat Hanger portion with 1 inch bent at a 90° angle with the smaller portion smashed to to fit snuggly with a hammer. Tension Wrench.

A Heavy Duty Brass (or copper) staple I ripped out of a box used for my sterio system, straightened perfectly using my special method (tut coming soon) and the tip grinded down to a Katana like shape. Pick.

I say I'm decent with them, but sometimes I get to into the picking part, I loosen up on the tension and I drop a few pins, so I get pissed and put down for a while cause it's difficult to do a task which requires little movement at a time for me... Next time, I go for a bike ride to the hardware store for HS blades.

This is a great example of improvising tools. While I won't knock the poster for stating because I too have had to improvise on the fly, I will say that there is a difference in feedback that you receive from improvised tools, homebrew and mass factory.

If getting the lock open is hugely a big deal for you, I suggest learning SPP over raking. Here's why, as you get into the more advanced locks, even locks like American 5200 (I know these specifically as I pick them constantly) that have a variety of security pins (Spool, Serrated and Spoorated (Spool/Serrated Combined)), raking isn't going to be near as effective on these locks as SPPing will be. Generally I can rake one or two pins set, but if raking is your sole method, it's hard to know how to rake a spool pin once it has false set, let alone know that you're dealing with a spool pin. With SPPing the lock, you feel each individual pin and for a lack of better terms or analogies, you are more in tuned and feel every aspect of the lock, every click, every faint movement the plug makes, and you know exactly what pin caused it.

This is not to say that raking doesn't have it's place among security pins, I also know many here will rake a lock to the first false set and then turn to SPP to complete picking the lock, I also know that several of the people who has stated they do this in the past postings, also stated that it's helped them a great deal in speeding up the opening process.

In the end, it comes down to you and what you're main goal is. Are you simply looking to "just open the lock?" Or are you out to discover just what is inside that lock that could potentially rip the wind out of your sails?

[Aleman]

Thanks le.nutzman, thats exactly the type of answer I was looking for.

[AlexMHH]

Even with a beginning skill set, I definitely agree with the above postings. Some locks I can pick open much faster with SPP, and others by raking, depending on the pinning. With my practice locks that I'm familiar with, I'm faster at SPPing most of them, simply because I know roughly what the set order and position of the pins are. When I'm picking unfamiliar locks, however, the method I use for speed is a few passes with a Bogota rake, and if that fails to open the lock, I'll let one pin drop to assure that I haven't over set the lock, and I'll SPP the remainder of the pins.

[savs2k]

what is the best pick to start off with for SPP? THe reason i ask is that im new and still make my picks. I made a snake rake and a boubble ball pick which i use to rake locks open. I had a half diamond that works decently as well but it's not smooth enough for SPP i need to polish everything later.

[LearningTheArt]

I would say a hook pick or a half diamond would be good for SPP and for raking we all know that snake rakes are the best.

[Cuervogrisss]

Is easy to rake with the apropiate pick and open a lock with basic knowledges,but SPP needs more advanced knowledges?Rake is faster for beginning,but SPP is next in a progresive learning.