Too many pieces? Doing something wrong?

[Fatal Error]

I have limited picking experience but with a 5 piece set I got a while ago I couldn't put any tools other than the wrench and hook to use. The diamond just seems like a crappy hook and the rakes seemed like a really inefficient way of opening a lock. Just wondering in general, if all these different tools can really be put to use, because I see how there are like 70 piece sets and think "what the hell could someone use all those tools for?" Other than a variety of tension wrenches, I just wonder why it's necessary to have more than a hook tool.

[Guitar_J]

A lot of it depends on the bitting of the lock.

with some pin configurations you might have to set a short pin between two long pins which would merit the use of a different type of hook.

Diamonds and rakes are very useful tools... Espically a diamond...

I see what you're saying.. and I agree... somewhat... however, don't discount the value of a few tools because they don't seem as effective as others... learn when to use them and how to wield them as a true master and you can go far with a few simple tools.

[WhiteHat]

hey, there you go - a newbie who wants less rather than more!

I bought myself a southord 20 piece set and now I only use the hook, diamond snake rake, and occasionally the long rake (takes the fun out of the hobby) and the half ball (wafer locks).

don't use any of the other picks at all except to show off to people who don't know what they're for.

I actually find myself modifying the tension wrenches that came with it (made them look like the HPC TR4) and making my own out of wiper blade to look like the lab wrenches.

tension is everything....

[Eagerpicker]

When I started out, I used the half diamond almost exclusively. Further down the road, however, I find myself reaching for different tools when working on different locks. Some locks require more than one tool. For instance, you may need a small half diamond to pick four out of five pins in order not to touch and unset "neighbouring" pins, but require a long hook to pick a high-setting driver. The hook may not fit in the plug far enough to pick the other pins as well, so that's one example where you may need 2 picks. Also, some locks open to a few strokes of tool A but budge not an inch when penetrated with tool B. Just keep trying out various picks (and wrenches) and you may discover that many different tip designs actually have a purpose of their own.