Southord 'MAX' Question

[Archive555]

Well, I've been inactive for quite a while, and I'm looking to get back into it, and looking to buy some new picks (the old ones are getting a little bit weathered). I'm not going to ask the question that so many do "Which is the best lock-picking set", but instead I'm asking what's with the new MAX line from SouthOrd?

The only description I can find on their website is:

Our new SouthOrd MAX® Lock Picks are made of the strongest and most durable stainless steel in the world, High Yield, with a minimum tensile strength of 270,000 PSI. We are honored to have gained the confidence of so many, and we welcome you into the family of SouthOrd Locksmith Tools.

And I want to know how this will help your 'average picker' (other than being able to push abnormally hard on the pins), eg. Better Feedback, Easier to Control, etc.

Many thanks.

[mcm757207]

I recently made a small purchase from southord, including one of their new Max picks. Although the price is high ($12 for one pick), I think they will be a nice alternative to the peterson equivalent. While I will comment on the quality and feedback when it arrives, I like how they offer a lifetime warranty against the pick breaking (they will replace it for free). While the fine print reads that the warranty doesn't cover "abuse or normal wear of the tools," it still seems like a good deal.

[mkultra23]

Sound's like Southern Ordinance is trying to compete with Peterson's "Government Steel". I'm going to have to check these out but they'll have to come down in the price. For one dollar more per pick you could have the Peterson's. Did you mention the handle material?

[mkultra23]

Just checked them out. They look like typical southord just more advanced metalurgy. I reccomend the Peterson G-1 kit, it's what I currently use. Has all the picks in the MAX kit but they are higher quality than what SO put's out all around and I assume the same goes for the MAX. The handles on the Petersons are really comfortable and nice when in extreme temperature environments, plus they don't abrade your hand like the sharp edges of the SO's. They are kind of thick but they are extremely strong. The kit is a little more but it comes with a excellent custom tension wrench kit and IMO the best key extractors made, and a slim hook for tight paracentric keyways that can also be used as a Sesamee/Master 175 bypass tool. I used to own SO and they are great but the Petersons are so much better. Just stay away from their bypass tools and drill guides those are a freakin rip off, better off making your own and learning proper DP's.

[MacGnG1]

http://southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/ ... d-MAX.html

Our new line lock picks, SouthOrd MAX, brings to you the strongest, most durable picks available from anyone at any price. Building dies that can withstand the intense wear and abuse caused by stamping high yield steel has always been a problem. Type 301 High Yield Stainless Steel is often used for applications requiring extra high strength. With a minimum tensile strength of 270,000 PSI, High Yield is much harder than Full Hard, which has a minimum tensile strength of 185,000 PSI. Laser cutting was the only viable option – and a very expensive option – until now. After more than a year of building, testing, and refining, followed by more building, testing and refining, we have developed dies that can withstand the intense characteristics of high yield. The result is the world’s strongest lock picks at reasonable prices. And our guarantee is simple – if you break a pick, return it to us and we’ll replace it for free.

[mcm757207]

Got that pick I ordered today... edges are really rough but I suspect some sanding will help a lot. They look about the same as normal slimline picks... except they are 3 thousands or so thicker. Still have a nice amount of flex to them and everything.

Bottom line is that I like it, but I'm not quite sure it was worth the $12 or $13.

[n2oah]

Why does a lockpick need a 270,000 psi tensile strength?

[ridinplugspinnaz]

Why does a lockpick need a 270,000 psi tensile strength?

A common characterization of the durability of a metal is through its various tensile strengths. To be honest, a far more useful figure to know would be the yield strength of the steel (the yield strength of a metal is the point above which the specimen will irreversibly deform). However, it's not nearly as shiny (read: obscenely large) a number as the ultimate tensile strength of the material In reality, most metals will deform long before they actually reach fracture, though this is less true for more brittle metals like martensitic steels, which are extremely hard (but brittle), and will break soon after they begin to deform as a result.

[Bertrand]

Bought a couple of these.

According to a micrometer they are about the same thickness as the "standard" southord picks (which is only ~0.05mm thicker than the "slimline" souhord picks.) But the shapes are cut the same as the slimline picks. In fact, they look pretty much identical to the slimlines.

They are probably stronger. They do seem slightly less flexible.

[zeke79]

If they are like the peterson government stainless picks they in my opinion do offer more feedback in the steel itself. It is just a shame peterson decided to only offer them in a feel dampening rubber handle instead of the hard plastic handle that offers much better feedback. I might have to pick up a couple of these new southord picks and give them a try (I cannot believe I just said that).