SPP vs Raking

[raimundo]

Raking vs spp is the wrong paradigm, there is no idological dispute between the two. Both are picking.
Raking and spp or Spp and raking are the way it is, if your good, thats where you'll be.

The reason raking is disputed at all is because some consider it "too easy" and new comers are discouraged from even going there because you'll never come back to SPP.

Yes, you can rake open locks with multiple spools and serrated pins. Use a well sanded bogota rake and light pulsed, tension.

So if you go raking and never come back to Spp, no big deal, but all the good ones are good at both.

Just my opinion

[sterry20]

as for me i do this for a living so speed is is a must and a benefit to you and the customer so i have just about every pick set made i find the cheap overseas pick a must have for several reasons i wont bother you with but both tecniques are a must learn for me and while auto locks require a set of rakes to do the job i also carry a set of marshal keys for ford gm and jeep works on most gm locks and quick while picking high security locks requires both rakes to get me a false set them i switch to peterson gem and i also carry a peterson reach tool his gov steel 0.015 picks can be worked on most good locks even though you cant get tough with these picks and if you read his advertisement he tells you this now i dont work for him i just buy his tools in some cases i also mark my picks with a sharpe so it sets up on a 5 -6-7 pin lock so when i look at my pick i know im on target to spp what pins are left after i gain a false set and set a few pins after i listen to my lock for the good clicks after i get the lock open then i try my rakes just to see if they can be raked and you will be surprised how many high security locks can be raked. now keeping this in mind i also a hpc gig in my bag with a butter bit for drilling which i always inform my customer before drilling i hope this helps but i really do need both tools and sometimes i rake the lock with my hooks just in case of a overset or in case i missed a pin by a hair!

[somenewguy]

tl:dr
But my 2c is as follows: Some locks will open with raking and some just won't. All locks will (eventually) open with SPP. When raking works, it's usually faster than SPP. Therefore, it pays to try raking first and then SPP.