Noob Q's

[TheDudeAbides]

Warning! Rant to follow, if you only want the aforementioned Noob questions skip to the bottom.

I got interested in picking a few weeks ago and picked up a cheap-o Master pad lock. With a file, a hex key (for the torque wrench), and a bobby pin I had the thing open in about half an hour. After working on my form a little, and replacing the hairpin with a wire hanger pick I filed out, I could open the thing pretty easily all the time. So, I went in to the hardware store and picked up another Master lock, this one cost four times as much and looked a whole lot tougher, but when I got home I found it to be no different than its predecessor. I can open it nine out of ten times in 5 seconds or less. So I went out and picked up a dead bolt (an old Titan, if you're interested) thinking 'this is too easy' and installed it into a 2"-by-4" to play around. As you may have guessed, I can't do crap with it. My wire hanger pick is no match for it, it bends easily and is simply too thick to get in and get the job done.

So now for the Questions.

Could I heat and temper the wire hanger material I have been using or is it a lost cause?

If I decide to scrap it and buy a set of picks from an online dealer or here on LP101, What can I get or what should I look for on a modest budget? (25-35US$)

Are homemade picks better?

What else do I need to know before going further?


Thanks Folks,
TheDudeAbides

[Your Signature HAS to be resized- Rule 21. Sig images can be no larger than 600 pixels wide and 80 pixels in height. viewtopic.php?t=715 - unlisted]

[sfi72]

First of all, your sig is massive, try making it a little smaller, and as for whether or not homemade picks are better, it really depends on the person. I personally prefer to buy my picks, not make them. Also, there are a ton of southOrd sets you can get for about $25. For instance, the http://www.lockpickshop.com/C500.html.

[Olson Burry]

Hello and welcome

I think you'll be fighting a losing battle with hanger wire, it just isn't made of the right type of steel. I've never tried tempering it but I don't think it will work. If you have a blow torch you could find out easy enough, heat it red and quench it.

I would recommend either of the following pick sets:

C801 from lockpickshop
Or
C1510 from lockpick shop

I say those two because they are in your price range and they all come with the metal handles. The thin ones without metal handels can get a little uncomfortable after extended periods of picking and I find the extra rigidity of the thicker handle improves feedback.

Home made, bespoke tools can be made to suit your particular style and crafted for specific locks, however if you have never used a professional tool it will be difficult to manufacture ones to the right sort of specifications.

I would buy a small set, say, the first one I mentioned and go from there. There are numerous threads on how to make picks around that may help you.

What else do you need to know? It's all about the tension and the tension wrenches. You can never have too many wrenches, top tension, bottom tension, different sizes etc. Luckily they are the easiest things to make compared to picks and any set you buy will come with enough to get you going.

"I'm the dude.. man" Love the sig but yeh, it's a little big.

All the best.

OB

[tballard]

Could I heat and temper the wire hanger material I have been using or is it a lost cause?

Yes, you can, but yes it is.

I've heated and quenched crappy steel before. The results were.... ehhh.

If you heat your coat hanger to where it is cherry red (which is not as red as you think, and not bright orange by the way) and then dunk it in water (or salt water if you are fancy) the result will be VERY hard, but it will shatter like glass if you stress it. I've had bits of carbon steel I was experimenting with explode into tiny sharp slivers when stressed slightly, so be careful. "Tempering" is actually a more complex process, where you take steel in this brittle state, reheat and hold it at a precise temperature, and let it "relax" a bit. (You are basically trading off some strength for increased flexibility and reduced brittleness.)

The difference in quality between the first few picks you make as a beginner and the ones that follow after you have some idea of what you are doing is immense. I'd strongly recommend chalking your coat-hanger pick up as a learning experience, and making a new, better pick.

[freakparade3]

Do you have a rug that really ties the room together?