Peterson’s Government Steel Picks?

[unlocke]

Can someone explain what is so special about these picks that a that set of 9 picks goes for around $250? I'm guessing those are the picks for professional locksmiths use but how do they compare to southord for example? Is there a good reason to pay such a high price for those picks, that much of a difference? This has me extremely curious.

[barbarian]

I think they are a bit overpriced.

However they have nice handles and a nice small size for tight keyways. They are made from some special alloy of steel, nice and strong and I'm pretty sure they are guaranteed for life.

The pro can write off the cost against a business. There are guys here that make excellent home brew picks, they are every bit as good and even look better.

[vap0r]

The only difference is the type of steel used. You can make your own, you just need to match the type of metal to what you need. Street sweeper bristles, hacksaw blades, sheet metal, it's up to you what to make them out of.

They also sell individual picks made with the 'government steel', see the peterson website.

http://peterson-international.com/picks.html

Put together your own set with just the picks you use. I only use three picks and about five different tension tools for nearly ALL locks.

[unlocke]

I think they are a bit overpriced.

However they have nice handles and a nice small size for tight keyways. They are made from some special alloy of steel, nice and strong and I'm pretty sure they are guaranteed for life.

The pro can write off the cost against a business. There are guys here that make excellent home brew picks, they are every bit as good and even look better.

So this what a professional uses? I'm a beginner and wouldn't need it yet but just curious who can make great quality home-made picks. I'd be interested once I get better at this.

The only difference is the type of steel used. You can make your own, you just need to match the type of metal to what you need. Street sweeper bristles, hacksaw blades, sheet metal, it's up to you what to make them out of.

They also sell individual picks made with the 'government steel', see the peterson website.

http://peterson-international.com/picks.html

Put together your own set with just the picks you use. I only use three picks and about five different tension tools for nearly ALL locks.

Same for me and I just started at picking. I only use 3 pick tools mostly besides the 2 tension wrenches. I see it would afforable to buy from them if I got the usual picks I need. Do they sell to general public or locksmiths only?

[barbarian]

I don't think that is what the pros use, just that they can write off the higher price. Kinda like Snapon wrenches. Nice but really expensive.

There are sites that will let you buy the kits or picks. I think you can also buy direct and just "click here to verify" that you are a locksmith. I bet they don't check.

I would take my money and get the top quality homebrew stuff from the guys here. When you look at the finish and care they put into their work. Top quality, better than mass produced. Remember it's a pick. Designed to lift those little pins and those little springs. How strong does it need to be ? Would you pay double for a 25% increase in strength ?

[adrenalynn]

I've played with 'em. I don't know any pro that uses them, honestly. Around our office/shop, we all use the cheaper stuff. Even that grows legs and wanders off, I can't imagine how bummed I'd be if I had expensive picks walking away.

Yeah, they're probably smoother and shinier, but honestly - they should be gold plated for that money. And how dumb will you feel when some punk kid pushes you out of the way and picks it in half the time with a bent safety pin and a folded-up piece of soda can?

I guess I'm just not cool enough to buy 'em.

Now, in some of the more esoteric pick types, they do have some pretty spiffy stuff. If I were starting down telescoping pin locks every day, I'd probably look at some of that.

[le.nutzman]

The Peterson Gov't Steel Picks have a high tensile strength than your standard SO or HPC picks. I know because i've spoken with Ken with regards to this and I own ALMOST all of the Peterson picks in one way shape form or fashion, just not as a completed set like the G5 or whatnot.

Anyways, the picks are more durable and stand up to a decent beating where other picks would fold early on. Not saying you would need to be that hard on your picks, but they can take it. That and they come with a lifetime guarantee, nothing wrong with that either.

If you want homebrew, there's plenty of people on here though maybe not nearly as active as they used to be that can create exquisite pieces of work, such as Rai's bogatas, LN21's custom sets (I own one), Kaotik if he'd ever come back and get his bench set back up, tballard makes amazingly tough and accurate tension wrenches and the list goes on and on (sorry if I didn't mention your name, going off who i specifically have gotten custom items from). But I won't lie to you and tell you any of my custom sets were cheap, because that's what they are, custom, one of a kind sets. Not to disuade you in your plight, but be prepared to pay for craftmanship and quality if you purchase a custom set.

The best part about making your own from what I've been told and read, is the sense of accomplishment and the fact that you get better every time. Almost every person who's fashioned a homebrew set has their templates posted. Me personally, I have the tools, just not the patience or the time.

[unlocke]

I see, so a pick is basically pick more less. Those simply have a good alloy a warranty and a brand name. I'm new to picking, I started about two months ago. Its going to be a while before I want a great custom set like those that have been mentioned.

I'd love to be able to get more feel out of my picks (southord regular) but's that's all. I'm going to try some slim line picks, next to see if picking padlocks would be easier with them. Does anyone have better recommendations, besides southord? I was just curious about that huge price on those "government" picks and why but for a beginner I've read southord is a good starter set.

Thanks,

[adrenalynn]

I've used Southord forever. And cheap nothing-name before that.

I suspect that if you want to improve the feedback in your picks, the number-one best way to do that is to tighten the loose nut...


... holding the pick.

Seriously though, feeling is something that comes with time, practice practice practice, more practice, and a light deft touch with ALL your senses, which comes with practice. As with all undertakings like this, the novice gets so far and then one day it just all suddenly CLICKS (like a lock opening?) and the roof comes off, sky's the limit. At that point it gets fun because it's not about the skill but rather the challenge.

Tools don't make the picker, the picker makes the tool.

Ok, I'm climbing off my soapbox now and will stop spouting euphemisms...

[unlocke]

I've used Southord forever. And cheap nothing-name before that.

I suspect that if you want to improve the feedback in your picks, the number-one best way to do that is to tighten the loose nut...


... holding the pick.

Seriously though, feeling is something that comes with time, practice practice practice, more practice, and a light deft touch with ALL your senses, which comes with practice. As with all undertakings like this, the novice gets so far and then one day it just all suddenly CLICKS (like a lock opening?) and the roof comes off, sky's the limit. At that point it gets fun because it's not about the skill but rather the challenge.

Tools don't make the picker, the picker makes the tool.

Ok, I'm climbing off my soapbox now and will stop spouting euphemisms...

I guessed those were simply a higher quality but a tool is a tool I see that's the same with picks too. I still might just get a lifter pick from them to compare. Since the price was only $6 and that's what I use more then 50% of the time.

I'm going to agree, the longer I've practiced the more the feedback I feel and the more the lock tells me. In a year or two should be second nature.

[adrenalynn]

Certainly, as you get married to any hobby, spend the money to get the tools of the trade that make you smile! Good equipment for any hobby makes me

Picking is comparatively super inexpensive when held up to most hobbies.

And "second nature" or not, the beauty is that there's always, _always_ some lock out there that is just out of reach. At least there is for me! The brass ring is just one lock away, until you pick it and discover the next in the series.

[urabusrpie]

Making Peterson lockpicks tougher than the standard Peterson picks are seems to be a solution in search of a problem. I looked at the individual pick site link for Peterson, my blue handled Petersons cost $4.25 a piece, standard thickness, spring steel. The standard thickness in "government" steel, whatever the hell THAT is, $15.00 a piece.

I have owned the Peterson picks for four or five years. I have owned HPC and ESP picks since 1988. If you are mangling HPC and ESP picks, I might kindly inform you that you're not picking or raking, you're simply prying. The point being, I don't need a leather case or pocketful of prybars, I have some of them as well for quick emergency entry OTJ, picks are picks and prybars are prybars and the more expensive Peterson picks seem to be a solution to a problem that doesn't exist in the real world of lockpicking away from the prybar crowd...

[dmux]

exactly what everyone has said. but if you looking into Peterson picks, a set of the just picks are pretty nice, they are the government steel and very thin and very strong.

the government steel is just a very strong steel that can be made into very thin picks and still keep their integrity after picking over and over again while other thin picks would bend and lose their shape.

i recommend the just picks set. i didn't like them at first but after a while i did like the feel and flexibility/feedback of them

[michaelspaz]

I would have to liken my thinking to DMUX on this one.

You can sort of compare it to fishing. Anyone can get a $5 fishing pole and do just fine picking (hell you might even win a tournament with a rod that you've grown perfectly accustomed to). But if you really get into the sport, and need that slight edge, you get the $100-400 graphite fishing rod with high strength, flexibility and insanely high feedback to feel even the most finicky walleye biting (if you're not in the north and have no clue what a "walleye" is, just substitute bass in there).

If you are aren't upset about getting into a lock in 1:30 min instead of 1:00 then the benefits do not outweigh the costs of an expensive set (I know I'm not about to buy that expensive set). I guess that's my opinion anyway

[KokomoLock]

I have the Peterson Kens Pick Set, It is ok, not worth the money though in my opinion. I Just received this pick set Wednesday and love it. The aluminum handles make for great pin feedback. Only cost 35.00 and a lifetime warranty on the picks.