My Fisrt DIY Pick Set

[EddieBro]

First pick set, scored some nice wiper inserts from local auto parts store trash. Love the hook, the others still need work, and just trying to get bends right on the Bogotas. The wrenches slip some every now and again, so still need to come up with some better ones. Any pointers on what I have done wrong, or right are welcome.

Thanks

[fastcat]

If you find the wrenches slipping, put them a little deeper in to the lock.


You could also try adding serations to the part that sits in the lock.

I did this to some of my home made (top of keyway) wrenches with an acute-angled triangular needle file (just a few strokes, the serations don't need to be massive - mine are less than 1mm deep, and work just fine).

[EddieBro]

I have one of those files, I will try that out.
Thanks

[andy17]

Assuming that the tension wrenches in your picture are the oens you're using, their keyway inserts are very, very long. I would imagine that they would be unwieldy to hold because they would stick so far out from the body of the lock and thus they would be more prone to slipping. I'd cut them down. A lot.

[EddieBro]

They fit flush to that KwikSet practice lock, but I will take your advice and trim them up. What do you think about half?
Thanks

[andy17]

If they fit well and work for you as is, then maybe hold back on cutting them, at least until you get some more feedback from others here. I've only been picking locks for a couple of months, so it could be that long tension wrenches are well-favoured, but all the ones I have (all are store bought) have much shorter prongs (maybe 3/8" at the longest). I would have thoguht that even if they do fit all the way in, they would be restricting the amount of room you have in the keyway for your picks to manoeuvre.

I should also have said that your picks look very nice. I wish I could do as good work.

[EddieBro]

Thanks for the compliments. Having never seen a real pick I am not sure of the deminsions so I kinda sized them to average of some keys I have, seems to have worked at least on KwikSet locks. Going to try and pick up Schlage on payday to see how they work on them.

[raimundo]

take a key and look at the cuts, no pick should have a pick tip that is longer than the distance from the top edge of the keyway to the bottom of the deepest cut,

good picks are usually smaller than this depth, picks are made with shafts that do not fit the keyway like a key does, they are smaller and more agile in keyways, this is their advantage.

commercially made picks are too big. they can only be thought of as pick blanks that can be made into picks by cutting downthe very wide shafts and the too big keyways
people who use commercially made picks without modify ing them have trouble learning to pick, the reason is that commercial picks are made for people who try to gouge out the keyway with the sharp edges provided on commercial picks, their huge hooks are typically swaybacked after a little use.

handmade picks are better when you have made a few and know what is needed.

[raimundo]

I guess I should read my stuff before hitting submit, theres always typos and sometimes unclear syntacs

[EddieBro]

Haha I didn't notice the typos, apparently I read the way you think. Thanks I will check the depths against the keys I have. The hook I made, was actually modeled close to the bobby pin that actually worked on the lock the first time I picked it, I figured it worked so close enough.
Thanks for the advice.
Also love the Bogota's, will be getting some as soon the wife isn't looking