Differences between pickguns

[MBI]

Hello,

I'm looking at ordering a pick gun so I can change my own euro cylinders and I notice these three different pick guns and I don't know what the difference is between them.

http://www.lockpickshop.com/SNAP-GUN.html

http://www.lockpickshop.com/PKX-GUN.html

http://www.lockpickshop.com/EZSNAP-PICK-GUNS.html

Could someone please tell me what the difference between these pick guns? As I said, I want to use them to pick euro cylinder for changing them, so the best one for that would be great.

Also, what are the replacement picks for the SNAP GUN and the EZSNAP? Is it this one? http://www.lockpickshop.com/REP-17.html or this one http://www.lockpickshop.com/PKXGUN-RP.html ?

Thanks heaps

[minifhncc]

Sorry, but does anyone know? :\

[raimundo]

could be more info on the lockpicks automatic or mechanical section, I don't know, its not somewhere I go to.
its right above lockpicks manual.

[amlwchlocksmiths]

i do not think you sould be opening locks in use and phone a locksmith.if you do not know witch one to have you sould not be doing it to locks in use.

[phishtaco]

I bought the Snap Gun off that website a while ago. It worked for the first few locks but then the needles snapped. They were very flimsy in my opinion.

[minifhncc]

i do not think you sould be opening locks in use and phone a locksmith.if you do not know witch one to have you sould not be doing it to locks in use.

Sorry, but I believe that the whole purpose of this forum is for hobbists (and of course others) to explore lock picking. If you don't like that then you shouldn't participate in these forums. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Solomon]

Those are all upward firing guns, so good luck using one on a euro with the handle in the way lol. I think the only company that makes a downward firing gun is Brockhage... but still, don't bother. You'll spend just as long getting good with one of these as you will with standard picks so you may as well just learn how to pick properly. Or buy an EPG. Except that all you're doing is changing locks so it's not even a necessary option. If you know how to pick then by all means try it before you go all DE on it but there's no point in you learning how to pick locks or buying an expensive EPG just for simple lock changes.

Manual pick guns are an absolute nightmare to get the hang of; even if you're really good with one they only work on a limited number of locks. And the ones that will open with one, you can still expect to spend a good 5 mins on em messing around with the tension and snap amount unless you get seriously lucky. Anything I've successfully opened with a snap gun, I was able to rake open much faster anyway so speaking personally there is absolutely no use for them other than to look cool in the tool box.

You need to seriously reassess your options here. This isn't some magic tool you can use to open a lock and change it in just a couple of minutes. You don't even need to pick a euro if your sole purpose is to change it. If a customer has lost their keys and needs the thing replaced then there is no sense in picking it open when you can just remove it in 30 seconds flat with one of those things we're not allowed to talk about.

[Squelchtone]

i do not think you sould be opening locks in use and phone a locksmith.if you do not know witch one to have you sould not be doing it to locks in use.

Sorry, but I believe that the whole purpose of this forum is for hobbists (and of course others) to explore lock picking. If you don't like that then you shouldn't participate in these forums. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

Pick guns aren't lock picking, and they're on the very edge of what most hobbyists here consider part of our hobby. It's like hunting deer with an AK47. Sure you'll hit some, but there's no skill required. Where's the fun or challenge in that?

Just get a pick set and hone your skills to pick those locks if you need to change them, or better yet, use a key to rotate the cams to the correct position Pick gun is not necessarily going to make this an easy task, just like bump keys, pick guns have their place but they are not magical tools and still require practice and a good technique to work properly and reliably.

Good luck with your project,
Squelchtone

[minifhncc]

Those are all upward firing guns, so good luck using one on a euro with the handle in the way lol.

I think there's some confusion here.

Of course I have the key to the lock. What I needed the pick gun for was to first pick the lock to position the barrel in the correct position so that I could then use a Yoke Jig to hold the top pins. I would then change the pins of the barrel.

Since my initial post I bought a pick gun and learnt how to use it. I wasn't that easy, but it wasn't that hard either. Any how, I can use one to change the locks.

You don't even need to pick a euro if your sole purpose is to change it.

Uhh... If you don't want to spend 10 minutes trying to put all the top pins back in place with tweezers then I think you do?

Just get a pick set and hone your skills to pick those locks if you need to change them, or better yet, use a key to rotate the cams to the correct position

See my reply for Solomon above. I need to pick it to insert the Yoke jig to hold the top pins in place.

But I have considered learning how to use lock picks to accomplish my task. Especially because my pick gun seems to be "shaving" the pins when I use it (which of course doesn't matter for my purposes since I change the pins to new ones). Although, I think I can stop this from happening by sanding the edges of my pick gun needles...

The only drawback to lock picks is that it could be difficult if the difference of any adjacent pins sizes are large...

Anyway learning lock picking using lock picks is on my 'to do' list and I shall definitely try it out soon

[Solomon]

Ah, gotcha. You shoulda said repinning lol, I assumed you meant replacing the whole cylinder. But yeah, picking by hand is still easier... if you know what you're doing and can't pick it by hand, then I guarantee it won't snap open either. Put the practice in, you'll open 10 times as many locks by hand as you will with one of those things. I know a locksmith who swears by his though so maybe you'll get along with one better, I'm just speaking from my own experience here.

[minifhncc]

Alrighty, I've been having a look around for some picks.

I'm in Australia, so I'm guessing that I would need the European/Japanese lock picks since the US ones would be too wide...

I'd like to pick wafer locks too (I manage real estate and sometimes tenants lose their letterbox keys and therefore that becomes a drill job at the moment).

Which type/brand of lock picks would you recommend?

Thanks

[Solomon]

Alrighty, I've been having a look around for some picks.

I'm in Australia, so I'm guessing that I would need the European/Japanese lock picks since the US ones would be too wide...

I'd like to pick wafer locks too (I manage real estate and sometimes tenants lose their letterbox keys and therefore that becomes a drill job at the moment).

Which type/brand of lock picks would you recommend?

Thanks

Not necessarily, I use standard size petersons on UK/euro keyways without any trouble. Slimlines are better all round as they're more maneuverable, but you can get away with standard size for most stuff. You only really need slimlines for really tight keyways like EVVA, Winkhaus, Corbin etc. For Lockwoods you can get away with standard size picks although some of their restricted keyways may give you trouble. It's personal preference really, standard are stronger so they're better for beginners but slims will serve you just as well if you know what you're doing. Slimline do give much clearer feedback though, I will say that.

For starting out I'd recommend either the majestic 13 piece set or the southord 8 piece... cheap, decent pick selection and they'll take a beating until you get the feel for em. Then you can look into slimlines when you want better feedback and maneuverability. I'd recommend the southord 9 piece set as it has everything you need. You'll need to modify the hook that comes with it although that's a good thing as you can have it just the way you want it.

Ooooor instead of buying a whole set... you could just make a few slimlines yourself outta hacksaw blades based on what you like to use. The ones I made turned out great and the feedback is astounding. Really strong too.

[John Grey]

Just opinion here but there is a conceptual difference as well. Just as Bumping creates a "shockwave" effect, so does a pickgun. What I would imagine you are looking for are very well tempered components and perhaps the ability to access the interior [of the "gun"]. Some (pickguns) use rivets while others use screws for construction.
Another post within this thread mentioned that the probe broke. While it's not difficult to make another probe, that should not occur with normal use. Thus you can see that the quality of the temper / steel may be significant all around. The gun is operated by building tension and releasing this built up tension to the probe. There you see that the internal component becomes more critical than even just the temper. The"bind-release" element should be able to stand acute wear without degrading. Look for things such as "surgical steel springs" in manufacture and high attention to detail. While a degree of shock is delivered into the key-way, there is as much or more [shock] delivered to the components of the tool.

Generally you get what you pay for. Many advertisements mention these factors and (IMO) should be the ones an individual should consider IF using such a tool is attractive to you.
Picking is obviously different than raking: in a raking agenda some of the same concepts are used. Where this becomes significant is in unique / crowded keyways and dirty keyways. Picking will teach more about lock construction and offers a level of skill that simply can't be achieved without practice. Short-cut routines to "picking" are actually not really picking but a method of by-pass. Frankly, a pickgun can only go so far.
The rewards to manipulating individual pins offers a greater element of learning. I don't mean to imply that techniques like pick-guns or bump keys are somehow inappropriate, but they can only offer so much.
Look toward professional tools if you want to try one there are several higher quality companies than those mentioned and while I don't want to pitch a particular product line for ethical reasons, one of the advantages of professional tools is longevity should you ever find yourself in a related employment field such as alarm installation, etc. It's a great thing to join professional organizations & obtain any necessary certification as the world of fine quality tools are offered to you. Occasionally an order of magnitude higher quality than those which are mass produced punch-out manufactured. Realistically I believe you could make a "snap-tool" with every bit of utility than an inexpensive pickgun. You would thus have control over the quality of steel and the design of the probes.

[minifhncc]

Not necessarily, I use standard size petersons on UK/euro keyways without any trouble. Slimlines are better all round as they're more maneuverable, but you can get away with standard size for most stuff. You only really need slimlines for really tight keyways like EVVA, Winkhaus, Corbin etc. For Lockwoods you can get away with standard size picks although some of their restricted keyways may give you trouble. It's personal preference really, standard are stronger so they're better for beginners but slims will serve you just as well if you know what you're doing. Slimline do give much clearer feedback though, I will say that.

For starting out I'd recommend either the majestic 13 piece set or the southord 8 piece... cheap, decent pick selection and they'll take a beating until you get the feel for em. Then you can look into slimlines when you want better feedback and maneuverability. I'd recommend the southord 9 piece set as it has everything you need. You'll need to modify the hook that comes with it although that's a good thing as you can have it just the way you want it.

Ooooor instead of buying a whole set... you could just make a few slimlines yourself outta hacksaw blades based on what you like to use. The ones I made turned out great and the feedback is astounding. Really strong too.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Would something like this work well?
Thanks

[Solomon]

Yep those picks are fine, good selection of hooks and they're good and strong, identical quality as goso picks. The wrench you get with them is rubbish though so you'll wanna make yourself some wrenches out of wiper inserts to go with them.

That site is a rip-off, you can get the exact same picks from DX for $5 and that includes shipping... you might get em quicker from that site but it's not worth paying that much for slightly faster shipping lol.