Raking

[Lesh18]

Are there any good guides on raking? I've practiced SPP but have been discouraged by older locks with poor feedback.

Thanks

[raimundo]

raking is looked down on because some people think that it works without skill. actually some skill and experience is useful.

Im no fan of commercial rakes even the ones whos design was ripped off from me are not well made, they have rough finish and sharp edges to lock on to the warding.

Use light intermittent tension and don't be afraid to drop tension, you can rake effectively with a half diamond which causes some people here who are personally incapable of seeing the half diamond as a pick regard it as a rake. in fact its both, and so is any hook.

you don't need rakes to rake, you can put a hook all the way to the back of the lock and drag it out with slight lifing and it will rake the pins.

any spp'er who works very fast at one of the competitions is doing something that is a combination of feel and rakeing.
you can feel a pin set while passing under it with a hook or diamond.

I recommend the light loose jittery action that just tries to make all the pins dance while using light intermitten tension.

[MarkMcGrath]

Anyone who doesn't think raking takes skill sure hasn't tried to rake a American with safety pins. Actually to be honest I found raking easier, and with that said I neglected single pin picking..... I have been trying to pop locks with a combo rake, pin pick. It seems to be faster and more effective to know a few out of the way. It also has kept me from putting to much presure on the tension tool which is great. Raking according to Deviant Ollams book is like jigglers, and he has a good description in his book about it. I feel it is more jiggling then picking, but it takes skill to realize when picks are set and adjust your angle of attack on the lock. I am very new so I have a hard time with it at times.

I also agree completely the bogota's are a rake dream, and while I haven't played with any of his clones floating around standard rakes are poor.

[clearmoon247]

Personally, if i want to get a lock opened with minimal effort asap, i will start with a rake, then move to a single hump bogata clone, then to a set of hooks. If i want to learn and have higher results with picking, i will use either a hook or single hump bogata that i can, like raimundo said, rake with minimal lifting on the pins and potentially find binding pins in the process. Right now, i am able to pick my American 1100 within 24 seconds if i do it right, so don't give up, don't get discouraged, have fun, and learn the methods that work best for you, despite what other people are telling you