Pocket-Friendly Pick Sets....

[grndslm]

I'm looking for something that can ride with me in my pocket every day.

I have seen an awesome thread that does pretty much what I want, and I actually already have the stainles steel sharpie to boot!! However, I don't care to spend my time acquiring parts that may or may not fit, along with hacksaw blades that may or may not be too soft for the job, along with grinding them down. The grinding part isn't so difficult, I'm sure.... but I'd just prefer to spend $20 - $50 and make sure it's done right.

Sooo... here are some choices....

- http://www.lockpicks.com/pocketknifetypepicksets.aspx (Jack Knife, Jack Knife Composite Handle, Simple Jack Knife, Credit Card Pick Set, SouthOrd Pen Pick Set w/ Key Ring, and an "unnamed" Pen Pick Set)
- http://www.lockpickshop.com/KWICKPICK.html (Dyno Kwick Pick)
- viewtopic.php?f=4&t=47268 (Stainless Steel Sharpie Mod, as seen above)
- http://www.dealextreme.com/p/advanced-9 ... icks-16417 (Super Cheap "Advanced 9-Piece Set" w/ rolly case)

Again... the overall idea here is so that I can find a tools that are of a reliable quality (at least in terms of value, money spent), yet still practical to carry every day.

As you can see, these need not be in the shape of a pen or knife, but if rolled up in a nice case, should still be able to fit in an outter pocket of a Bill's Custom "Urban Wallet".

What's the "better" choice for a compact EDC toolset??

I've always been attracted to the Dyno Kwick Pick... and one review @ LockPickShop.com even stated that the more expensive Jack Knife was about the same "overall", but the Jack Knife did have a better tension wrench. Pretty sure I'm looking for the better picks, because I can likely find someplace (in that wallet, perhaps?) to cary a different tension wrench, if necessary.

Is the Kwick Pick a bad choice?

[Solomon]

The dyno kwik is just a snake rake, the jackknife is more than that... although they're both very bulky and feedback won't be amazing, not to mention you'll need to modify the crap outta the hook in the jackknife to get any real maneuverability out of it. To be honest I wouldn't spend any real money on that kinda thing, I have a jackknife and it just sits at home. My everyday carry picks are a small pin vice with a double ended pick (short hook + city rake) and a few wrenches that sit inside it. It's very light and nice to use, feedback is great and it cost next to nothing to make. Super compact too.

If you're gonna spend money on a set of picks to carry around get the peterson city pick set or similar. You can't really go wrong, just stay away from anthing gadgety/gimmicky or anything with tiny handles.

[unjust]

bogatas. the original set with 1 and 3 points. most pocket friendly pickset ever.

i also carry a pair of hooks in the same nested pair style, and a few assorted short shim/bypass type things all of which fit nicely into a plastic mint container that's this footprint of a creditcard, and about 3/16' thick. it's absurdly convenient living in my wallet.

[grndslm]

bogatas. the original set with 1 and 3 points. most pocket friendly pickset ever.

i also carry a pair of hooks in the same nested pair style, and a few assorted short shim/bypass type things all of which fit nicely into a plastic mint container that's this footprint of a creditcard, and about 3/16' thick. it's absurdly convenient living in my wallet.

unjust.... the bogatas are exactly what I'm thinking of for EDC. When you say "the original set", is that something different from what is being sold at itstactical.com ?? Also, I don't think the titanium set being 0.1 ounces lighter, or non-magnetic is a necessity for me... but if it is more durable and will hold its shape better after hundreds of practice runs, then I may be interested in the titanium version. Is titanium of this size actually going to be stronger. I think that titanium scratches fairly easy, so I think it could be considered a softer metal. I'm definitely not a metallurgist, tho!

And also... do you have a pic of your "credit card" container w/ contents? Sounds neat, but I think my Urban Wallet is as packed as can be. Would definitely enjoy some pics, tho... or some pick pics.

[Haddo]

I would suggest either getting one of the southord sets like PXS-14 ($27)or spend a little more ($60) and get the Peterson City in Gov Steel or the HPC NDPK-24 Pro Mixer.

[unjust]

i'll leave it to rai to list the retail option that carries his stuff. but yes, the 1 and 3 point set, i stated original as there are the other versions like sabana and monserratte (sp?) the man is a master craftsman, and the knockoffs i've seen aren't as good. mine are ... either stainless wiperinsert or streetsweeper bristle, i don't recall off the top of my head and they're upstairs, and plenty strong. imho the ti picks are where you need non-ferromagnetic, or corrosive environments, not typical domestic edc.

i've a bucket of things to get pics up i'll add it to the list. i'm certain that if you poke around in the impulse sections of a few large stores for mints or wander through any major $generic festival with buckets of folks giving out mints and crappy frisbees and lip balm you'll be handed a similar case.. iirc mine was from 'quitplan' years ago and i gave someone... maybe rai even... the extra i'd scored. really, it takes up about the space of 3 credit cards, i waste more space filling up my wallet with misc business cards and receipts.

i've been pondering making something similar either milled out of aluminum or possibly shapelock if i can get a good mold which will hold things securely.

[Gurney]

Is titanium of this size actually going to be stronger. I think that titanium scratches fairly easy, so I think it could be considered a softer metal. I'm definitely not a metallurgist, tho!

the titanium is probably going to be brittle and break off in the lock from what i know about firing pins made out of them

[MarkMcGrath]

I have posted on the Bogota's before, a few times(here and ITS). I think the Bogota's are probably the best EDC, E&E picks on the market for ease of use and down right conceal-ability. The titanium's are great for flying, and I love mine. They don't stay in stock very often, and I generally wait for serepick to pick them up as I am usually ordering specialized gov/contractor stuff from him as well. I have 3-4 sets of bogota's most Steel, and one set I give to people to practice with. None have broken, none are messed up, and besides a few nicks from working with them they have raked a lot of locks. I have started single pin picking and while some of the bogota style sold at serepick are prefect for that the general bogota's floating around its more raking, which works well for someone trying to move fast. I have a combo set that works wonders and 4 tends to give me a single pin pick, along with 2 great rakes, and something else.

The credit card, and jackknife while functional are less then ideal in my opinion.

Basically.... I have had Bogota's on me for 2+ years and love them... now if I had been actually practicing for that long....

[cyrano138]

I would suggest either getting one of the southord sets like PXS-14 ($27)or spend a little more ($60) and get the Peterson City in Gov Steel or the HPC NDPK-24 Pro Mixer.

Agreed. Just get a small pick set. I carry the HPC Tyro set. Under twenty shipped from HL Flake and you're in business. I made the mistake of buying the Southord Jackknife set. It's alright, but for the money you could get something a lot more useful.

[gibson]

hl flake usually sells only to locksmiths, but lockpicks.com also carries the tyro pickset, a great and largely overlooked starter set.

[cyrano138]

Oh, that's a shame because everywhere else it seems to be twice as much.

[gibson]

lockpicks.com charges about $25.00 or so for either the Tyro or the Novice, plus shipping. (I have no connection to either hpc or lockpicks.com)