If you could only have one or two picks...

[Andrelommech]

So this is my first post here. I've been picking off-and-on for a few years, gotten more into it in the last year or so. I'm good at making things and have the tools to make lock picks no problem.

I've been using a half-diamond that I made from a street sweeper bristle, and despite having no handle and badly needing some polishing, I've been able to successfully pick most locks I've come across.

I want to upgrade my picks. I'm planning on making one or two from carbon steel hack saw blades, since those seem to be the most easily available option.

So my question is this: if you could only have one pick, what would it be? I want to carry the most versatile pick/set possible, but I want to keep it down to one or two. I have been picking pins one at a time - I'm not sure if scrubbing is a good thing to learn at this point.

I've not yet even garnered any idea of how to pick double-sided locks (like car door locks), is it worth carrying a pick that can do those as well?

[globallockytoo]

In my opinion, the most versatile pick tool would be a hook pick. Of course the most important part of picking any lock cylinder is the tension wrench. The secret to picking is in the amount of tension.

[Andrelommech]

My torsion wrench is pretty good to go - made from a small allen wrench

[Silenthermit]

I would also pick a hook if had to have just one. After that though I would not limit myself to one tension wrench. Learning more and more that the right wrench makes it a lot easier and there isn't one wrench for all locks. Some locks are easier if you went deep, some short for top of the key way, some where you need to force more, some just a slight touch, some thin, some wide so it wouldn't slip.....etc. No matter what size/shape tension wrench I've had to change to though, always seem to fall back to either a hook or half diamond pick.

So my choice would be hook and diamond and as seen said many times before by people much more knowledgeable than I, good variety of wrenches.

[Andrelommech]

Fair enough, though those are fairly simple to make - their designs don't vary too much, just different sizes and shapes :p

[boggif]

I'd choose a small hook (might be a medium hook for some sets with very small hooks). I think it can do over 90% of my work.

Given two choises I'd add some longer hook/reach/dental hook to get those nasty high-low combos behind other pins. If you cannot reach them there is nothing else to do than choose a proper tool for the job.

I guess a small diamond would be the choise number three on my list.

[fgarci03]

For a long time I used just a half diamont and a snake rake. But for a couple of weeks I started to use a hook and it allows me to get to the most difficult pins (HiLo configurations, etc).

If I were to chose 2 picks: It would be a short hook and a Bogota. But it depends mostly on your preferences. You may prefer a gem pick. Or a snake rake instead of a bogota.

About double sided locks. Don't bother. You can pick them with regular tools. The only difference is that you have to remove the pick and turn it upside down and insert in the keyway again. So you need to watch out on how you use the tension wrench. When you start picking those more often it's a good purchase since you don't waste time doing it. But on a daily basis, you won't need them for now.

That's my 2 cents!

Be safe!

[youngpicker99]

If I could only choose one i would have a short hook, if I could have two the second would be a bogota. I would pick those because they seem to be the most reliable out of all of my picks.

[Teddy Picker]

A DeForest. I'm really loving that pick these days.

[Luissen]

this thread made me think about what I want in a pick. As for torque tools, I've only had experience with 2, a standard 7 shaped steel strip and a slightly filed down "kledge" slimline that I made.

as for the picks themselves, I really like this half diamond thing I found online (template) Its kinda like a hook, with a slight diamond protrusion on the end of approx 2 inches of slight curve

[daniel22747]

short hook if only one.

If two then I would also want that three wave Pagoda pick that southord has.

[fgarci03]

[quote=daniel22747]If two then I would also want that three wave Pagoda pick that southord has[/quote]

Although they are cool, I would prefer a real Bogota. Mostly because of the handle. The proper use to a Bogota is not exactly raking, so the handle Raimundo made is perfect to use it. I have a Pagoda set, and the quality is good in fact, but the handle is straight forward so it's a bit difficult to use it well...

[sbellios]

half diamond or hook. The point is that it must be small, not for carrying, but to fit into more locks.

[phrygianradar]

My favorite pick is the Peterson Jem. I use it on most locks I pick. My choice would be any nice hook pick that you are used to.