What's your favorite pickset?

by **jemenake** » 11 Oct 2004 18:29

I've bought a few of those 10-12 piece kits from lockpicks.com and lockpicktools.com. You know, those standard leather pouchy deals? Also, out of curiosity, I bought a pocket-knife-looking sliding set (http://www.lockpicktools.com/images/sl6-close-800.jpg) and also their mini concealable set (http://www.lockpicktools.com/images/kgb-7.jpg).

The sliding set turned out to be a bad idea. It's my least-favorite set. The big handle makes it really cumbersome to work the picks (imagine trying to play piano with oven mits on) and it's bulky enough such that you might as well bring along a "pouched" set.

On the other hand, the little swing-out concealable set just *rocks* in my opinion. First, it's really small. I also love the feel. I usually either hinge it out so it's one straight thing, or I'll hinge the unused picks down so that they fit against my palm while I'm picking. Also, it doesn't have a bunch of useless picks. The hook and half-diamond are almost all I ever use... and I'll also sometimes use the snake. I gave my only one of these to my brother, so now I just ordered three more. I just need figure out how to attach it to my keychain somehow.

I'm also intrigued by the keychain one on the merchant site that this site's "shop" link takes you to (http://www.lockpickshop.com/Merchant2/m ... ry_Code=LS)
I might get one of those, too.

So, anyway, I was wondering what everyone's favorite sets are? Frankly, I get a chuckle out of those 120-piece "professional" sets (I tell friends: If you're a pro, you only need about two of those) and am always on the lookout for sets which give you only what you need.

- Joe

by **CaptHook** » 11 Oct 2004 18:56

All of my "sets" are picks Ive put together as a set. I have never found a set that has everything I need or want.
If you have the capability to buy single picks etc, I think you are far better off, because you can only buy what you want/need.
That said, currently I use 2 different HPC sets Ive put together. They kinda mirror each other, one is stainless handles, the other is annodized aluminum. Each have 3-4 hooks, a couple of diamonds, a ball or 2 and a couple of rakes. Then about 7-10 wrenches of varying thickness, length, bend etc.
Chuck

by **Wesson357** » 11 Oct 2004 22:11

I like the person picks and the LAB tension wrenches. They are all pretty good.

Bottom of my list is the southord jacknife set, I'm not to fond of it.

by **D_Shane** » 11 Oct 2004 23:20

Like Capt, I put my own set together. Peterson hooks and HPC half diamonds, couple rakes. Two or three modified Rytan mini, and quite a few tension wrenches. I have a southord jacknife that I use for increasing my feel. It doesn't feel awkward in my hand, but doesn't have alot of feedback. Alot of times when I'm just sitting around picking I'll go for a pick that doesn't give me much back at all.
I have a Brockhage Navigator set that I really didn't care for at all, but I continually practice with it. Now, when I go for one of the Peterson or HPC's with good feedback it seems really amplified.
Same with the jacknife. Practicing with that all the time when I'm out and about. I've gotten to where I can feel pretty well with it, so it makes a real difference when I grab one with good feedback.

So for me, even though I don't care much for a certain set or particular pick I still find them useful. I'll spend all day with only one specific pick and difficult tension wrench. Seems to really increase my sensitivity.

by **Project** » 11 Oct 2004 23:43

southord riveted handles soooo uber, like the slimline almost as good, but the southord seems good for a newb like me, can scrub like crazy and not worry bout them getting damaged that much, spring steel seems a bit soft for me

by **logosys** » 12 Oct 2004 0:32

Peterson Tri-Fold Baby!

by **Fallen_Pin** » 12 Oct 2004 22:52

Theres nothing better than working with picks you've made yourself... But on the other hand, my Lockpickshop.com set seems to..ya know, work

by **Gaian** » 13 Oct 2004 5:07

Bottom of my list is the southord jacknife set, I'm not to fond of it.

I was looking to get one of those. Which one do you have, the metal one or the plastic one? I was going to go with the plastic one because of weight, and the price is a bit cheaper. Are you looking to get rid of it?

I'm also intrigued by the keychain one on the merchant site that this site's "shop" link takes you to (http://www.lockpickshop.com/Merchant2/m ... ry_Code=LS)
I might get one of those, too.

I just got that keychain yesterday. It needs a little tweaking when you get it, but once I did it's been working great for me. The picks and wrench seem to be stamped spring steel, so I attacked it with my dremel and polishing wheels to smooth out all the edges. After doing that it was so much better

by **Wesson357** » 13 Oct 2004 12:22

Gaian wrote:
Bottom of my list is the southord jacknife set, I'm not to fond of it.

I was looking to get one of those. Which one do you have, the metal one or the plastic one? I was going to go with the plastic one because of weight, and the price is a bit cheaper. Are you looking to get rid of it?

Some one was nice enough to break it for me

The reason I didnt like it was that I couldnt get any feedback from it and the screw that held the tool in place was pretty weak. It was an interesting way to have a pick on you all the time, but not very useful (at least to me)

by **Wesson357** » 13 Oct 2004 12:23

Oh I forgot, it was the metal one.

by **Gaian** » 13 Oct 2004 21:56

Thanks for the input.

Well, after reading quite a few posts about the thing, I think i'm leaning towards avoiding it

What's your favorite pickset?

What's your favorite pickset?

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