Which ones?? (Which individual picks should I buy?)

[Squelchtone]

Hey everybody new here, so far I've only tried picking with paper clip tools but am soon goin to commit and buy a couple picks. I've read Southord picks are better for American locks so ill be buying something from there but not actually sure what, so if anyone could throw some tips I'd appreciate it greatly. Also I'm looking to buy individual picks and tensions if again anyone could help.

[fgarci03]

Hello Jay, Welcome to the forum.

I, personally, like Southord. Tell me one thing, how much are you willing to spend on picks? And on locks?
From that I think I can help you chosing the stuff for you to begin.

Are you in America? Can you get wiper shield inserts aand/or street sweeper bristles? That would save you a buck on tension wrenches!

Good luck!

[Squelchtone]

Please also use the forum's Search, the what pick set should I buy question has been asked many times and many good posts already exist that folks took the time to answer in depth.

Thanks!
Squelchtone

[JayBuds]

Hey guys thanks for the response. I'm in America and I'm looking to spend up to 20$ for my first set but thought it would be easier and cheaper to buy one by one. I could get bristles if I tried but don't know what to do with them afterwards. Again any help is very appreciated. I also would look deeper into forums but I'm thinking of getting individual picks which I don't think others usually do

[fgarci03]

Get bristles then. They make pretty good wrenches even if you have zero experience doing them.
I'll get back to this with the picks later, now I'm late for my stuff

For 20$ you can get a nice starting set
And by making your own wrenches you save some cash!

[ARF-GEF]

If you ask me you should get a few cheap Southord picks. The standard ones not the slims. A hook a half diamond and maybe a snake-rake if you want to try that. Don1t get a set yet, most of those are useless.
If you want you can make your own tesnisoners.
If you don't want the hassle get a simpler set only, you do no yet know what will you prefer to use.
I really like the simple HPC hook, I find it somehow magically effective.

[fgarci03]

So, first of all, about the picks.

If you are in America and buy just single picks bellow 15$, the shipping is only 2$. So you can make that count.
On the regular picks, you have some for about 5$ and 1,65$ each. The only difference between them is the handle. I have bought both and to speak the truth, I now prefer to buy the cheap ones, and use duct tape on the handle. It's a personal preference. To start cheap you could go with those, as they are still Southord's quality, and almost 3 times cheaper than the normal ones.
If you want to do that, my advice would be:

Half-diamond: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... SP-07.html
Short hook: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... SP-09.html
Snake Rake: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... SP-10.html
Long Rake: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... SP-12.html
Slim-line short hook, for tight keyways: http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... LS-07.html

That would be 8.7$. The picks you WILL bend are the hook and the diamond. So you could get 2 of each. I say you will bend because most of us use too much force in the begining. If you get 2 each it will go up to 12$. Add 2$ for the shipping and you got a nice pick set for 14$ flat. Don't need to get 2 of the slim line, as it's a pick you will use not that often, so don't worry.

I covered mine with tape to make the handle a little larger:


It now feels very good in my hand, and you can put more or less tape, if you want it thicker or thinner (thicker is usually better, but it's up for you to test.

About the tension wrenches, there are a lot of tutorials around here on making them. Basically to start, you can grab one and put a 90º bend on it's tip. It's the basic one:


You can also make a Top Of Keyway (TOK) wrench like this with a wiper blade insert (it's usually thinner, works wonderfully):


For measurements, it's about 2inches long. One of the tips is slightly longer than the other one, for locks with a deep keyway. Here's how I use it:


You can make a ton of tension wrenches that way, but it's something you will have to build upon your tastes and experiences, I just gave you the ones I use the most (I also use pry-bars, but they are bought, not homemade).

I hope to have helped you to get a cheap nice set to start off. With time you will learn how to chose your tools, so you don't need to spend too much for now.

Concentrate on spending money on locks
Anyone who would like to chime in is appreciated too

[JayBuds]

Wow guys, thanks a lot for these responses I meet thought it would be this quick nor informational. I am glad I came across this hobby and found a nice community for it. I think I have decided on getting the small hook and half diamond ad my first 2 picks, will probably buy 2 and for my wrenches I'm going to wait around for the street cleaners. About those, are they ready to use tension wrenches right from the street? Thanks for all the help everyone

[MrWizard]

I have always used HPC short hook pick. If you learn to use it as your go to pick you soon find you don't need anything else for most locks. You have to bend the street sweeper bristles as shown in pictures very easy to do. Use the top of keyway to insert your tension wrench in it leaves the keyway open at the bottom to work your pick. I like a rigid tension wrench vs one that is flexible it gives you good feedback. Make one 2 " long is good size and making it double ended one side longer than the other. A twist in the middle is not needed unless you like to try it to see what it's like. If I was you I would get 2 or more short hook picks as noted you will likely bend them. I would get the ones with handle it is more comfortable. Try to find some HPC hook picks you will be glad you did.

Richard