What is your favorite pick(s)?

[Hawaiihunter]

I am wondering what your favorite pick(s) are so I can expand my collection later on.

Format:

Maker:

Name:

Why you like it:

[KPick]

Format: Short Hook
Maker: Southord Ordnance
Name: SLS-09
Why I like it: This is my favorite pick for tight key-ways like the small master locks, brinks, abus, etc. Plus they last forever, AND they are cheap to replace. Yes I can be frugal. LoL



Format: Slimline Rake
Maker: Southord Ordnance
Name: SLS-12
Why I like it: It is a small effective rake. I can open most residential, padlock, and auto's with this rake. Plus it's cheap, long lasting. (I never had to replace it even after the years of use, but then again, I'm a hobby picker.)



Format: Double Ended Pick (Standard hook/Rake)
Maker: Southord Ordnance
Name: SP-02
Why I like it: It's great on residential locks, it gives great feedback, and they are cheap and durable. Also, it is slimline and is made of quality steel like the others on top of this one. Finally, It's effective on residential key-ways, as well as American padlocks.

[Hawaiihunter]

Nice picks! I think I may pick up one of those Southord Rakes later on.

[KPick]

Thanks! They are good. It' s because it's not too big like most rakes; its sorta micro.



Edit: Plus I use these more often than any other pick in my collection of 50+ picks.

[IndigoChild]

Southord Bogota and Southord angled half diamond.

[critmass235]

For ssp i like a few different size hook, notched hook, and deforest. for raking either bogota or half diamond.
maker . me
i like hooks because its easier to for top of keyway tension. notched gives me more control but makes a little more friction going through the lock
and bogota because it really works

[Divinorum]

Maker: Sparrows Lock Picks

Set: Monstrum XXL

I have been using this set for quite a while now and I really love them. These are the picks I use most often from the set. From L to R, Short Hook, Hybrid Offset, Small Diamond, Triple Peak Rake,and a City Rake (L rake). The last 3 picks are from the Sparrows Monstrum set and I am not sure of their specific names. Again from L to R, Monstrum pick #1 is similar to the Hybrid Offset but is wider and thicker making it very sturdy. Monstrum pick #2 is similar to monstrum pick #1 but is designed to make a very high reach. It's great for locks with spacious key ways. Monstrum Pick #3 is less wide and thick as the others, it has an angle at the tip which makes it a good reach tool for certain situations.

[Hawaiihunter]

Nice set Divinorum, what did you dip those beauties in?

[Paleo123]

Before I bought my first and only set I did some research, and went with the Sparrows Wizwazzle set I love them all the snake rake worm and bogata and twin peaks are all great rakes with varying degrees of effectiveness depending on lock/bitting. The city rake(this is for myself I would actually be interested in others experience) doesn't seem to be as universally effective HOWEVER when this baby works its almost instant for me, if it does require raking I really don't use as strong of a raking motion with it as the other rakes. Kind of hard to describe lol And I actually have the larger offset hybrid that Divinorum has mentioned, I got it by mistake when I received my set and at first I didn't like it then I got a feel for exactly how to use that pick and I absolutely love it now! You can zip or rake with it as well as spp larger locks and I have found that this thing seems to "accidentally " set pins like crazy. Divinorum have you had this same experience as well?

Simple answer if you are just starting and want a *expletive* wicked set I recommend them. You can get sets much cheaper even sets with more picks much cheaper but you will be ordering from Chinese manufacturers shipping from China so you will be waiting and the quality may be sub-par as well
p.s. knowing now how usefuly that one monstrum pick can be makes me wish I would of bought the monstrum xxl instead so I could try them all if only I would have known

[Divinorum]

Nice set Divinorum, what did you dip those beauties in?

Thanks man. The picks come as shown in the picture. "The handles are made from a thermo plastic coating that is bonded to the picks resulting in a permanent smooth non sliding grip" (from Sparrows website).

And I actually have the larger offset hybrid that Divinorum has mentioned, I got it by mistake when I received my set and at first I didn't like it then I got a feel for exactly how to use that pick and I absolutely love it now! You can zip or rake with it as well as spp larger locks and I have found that this thing seems to "accidentally " set pins like crazy. Divinorum have you had this same experience as well?

Because it's a bigger pick yes it does accidentally set pins from time to time but not so often for me. I'll usually start off with my normal hook and transition to the larger offset if the key way has the room and I need the extra support the pick offers. I have not tried using it as a zip or to rake. I'll have to give that a try.

[Paleo123]

Try it out man I go really fast when raking faster than I do when I use my rakes. I am honestly really surprised at what that pick can open I do things with it I won't do with my other ones too I'm just not scared of breaking it at all. My first day picking I yanked a lock right out of my hand(I've improved drastically since this incident lol) if that didn't break I'm not sure what will

[parkourer]

Hope I'm not too late

Anyway:

I go for SouthOrd, honestly because thats the only company I tried out.
I love the Short Hook, because you could pick almost anything with it. Don't go for the long hook, because I got it, and it never fits in any of my keyholes.
The rake is also necessary for me. I know people like the 's' or snake rake, but I like the C rake. It looks like the rake side of @KPick's third photo. I started out with the C rake (I didn't know any better). It groves upward so it could be used like a smaller version of the hook.

I have heard that the half diamond is really good, and I would recommend it, but I never really got around to getting one, and it wouldn't help me anyway.

[Paleo123]

The magic of the club foot aka papa bear aka large offset hybrid? aka whatever you wanna call it..it works lol http://youtu.be/mvhgSJMfOj0 I am now going to search until I find out how I am actually supposed to post a video so it plays right on the thread because I know its possible and I know I'm retarded lol

[Divinorum]

The magic of the club foot aka papa bear aka large offset hybrid? aka whatever you wanna call it..it works lol http://youtu.be/mvhgSJMfOj0 I am now going to search until I find out how I am actually supposed to post a video so it plays right on the thread because I know its possible and I know I'm retarded lol

Copy/paste the link to the video you want to share in the reply window . Highlight the link and click the youtube button above near the font options etc

[Paleo123]

I think I tried that and thought it was just showing up as the url with youtube in brackets but not really working but I will have to try it again next time I post something thanks man. Did you check out the video/try those techniques with that pick? I was almost tempted to try to rake it twice in the video that was exceptionally fast rake(I think I set some on the way in accidentally because I might of gone across the pins twice max) but I figured if I tried again might struggle badly or something so carried on to zipping which ended up taking a lot of tries