Upgrading picks/tools, $150USD budget

[Smrtz]

Hey! This is my first post on the forum, but I've been lurking here without an account for many years.

I've been picking for a while, but always using my own picks. I'm getting tired of doing that, and I want to try some quality tools. My budget is about $150USD, and I've been looking pretty serious at some of the peterson kits. Can you guys recommend some tools/kits that I'll need please? All I've got experience with is the few shitty picks that I've made from hacksaw blades...

[cheerIO]

If you have been picking for a while you know what you like to use.

My advice is to buy single tools in different thicknesses. The kits always have stuff that I will never use.

Spring steel Peterson tools with plastic handles can be had for $2.75 a piece. Then the thinner profiles are $8.00 each.

I would get short hooks in 0.015, 0.018, and 0.025
gems in all thicknesses
short and tall bogotas
half diamond 0.025
double rake 0.025
long ripple 0.025
Peterson reach in 0.025 and 0.015

That would be about $62.00

The rest you could spend on picks to try out and make sure you get a large assortment of tension wrenches. The prybars are nice but quite pricey. I would also get an assortment of wiper inserts of different thicknesses and widths and buy a few bicycle spokes locally.

[Hachronn]

I'd say avoid the larger sets, and just buy individual picks that meet your needs, but if you must have a set go with one of the every day carry (EDC) style kits that fit your style. The point is that there is no point to buying a mega set if you're just going to wind up using three or four picks.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Peterson's Gem, Hook 1, and Reach. I own a bunch of other picks that tend to stay in the case, but those are the three that I keep going back to.

Long story short, select the picks you believe that you're most likely to use, buy a couple of pry bars, and you'll be good to go.

[Smrtz]

Thanks for the help you guys, I'll place the order tonight!

[Smrtz]

Here's what I got:
1 (PPB-LT) Peterson Pry Bar Lite; 0.040air
1 (PPB-NT) prybar - no teeth
1 (DCAP-3) Deep Cut Access Picks
1 (PR-SS) Peterson Reach Stainless 0.015
1 (BG3-SS-18) BOGIE 3 EURO SLENDER-18
1 (GHO-PS-ENP) GHOST PICK SET-ENP
1 (H7-SS-18) HOOK 7 EURO SLENDER-18
1 (HD-ENP) HOOKED DIAMOND - EN PLASTIC
1 (PO-ENP) POSTAL - EN PLASTIC
1 (PR-ENP) PETERSON REACH - EN PLASTIC
1 (DP-ENP) DIAMOND PICK - EN PLASTIC

[Squelchtone]

I find the Just Picks set is very nice, good dipped handles and thin picks that fit in any keyway.

[Smrtz]

Just got the picks in the mail today, I can post pictures and do an actual review if anyone's curious, but they're great. I'm definitely getting more feedback with these then I was with hacksaw blade picks.

I don't know if they're worth the money yet, because I just got them, but I'm very happy with what came, and not having any buyers remorse.

[Hachronn]

I don't know if they're worth the money yet, because I just got them, but I'm very happy with what came, and not having any buyers remorse.

IMHO, value vs dollars spent is pretty subjective when it comes to hobbiests purchasing professional grade tools; however, I can honestly say that I've never had cause to curse a Peterson pick.

Happy picking!