Pics of my Picks!

[LocksportSouth]

After my other thread in Locks, I thought I might post my starter picks here and see what you all think?

I'm a total noob to picking and honestly not having a great deal of luck so far. Just wondering if you think it's purely down to skill or whether it could be in fact due to inferior picks? I bought all of these as one batch but have mostly been using the GOSO ones as they are the most comfy.

Pic of everything:



The front section of my GOSO pouch. I mostly use the hooks on the left hand side of this pouch more than anything else when trying to SPP. I also use the tension wrench on the left hand side (the S shaped one) most of the time:



The back section has a load of rakes and jigglers, and some more tension wrenches:



Klom branded wafer picks:



"Majestic" rakes/jigglers on the left, Southord picks on the right:



More southord picks and a tubular lock pick (this, I've had a LOT of success with. Might make a video sometime, not sure if I'm allowed to show videos showing picking techniques?):



That's it so far. Wondering whether to invest in some better picks such as Peterson or Sparrows.. Or whether I'm simple using the wrong picks, the wrong tension wrenches, the wrong locks, the wrong technique or simply not enough practice. Wondering whether to start up a YouTube channel detailing my journey... Thoughts? Comments? Please be nice

[jbrint]

To me it looks like you should get down to basics. When I started picking (which was recent) I bought 2 sets: A cheap giant Banggood set of garbage and a full Sparrows Monstrum XL.

Of all that I use 3 or 4 hook/ diamond picks 1 rake and ended up buying some Petersons tension tools and a reach pick. After 6 or so months of picking I have started started using the other picks in the kit to see if they do a better job on locks that I know I can open.

Pick up a couple fresh new locks from your local hardware store. A really low security Kwikset style deadbolt (I like the double cylinders, not the smartkey), and a padlock (no security pins). Determine which one you want to open first and get at it, Stay at it until you open it consistently and understand it. I like the double cylinder deadbolts because I can double check my understanding of the lock itself. I have a few Defiant deadbolts that even though keyed the same have a much different binding order so its like getting 2 locks for the price of one.

Practice a lot. Its worth it. I have an American lock I have opened only once and I have made 100's of attempts on, so everyday I spend a few minutes messing with it and have been doing so for a month or longer at this point and will continue to do so until its conquered.

Takes a lot of practice and patience. You can do it.

[LocksportSouth]

I've just ordered easy-repinnable practice locks from LearnLockPicking so I can try the method detailed in This thread. It totally hit home about how I'm just fumbling in the dark and not at all understanding things like the feel of the pins or the subtleties of whether they are binding, set, overset or whatnot - not to mention being clueless when I'm inside which pin I'm currently on.

Honestly I've been bad with practice since I don't have a lot of spare space, so the locks and picks get shoved in the safe and left for weeks on end until I can be bothered to set up a workspace for them again. But I'm making a determined effort now - finding this forum and vids on youtube have encouraged me to give a proper shot at this, since locks and lock picking were essentially my childhood dream and I kinda lost touch with that side of things for a long time. As you say - practice, practice and more practice . I feel I'll be a lot more confident when I can figure out:

A) What "Light", "Medium" and "Heavy" tension really mean, and how much tension I actually need to apply
B) Identifying which pin I'm currently on when inside the lock
C) Figuring out if a given pin is not set, set or overset

And once I can start SPPing and getting locks to open without blind luck and raking!

[kwoswalt99-]

A) What "Light", "Medium" and "Heavy" tension really mean, and how much tension I actually need to apply
B) Identifying which pin I'm currently on when inside the lock
C) Figuring out if a given pin is not set, set or overset

I don't even pay attention to what pin I'm on so to speak. All I care about is whether it's binding or not. Discerning whether a pin is set correctly or not, now that can be challenging!

[jbrint]

Bosnian Bill has explained tension better than anyone I have ever heard explain it. Once you open some locks you will start to better understand tension. Going hands on and getting it will facilitate the process much quicker than taking about it. After looking at the lock post you have I see some nice locks, dimple locks, security locks, etc.... It didn't dawn on me at the moment you were in the UK, so my lock suggestion was probably useless. I am sure someone here from the UK can better recommend some beginner locks.

I also do not count pins unless I am trying to determine how many pins are in the lock. Once that has been decided I look for binders and work the stack until it clicks and turns.

Its all about practice, practice, practice. Once you get few open you will be excited and pick until your fingers hurt. Just don't get discouraged and give up, set aside a fixed amount of time and do it. It really will come to you, and if you hit something you do not understand reach out, look for videos, plow through it. Eventually it will make sense and when you beat that level of lock move up a challenge.

[LocksportSouth]

Yeah, I've watched BosnianBill's tension video a couple of times but it's hard to "get", I think it's just one of those things you learn from lots of practice. Like you say I really need to set aside a certain amount of time each day - they say if you do something every day for 2 weeks it becomes a habit and is hard to stop. Thanks for the encouragement I'm really looking forward to tackling this journey in earnest! I'm thinking about starting a Youtube channel to show my journey and also do reviews and tips and stuff. See how it goes!

[Pahaseta]

Klom wafer picks are great, low price and long lasting. The tensioner is rubbish.

[LocksportSouth]

Klom wafer picks are great, low price and long lasting. The tensioner is rubbish.

Which tensioner did you mean? I've used the wafer picks to pick the lock on a cash box that I own - just used the pick itself to tension the lock

[Pahaseta]

The blue one on the klom set. I use those on car locks.

[LocksportSouth]

Ah, fair enough - yeah, I've never used it, it just came as part of the set. Not sure if it was THAT set... I try to keep things in their original bags but some stuff came loose and some gets moved around. TBH I mostly only get use out of the GOSO grey-handled hooks, the couple of wrenches and the tubular lock pick. Hoping to get more use out of stuff as I figure out what picks have what purpose though.

[Pahaseta]

Originally these were sold as cabinet lockpicks.

http://www.keyprint.co.uk/slim-wafer-pi ... e-sided673

[LocksportSouth]

Just updating with my new pick set - the Sparrows Monstrum XXL:







More photos and information in my Review thread