China Set direct vs other China set from Amazon

[eduguy]

http://www.banggood.com/Klom-9piece-Pic ... 13653.html

This one was recommended for a cheap set on another discussion forum.

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00XDSE ... AVAHTOA2FT

This one was recommended here.

[GWiens2001]

One person here recommended it. The site itself did not.

There are many sets out there. PLEASE use the search function to look for "What pick set should I get", as the question has been asked and answered so many times.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

I actually love my Klom picks, but the set you are looking at is basically an expanded set of hook picks.
You want a set with a hook, diamond and rake at the very least. The Amazon set has the different shape
picks that you will need to begin this hobby. Later when you need 8 different hook picks & a dimple pick,
you can get the Klom set (if you still want it)

The very next thing you will want with the amazon pick set will be a couple of good tension tools, I hate
those bent steel lock tensioners

[eduguy]

I actually love my Klom picks, but the set you are looking at is basically an expanded set of hook picks.
You want a set with a hook, diamond and rake at the very least. The Amazon set has the different shape
picks that you will need to begin this hobby. Later when you need 8 different hook picks & a dimple pick,
you can get the Klom set (if you still want it)

The very next thing you will want with the amazon pick set will be a couple of good tension tools, I hate
those bent steel lock tensioners

Which Klom set do you have? Can you link it to me, or just give me the name and I'll find it?

What's the disadvantage of "bent steel lock" tensioners?

[billdeserthills]

I actually love my Klom picks, but the set you are looking at is basically an expanded set of hook picks.
You want a set with a hook, diamond and rake at the very least. The Amazon set has the different shape
picks that you will need to begin this hobby. Later when you need 8 different hook picks & a dimple pick,
you can get the Klom set (if you still want it)

The very next thing you will want with the amazon pick set will be a couple of good tension tools, I hate
those bent steel lock tensioners

Which Klom set do you have? Can you link it to me, or just give me the name and I'll find it?

What's the disadvantage of "bent steel lock" tensioners?

I got the 32 piece set for $26.29. It has more stuff than you need, including some decent tensioners

[eduguy]

I actually love my Klom picks, but the set you are looking at is basically an expanded set of hook picks.
You want a set with a hook, diamond and rake at the very least. The Amazon set has the different shape
picks that you will need to begin this hobby. Later when you need 8 different hook picks & a dimple pick,
you can get the Klom set (if you still want it)

The very next thing you will want with the amazon pick set will be a couple of good tension tools, I hate
those bent steel lock tensioners

Which Klom set do you have? Can you link it to me, or just give me the name and I'll find it?

What's the disadvantage of "bent steel lock" tensioners?

I got the 32 piece set for $26.29. It has more stuff than you need, including some decent tensioners

What's a "bad" tensioner like compared to a good one?

[Squelchtone]

What's a "bad" tensioner like compared to a good one?

That flat one on the bottom left is bad, as well as the middle one:


and all of these below are bad:



Below are good flat wrenches:


and this a good proper twist flex wrench, this style can be cut shorter so it can be used as a top of keyway tension wrench as well.


hope this helps,
Squelchtone

[Sinifar]

For the life of me, I just can't understand why anyone would use anything but HPC picks. that is all I used for the past 50 years.....

[billdeserthills]

For the life of me, I just can't understand why anyone would use anything but HPC picks. that is all I used for the past 50 years.....

I doubt most hobbyists can convince a distributor to sell them HPC picks...

[bioggy]

Actually I love the middle tension wrench that Squelch said isn't too good. If your UK based then picking a Euro cylinder the thicker edge of it saves your skin when a wiper blade wont go in because it is to thin.

The Klom I never tried but I started with GOSO and they look similar. the stainless steel ones I had a goso set and they were horrific I got them but never used them.

I think for a first timer GOSO is great but it is my personal preference and then after a long time I went to southord and it was the best thing I ever done

[LocksportSouth]

Oh man, I used that rounded pole Z tensioner in Squelchtone's bad list (under "and all of these below are bad:") a LOT until recently. Didn't realise it was classed as a bad tensioner . Though I haven't really used it much since I got some new sets from Sparrows and Peterson

[eduguy]

What's a "bad" tensioner like compared to a good one?

That flat one on the bottom left is bad, as well as the middle one:


and all of these below are bad:



Below are good flat wrenches:


and this a good proper twist flex wrench, this style can be cut shorter so it can be used as a top of keyway tension wrench as well.


hope this helps,
Squelchtone

I just found this set for also 20$ but can you tell me if the wrench is any good + the picks? http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/Expans ... _p/s-1.htm

[Squelchtone]

I just found this set for also 20$ but can you tell me if the wrench is any good + the picks? http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/Expans ... _p/s-1.htm

I don't even have to click it, it's Sparrows. But I *did* click it and that's a great little set you found for that price. It's interesting how their twist flex wrenches flex in the middle of the handle, but I don't see a problem with that, more of a personal preference. In that set you'll get a hook for all your SPP needs, and the L rake and Bogota for raking and jiggling, and it looks like a half diamond offset looking pick too, good for raking/SPPing.

[eduguy]

I just found this set for also 20$ but can you tell me if the wrench is any good + the picks? http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/Expans ... _p/s-1.htm

I don't even have to click it, it's Sparrows. But I *did* click it and that's a great little set you found for that price. It's interesting how their twist flex wrenches flex in the middle of the handle, but I don't see a problem with that, more of a personal preference. In that set you'll get a hook for all your SPP needs, and the L rake and Bogota for raking and jiggling, and it looks like a half diamond offset looking pick too, good for raking/SPPing.

Definitely looks better for an extra $5, although it says I need a pick licence for BC. Will they ask me for proof when I order it?