What To Buy. Picks Sets For Beginners.

[TORCH [of KCK]]

Hi I live in the UK and am after a good starter set of picks can anyone help recommend a good not for me here in UK to get started thanks all
cliff

Well Cliff,
Being both in the UK & for a starter...
Might I ask do you plan on starting with cheaper locks,
(Like found in the USA & other places) with open keyways... or more pericentric keyway?
Levels of tolerances... ?

As well as, what amount are you looking to spend?

Not that I couldn't make suggestions,
but you can also check out reviews of many different types by many manufacturers displayed on YouTube channels... Such as:
Lock Picking Lawyer
Bosnian Bill
Alex Blate
Lock Noob
《Who has review Playlists》

As well as:
Steel Pinnings
Locksmith Army
Trekmaster 30
Pick Me 1977
[& Many Others]
《Who have reviewings...
But have to search "all videos" 》

! ! ! No matter what you get,
Expect to spend time & effort
to sand, file, & put a good finish
on them ! ! !

Also check out:
 http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=63524

[absinthed101]

Thanks for reply
I just like the idea of being able to just being able to pick up a UK padlock or front door lock and be able to pick it open . I have bought a cheap set off eBay and had a plastic see through lock supplied with it I can meet enough pick that 1 with eyes closed now so really pleased . Now I have tried to do a couple of Yale padlock I have but it's much more difficult compared to the practice lock I managed to get 3 out of 5 pins set but the last 2 are proving difficult. It's just something idea like to be able to master just for my own pleasure so one be picking up any odd locks I can find and have ago .
So thought as this was a cheap set there are prob better sets about that would improve my success I have started to file and polish this set as I could feel the pics being rough in the lock and thought they would improve feed back on the pins if nice and smooth

[absinthed101]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/272560819947?_t ... mwBanner=1

That's the kit I have started with from ebay

[Squelchtone]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/272560819947?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&_mwBanner=1

That's the kit I have started with from ebay

That kit is.. how do you say it.. complete rubbish. It's made by Goso for automotive locks mostly, is of low quality, easy to bend and break, and a poor excuse for a lock pick set, simply not good for a beginner to learn with.

Look up a proper kit from Mad Bobs in the UK or buy a Southord brand pick set on Amazon.

Squelchtone

[edinburgh_locksmiths]

Don't buy anything from Fleebay if you want it to last. Contact Mad Bob Picks for help and advice in choosing the correct tools.

[gumptrick]

Don't buy anything from Fleebay if you want it to last. Contact Mad Bob Picks for help and advice in choosing the correct tools.

Yeah, there are a lot of junk brands being sold on Ebay (Chinese imports) but I have seen quality picks like Sparrows and Peterson there as well. I haven't seen them personally but another member reported buying a Falle-safe set there too. So pay attention to the brand you're thinking about bidding on!

[AngryHatter]

I find a lot of manufacturers offer the same prices as "distributors."

I worry that eBay or Amazon merchandise has a chance of being phony...knockoffs.
So I buy from Peterson et cetera directly.

[Ocelot24]

Re: Picks with or without handles?

A question for those with experience using both: do you find that handles on a pick makes it a bit more difficult to feel the pins being manipulated than a pick without handles?

[Silverado]

Re: Picks with or without handles?

A question for those with experience using both: do you find that handles on a pick makes it a bit more difficult to feel the pins being manipulated than a pick without handles?

There's entire threads full of conversation on picks with and without handles, types of handles, preferences and descriptions of perceived feedback of all categories. Hit the Search button up on top of the page, you will find hours and hours worth of reading on that!

[AngryHatter]

Re: Picks with or without handles?

A question for those with experience using both: do you find that handles on a pick makes it a bit more difficult to feel the pins being manipulated than a pick without handles?

The set I own with handles is my preferred set.
I get more feedback from the wrench.

[ragebot]

Way back in the day, maybe 10 years ago, I bought a set of Southord picks. Over the years it has lasted well. I did bend one of the weird shaped picks. Problem is it only had one hook and it finally bit the dust. Also have some elcheapo Asian picks from who knows where.

Point is most guys who have been playing with locks for a while will tell you a hook is what you will use most.

But what they will also tell you is that more important than the pick (be it hook or something else) is that the key to picking is tension. You really can't pick a lock with out a tension tool. In fact I would bet most guys would say it is better to have a good tension tool and a bad pick than a bad tension tool and a good pick. Of course it is best to have both a good pick and a good tension tool.

Also keep in mind that aside from the American verses European size difference most picks will fit in most locks. On the other hand there is a bigger need for specific tension tools for specific locks. Sometimes you wanna put the tension tool in the top of the keyway, and sometimes in the bottom of the keyway. Sometimes you want a thick tension tool, and sometimes a thin one; or a shallow one or a deep one. And all this just to get a medium hook, or your rake of choice in the key way.

So before you choose which pick set you wanna buy be sure to check out what kinda tension tools it comes with. Instead of getting a new hook for my Southord set I went to the Toool web site and got the Tremendous Twelve set. In addition to having a nicely finished set of six picks it comes with nice set of six tension tools as well. I would bet a lot of guys would say they use a larger number of tension tools on a regular basis than the number of picks they use on a regular basis.

https://toool.us/equipment.html

[Sleutelboertje]

Maybe an old tip.... if so, sorry
I make my own tension tools. I use the stainless steel out of a car window wiper. Go to a car shop and ask for old wipers. There are different sizes of steel out brands of wipers.
Succes.

[Doobner]

Hi folks! New here, first post outside of the Introduce Yourself area. I have been learning about the basic types of picks. I took the time to read this whole thread and have been paying attention to the various advice and opinions here. I am getting the itch to get a modest to medium set of pretty good quality tools. I have a question which has been brought up, and I have not not seen it addressed sufficiently. I am in the US, in an area where where the possession of the tools is legal. So where can I buy them if I have no “credentials” or whatever? I know that there are US shipping regulations and that I might have to order from a European company, or do I? What should I do?

The other question is what to get. I think I want a set with the essentials, but a pretty good variety, and not much redundancy. Probably an extra hook, in case I might break one, and a couple of extra tension tools. I know that if I don’t have a good but reasonable variety, I will likely lose some sleep:) Plus, probably a couple of those clear plastic training locks, as I am somewhat of a visual learner. So I’m thinking of spending $30-75 for the tools, plus a reasonable amount for the plastic trainer locks. If I have to order from overseas, I am leaning towards ordering from Sparrow or Multipick. Any thoughts?

[Doobner]

Oops! I thought that Sparrow was in the UK or something, for some reason...

[pemlock]

Hi folks! New here, first post outside of the Introduce Yourself area. I have been learning about the basic types of picks. I took the time to read this whole thread and have been paying attention to the various advice and opinions here. I am getting the itch to get a modest to medium set of pretty good quality tools. I have a question which has been brought up, and I have not not seen it addressed sufficiently. I am in the US, in an area where where the possession of the tools is legal. So where can I buy them if I have no “credentials” or whatever? I know that there are US shipping regulations and that I might have to order from a European company, or do I? What should I do?

The other question is what to get. I think I want a set with the essentials, but a pretty good variety, and not much redundancy. Probably an extra hook, in case I might break one, and a couple of extra tension tools. I know that if I don’t have a good but reasonable variety, I will likely lose some sleep:) Plus, probably a couple of those clear plastic training locks, as I am somewhat of a visual learner. So I’m thinking of spending $30-75 for the tools, plus a reasonable amount for the plastic trainer locks. If I have to order from overseas, I am leaning towards ordering from Sparrow or Multipick. Any thoughts?

As you say, Sparrows are in Canada/USA, and it's not a bad choice. They have some balanced sets for a decent price, with much higher quality you get in the cheap Chinese stuff.

You should start small and then add what you need later. Many "beginner sets" boast a huge number of picks, but you will only actually need 2 or 3 of them for 99% of all locks. On the other hand, they tend to have too few tensioners instead.

This will get you started: https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/kick_start_p/s0.htm
You might want to add top of keyway tension tools as well: https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/ft5k.htm
You can add extra hooks later, when you need them. Thinner ones for instance, when you get to difficult keyways.
Or you can go for their "expansion set": https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/Expan ... t_p/s1.htm