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Which picks for a beginner?

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Ted2016 » 2 Jan 2020 20:37

I am looking for a decent pick set. I am just starting so obviously I don't want to spend a lot of money. I got this set from amazon and in one week one of the pics broke. Luckily there was enough sticking out to pull out the broken section out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081N ... UTF8&psc=1

Thanks
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Re: Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Squelchtone » 2 Jan 2020 22:02

This is asked a lot, so please take 5 and poke around this area of the forum to see what we have told other people.

That amazon link is broken, but if its the $10 dollar picks I'm thinking of, yeah, you get what you pay for with lock picks in that price range.

in short, go to https://www.southord.com/collections/lo ... ece-pxs-14

or https://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/kick_start_p/s0.htm

and spend $20-$30 and you will be all set for a while
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Re: Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Ted2016 » 3 Jan 2020 6:34

It was a $25 set. Title is Combination Lock for Locker Outdoor - Towoke Resettable Weatherproof Combination Padlock - 4-Digit Smooth Dial, Zinc Alloy Lock for School Gym Locker, Fence, Backyard Gate (Best Seller)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081N ... UTF8&psc=1
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Re: Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Ted2016 » 3 Jan 2020 6:44

Is metal handle better than plastic? I would think that the metal would give better feel of what the tip is doing.
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Re: Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Squelchtone » 3 Jan 2020 14:49

Ted2016 wrote:Is metal handle better than plastic? I would think that the metal would give better feel of what the tip is doing.


Experience will give you better feel of what the tip is doing, or more importantly what state the pins inside the lock are in. I like plastic dipped or rubber handles personally, but I don't mind metal handles either. I can pick the same lock with 5 different handled hook picks or s rakes pick, so it's not a matter of handle material. Thickness of the pick material can be important depending on how crazy the keyway profile is.

Try not to over think it either, when it comes to the physics of metals or rubber or plastic when it comes to feedback. Also, that generic GOSO pick set you got. yeah, I got it too once, perhaps someone gave me theirs, it's such an odd duck of weird pick shapes, many meant for car doors, often too thick to insert into a padlock or deadbolt. I have it in a box in the basement, where it belongs.

Practice every day and if picks are bending or breaking, then reduce how much pressure you use on the turning tools, so that the pick can move a pin inside the lock without feeling like you are prying the lid off a paint can with a screw driver.

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Re: Which picks for a beginner?

Postby Ted2016 » 3 Jan 2020 21:10

Thank you Squelchtone. Some were hard to move once in the lock. either the practice see thru practice or a master #3. What you said makes sense with that. I am trying to not overthink, but would rather spend a little more for something a little better then buy and then replace soon. I ended up ordering the PXS-17. That should last me a while. I also returned the first set to Amazon and already received my refund.

Thanks again for the advise.
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