Just starting out

[Bobrussell13]

Hi all, at the age of 62 I’m looking for a new hobby in my retirement and hobby
Lock picking is on the list. I bought a cheap set off Amazon with some practice locks but looking to get a better set of picks. I live in UK and I see picks of different thicknesses what would be a good pick starter set to upgrade to, thickness, make, number of picks etc.
Cheers

[pemlock]

Hard to tell without knowing what your starter kit contains, but if I would hazard a guess, you probably need some more tension tools, that's usually a weakness in most cheaper kits. Especially some top of keyway tools with different thicknesses.
As for picks, 2-3 hooks of different depth perhaps. The "standard" thickness is 0.025"/0.6mm so that's probably what you have, and that will work for most locks, but a few thinner ones, say 0.015"/0.4mm might be good for difficult keyways.

Since you're in the UK, https://www.ukbumpkeys.com/ is probably good place to shop, they have picks and tools from many of the quality brands.

[GWiens2001]

I highly recommend Peterson Pry Bars. They are great for TOK (Top Of Keyway) tensioning. They are now available in three thicknesses. I have one of each in my wallet.

Gordon

[Wizer]

I think it is nice to make your own tools, especially since a tensioner is easy to make.
Bend some wire, a bicycle spoke or something, hammer the head as flat as you wish, and you have great TOK (top of the keyway) tensioners.
You can use street sweeper machine bristles or some other metal for BOK (bottom of keyway).
For picks maybe 2 different hooks and a couple of rakes should do.

[GWiens2001]

I think it is nice to make your own tools, especially since a tensioner is easy to make.
Bend some wire, a bicycle spoke or something, hammer the head as flat as you wish, and you have great TOK (top of the keyway) tensioners.
You can use street sweeper machine bristles or some other metal for BOK (bottom of keyway).
For picks maybe 2 different hooks and a couple of rakes should do.

Though be sure of the material used by your local street sweepers is suitable. In my area, it is completely unusable. Due to the high temperatures here, which soften asphalt, metal bristles are not permitted to be used here. They would clean the road right off the ground! They use nylon bristles here.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

A good tok tension wrench can be made with an L-shaped piece of hanger wire, just hammer the short end of the L until it's the width you want

[stratmando]

The Stainless Inserts in Wiper Blades is good for Picks and Tension Wrenches. I grab from the Garbage Cans when they are sticking out, at least 4 different Widths.
More when it's Rainy.