What is your go-to pick?

[AllanR]

Do you have a particular pick style that you tend to start all your picking with? If your number 1 is a hook, what’s your number 2?

I’m still pretty new at this, but I guess my two favorites are the Triple Bogota and the single hump Snake Rake

[billdeserthills]

https://www.art-of-lockpicking.com/prod ... amond-gsp/

[AllanR]

https://www.art-of-lockpicking.com/product/hooked-diamond-gsp/

Definitely! I have that exact Peterson. It’s a toss up for me between the hooked diamond and the single snake.

[FranklyFlawless]

Do you have a particular pick style that you tend to start all your picking with? If your number 1 is a hook, what’s your number 2?

I’m still pretty new at this, but I guess my two favorites are the Triple Bogota and the single hump Snake Rake

I exclusively use single pin picking, and all of my lock picks' profiles are hooks in various gauges. Usually a thick short hook is enough for the locks I encounter, but recently I have experimented with deeper hooks.

[blue60]

My med hook by Southord is my go to pick, But I have been reaching for my JimyLongs picks more often lately.

[Hopefullockpicker]

My go-to pick is a Sparrows Short Hook, I use the thickest pick size that fits comfortably in the keyway, .025, .020 or .015. My second favorite pick is a Peterson GEM in .018.

[Squelchtone]

1. Peterson Just Picks set stainless 0.015 slender S-Rake (aka Double rake)
2. Peterson Just Picks set stainless 0.015 slender L-Rake/(aka City rake/Ripple rake)
3. Bogota triple hump with classic divining rod handles
4. Peterson govt steel with soft rubber handle Short hook/(aka Hook 1).

[GWiens2001]

If I don't have my pick kit with me, or it is in another room, I grab the triple hump Bogota with the original divining rod handles like Squelchtone described. They are always in my wallet with three sizes of Peterson Pry Bars.

1. Small to medium sized half diamond made from a windshield wiper spring with a flattened aluminum tubing handle.
2. Medium hook pick made from a hacksaw blade.
3. If picking dimple locks, a half diamond flag pick with a bamboo handle made by Femurat. That one just can't be beat!

Have many picks and pick sets, but over time I have made the two above that have what, for my picking style, is the perfect profile for the diamond and the hook.

What is more important than the pick profiles is the turning tools/tensioners you use. If you were to see my every-day pick kit, most of what is in there is turning tools. Choose one that fits snugly (but not tightly) into the keyway. This gives you the best feedback from your picks. Feeling counter rotation is much easier, and if you need to help the plug counter-rotate a little, you are less likely to drop extra pin stacks that don't need to drop.

Gordon

[AllanR]

1. Peterson Just Picks set stainless 0.015 slender S-Rake (aka Double rake)
2. Peterson Just Picks set stainless 0.015 slender L-Rake/(aka City rake/Ripple rake)
3. Bogota triple hump with classic divining rod handles
4. Peterson govt steel with soft rubber handle Short hook/(aka Hook 1).

Thanks for the great answers.

[stratmando]

Used a Diamond for many Years, After Learning SPP. Used a Hood from then on, Sometimes a Diamond, am a Electronics Tech, Security Systems. Most use Simple Wafer Locks, Tension and a Diamond is Plenty. I use to have a Double diamond(Diamonds are actually half Diamond to me)I used this to Pick a Medeco years ago before the M3. Right side of Keyway, raise and lower pin while pushing in and out to turn the pins while lifting. Worked well, can't find anymore, Some Auto Picks fro Goso(I think) have the back to back double Diamond with a slot running along the center of the Pick, Allows Flexing.
Cutting the Bottom half would work well, Many of the other Auto Picks cut in half work well.