HPC royal roll-up vs. ???...

[mgaidica]

Hey guys, im looking to get a nice, long lasting pick set, finally. I have had various small sets that are just not of great quality. I now know I want full size, handled, quality picks with a decent case. I am not to much about having 19 extra's of one style pick, but having a deep rake vs. a short one is always nice. If there is a comparable set that I should consider please let me know. I'm just making sure my decision will be a long lasting one. Thanks all...

[dsd5150]

Mgaidica,

My preference would be the Peterson Tri-fold set... The set is pretty complete as-is with room left to add additional tools to the case as you wish. The Tri-fold case is top notch as well as the picks IMO. The set does duplicate the picks, but offers one set in rubber and plastic handles in the same kit.

I have seperated the sets and left only the rubber handled picks in my everyday kit. It also carries the following tools nicely:

3 additioonal Peterson Picks(postal, slender gem and double snowman)
Peterson I-Core set
Set of double sided wafer picks (4)
Set of auto jigglers (10)
Set of warded picks (5)
LAB 11 peice pick set (no handles, but great for narrow or euro keyways)
1 feather touch tension tool
Rytan Compact Plug Spinner
1 Broken Key Extractor
2 Double Prong Tension Wrenches + Tweezer Style Tension Wrench
About a dozen various sized and shaped tension wrenches
2 Southord double sided picks

This set serves me well and carries well... What you can't see in the photo is a leather flap that covers the tops of the tools so they don't fall out of the case... This isn't a problem as the case holds all of the tools nice and snug. It folds down to about the sice of a ladies wallet or a fat checkbook and still carries in a coat pocket nicely.

Lockpicks.com Sells the Tri-Fold for $56.95 (well worth it)
Also try Peterson-International.com (great sets and service)

Here is a pic of the case as I carry it:

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[TOWCH]

That's a nice setup. Do you know where to get that rytan plug spinner? I haven't been able to find it anywhere.

[Buggs41]

You can get that plug spinner directly from Rytan. http://www.rytan.com/

[steve16]

I happen to use Falle pics which I believe are high quality. There sets include adjustable tension tools that are unbeatable. The set lists for $175 US in the MBA catalog. The downside is they only sell to the trade...

[Availor]

Hello,

For my opinion there's nothing like hand made tools... since buysing tools can be very expensive (And as far as I know you usually use one or two and the rest are just as decoration ) it's better to make your own tool.

I hold a cut cylinder (I cut it with a metal saw, so that you can see the pins inside from the top, and lay and pick over it to check how it touches the pins).

I make my tools from a spring used to open sink/bath pipes. They are made from a bending steel. You'll need to grease them once in a while.

You can file those down with a simple file, but you can also spend 30$ to buy a dremel-like little nifty machine, and with a split of a second you have your own inexpensive tool.

P.S. On picking old locks I always carry a small oil bottle with a long nozzle, and a Molykote contact cleaner - after you've oiled the lock and let the oil go down with the dirt I use the molykote to clean the remaining rust/dirt... Happy picking