What type of pick?

[patrick101]

Hi I was looking on a website http://www.locksmith-tools.co.uk/ and it had many different picks. These were divided into sections:

-Standard lock Pick sets
-UK and European Lock Pick sets

I was just wondering what is the difference?

Please dont flame.

[The Wanderer]

The keyways on some locks are quite restrictive. Generally speaking, North American keyways are more, hmmm...spacious than their European counterparts. The blades are a bit thicker and more sturdily built on the US picks by about 1/3.
The UK and European picks are narrower and therefore easier to manipulate in said keyways. It's been my experience that you can't be as rough with the Slimline picks because of this.

I hope this explanation clears things up for you.

Try using the Search feature first next time. It will prevent you from being barbecued in the future.

[patrick101]

I am in the UK. Would you recommend that I buy a European and UK pick set or just get an American one.

[Uisgdlyast]

well if you live in the UK which one do you think you should buy?
I'd probably go for the UK version.. which will also work on american locks if i'm not mistaken(by work i dont mean the best)

[patrick101]

Yeah, thanks I was just wondering if it was worth paying a good 40% extra for a slimline if a regular works just as well.

[tastyfish]

Depends on how many broched locks you come across, you can use a slimline pick in both types of locks(although if you have a normal pick I'd recomend using it in a normal lock) but you would have a hard time picking a broched lock with a large pick.

[The Wanderer]

Buy the Slimlines. I hardly ever use my North American picks anymore. Anything they can do the Slimlines will do better. Try to be a bit gentler with them is all. I actually helped with a post that asked a similar question a while back. Here it is....

viewtopic.php?t=6332

Remember the SEARCH icon is your new best friend here at LP 101. There aren't a whole lot of n00bie questions that haven't been answered already here. Give it a whirl, Patrick! What have you got to lose?