LAB Picks vs. Peterson Picks

[HamFisted]

Hello All,

I just wanted to get an opinion from more experienced locksmiths and lockpickers. I've been using LAB picks for most of my practice, but because of their thickness (.025 inches, I believe), I've noticed that they have a propensity to bend when I'm moving around tightly warded plugs.

I'm concerned, because I know that if you keep bending a lockpick back into it original shape, it'll eventually weaken and destroy its temper.

I've heard the Peterson picks are bit thicker and sturdier. But I'm not a fan of the big, bulky plastic handles that I've seen on them.

Does anyone have an opinion they could share on either of these two brands? Or, am I just too clumsy when I pick locks? I know that force isn't your ally when you're picking locks, but sometimes, it seem unavoidable.

Most people I've spoken to in person about this suggest that I make my own picks. However, I lack the mechanical skill to do so (get me near a dremel and someone's bound to get injured).

Any responses would be greatly appreciated.


-HamFisted, Locksmith in Training

[The Wanderer]

A lot of members have posted comments on their likes and dislikes here at LP101. I've never owned a set of Petersens myself. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about except that they have a preference as to handle composition type.

The Labs are supposedly one of Matt Blazes favourite picks. However, if you can't maneuver around in the keyway what good are they?

Get a European style set. All the companies have some type of Slimline pick for getting into tight keyways. HPC 2000 are suppose to be nice. They are also expensive. I have a Southord Slimline set. It has 22 pieces and a nice set of tension wrenchs. It has 4 sizes of hook pick too. What a Godsend they are.

Do some more searching here. There is lots good info in here. Go to some of the Lockpick/smith supply places. Go window shopping. It will give you some good ideas on what questions to ask also.

[Kaellman]

Hi

Been there.. been there. The only answer i can give, like the ones u have talked to, is for u to try and make picks of your own. Since u cant do that there is probably someone around here who can.

I can make u a set if u pay for the mats and the shipping!

[Wesson357]

Having both I prefer the peterson picks because they are a bit more durable. However the lab picks are good for small keyways.

[NDE Manipulation]

LAB tools are a lot like Rytan when it comes to effectiveness. I really like both of them actually. I have the Rytan Mini-Blue picks as well as the HPC 2000 Series. I prefer the LAB and all Rytans to almost anything. The Rytan Mini-Blue Series is better than the HPC 2000 Series and the SouthOrd offerings, in my opinion.

The LABs suffer because the stainless steel used is noticably more malleable than what you would find in Rytan or HPC picks. The designs are excellent, having been designed by Gerry Finch.

I'm going to see about having them re-done in better steel and slightly "tweaked" so you get the same access into smaller keyways but without the hair's-breadth fine end on some of the LAB hooks.

Peterson are excellent tools as well, just a different animal.

[omelet]

NDE has it right: it's mostly about the material. If you get thicker metal of the same quality, of course it will be less likely to bend under the same force, but then the tradeoff of course comes to size constraints of the keyways you wish to use them on.

As to bending the picks around wards, when you elastically deform the pick in a bend (doesn't stay bent), the pick will be relatively unharmed and there is a small chance of failing eventually via "high-cycle fatigue". When you deform it plastically back and forth (stays bent) it will inevitably fail from "low-cycle fatigue" after few cycles.

To clear up one misconception you have, these plastic deformations do not affect the temper or crystalline structure of the material, they simply create microscopic cracks in the material that enlarge with every cycle. Depending on the metal and the force you bend them with repeatedly, these cracks may or may not become a problem.

[HamFisted]

Thank you all for the informative responses!

[vector40]

Has anyone tried taking, say, a standard SouthOrd pick (hefty and tough) and sanding/grinding/filing it down to a lower profile? Seems like a reasonable compromise.