Lock Picking 101 Forum
A community dedicated to the fun and ethical hobby of lock picking.
       

Lock Picking 101 Home
Login
Profile
Members
Forum Rules
Frequent Forum Questions
SEARCH
View New Posts
View Active Topics


Live Chat on Discord
LP101 Forum Chat
Keypicking Forum Chat
Reddit r/lockpicking Chat



Learn How to Pick Locks
FAQs & General Questions
Got Beginner Questions?
Pick-Fu [Intermediate Level]


Ask a Locksmith
This Old Lock
This Old Safe
What Lock Should I Buy?



Hardware
Locks
Lock Patents
Lock Picks
Lock Bumping
Lock Impressioning
Lock Pick Guns, Snappers
European Locks & Picks
The Machine Shop
The Open Source Lock
Handcuffs


Member Spotlight
Member Introductions
Member Lock Collections
Member Social Media


Off Topic
General Chatter
Other Puzzles


Locksmith Business Info
Training & Licensing
Running a Business
Keyways & Key Blanks
Key Machines
Master Keyed Systems
Closers and Crash Bars
Life Safety Compliance
Electronic Locks & Access
Locksmith Supplies
Locksmith Lounge


Buy Sell Trade
Buy - Sell - Trade
It came from Ebay!


Advanced Topics
Membership Information
Special Access Required:
High Security Locks
Vending Locks
Advanced Lock Pick Tools
Bypass Techniques
Safes & Safe Locks
Automotive Entry & Tools
Advanced Buy/Sell/Trade


Locksport Groups
Locksport Local
Chapter President's Office
Locksport Board Room
 

Home made vs Shop bought

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Do you like your picks home-made or professional.

Home made, I can make em good
31
42%
Professional, I like good quality
42
58%
 
Total votes : 73

Home made vs Shop bought

Postby Hadrollo » 27 Oct 2003 7:16

Im just seeing what type of pic people prefer. I like home made for 4 reasons. 1 Ive never owned a good set of shopbought picks. 2 I dont really care about the handles. 3 I know the capabilities of picks I make myself. 4 Im comfortable with my own picks.
Practise makes Pickers
Hadrollo
 
Posts: 13
Joined: 19 Oct 2003 4:26
Location: Perth, Australia

Postby Varjeal » 27 Oct 2003 10:26

I voted for professional just because I don't feel like taking the time to make my own. Not only that, but the time vs. cost /pick doesn't justify the work for me.

I have seen some professional looking home-made picks in my time, that if they didn't have a stamp on 'em you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

I admire anyone who takes the time to make things, especially items used as tools, as I am also a part-time knife assembler/customizer. I've never owned a set of bad shop bought picks, so I guess I'm different from Hadrollo in that respect as well.

I will say this too, if you can make a set of picks that you can be comfortable with and successful with, then I say, go ahead, make your own, you'll gain more satisfaction from successfully picking a lock with tools you've made yourself, and that's what it's all about right? :)
*insert witty comment here*
Varjeal
Moderator Emeritus
 
Posts: 2869
Joined: 3 Oct 2003 15:05
Location: Western Canada

Postby Areomyst » 27 Nov 2003 2:09

Homemade for me, simply because they're easier to get ahold of. Last professional set that I ordered came from UK, and took a month to get here. $30 for a 5 piece pick set. :(

~Josh
Areomyst
 
Posts: 22
Joined: 27 Nov 2003 1:06
Location: Fredericksburg, Virgina

Postby Dr. Sunglasses » 28 Nov 2003 0:15

Professional, because I don't bother to make my own. The shortage of good materials in my location is a problem too.
I don't have a sig... wait, I guess I do. There goes my chance at getting some sympathy.
Dr. Sunglasses
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 27 Nov 2003 0:45
Location: Six Feet Under

Postby Phobia » 4 Dec 2003 22:27

Homemade 4 me
i can make them to suit different types of locks
Phobia
 
Posts: 12
Joined: 4 Dec 2003 18:15
Location: Adelaide, Australia

Postby Sebastian » 5 Dec 2003 5:56

i tried so often but it never works like i wanted to.
I usually make homemade tools when i need a special type of pick or wrench. The most important reason for me is, that i hate the Appearance of selfmade picks. :D
Sebastian
 
Posts: 11
Joined: 18 Nov 2003 15:29
Location: Austria

Postby Mini-Blue » 5 Dec 2003 23:25

As varjeal already pointed out, at a couple of bucks each, it really doesn't pay to make your own picks for regular use.

I've got a couple of "special" profiles of my own invention that I make myself and I like to experiment, so I will make a new pick for myself occasionally but my regular/everyday set is a mixed bag and an RCS Slider 6. My "Weapon of Last Resort Set" is a self-selected set of Rytans and some HPC and other turning tools.

Still, it's fun to pop a lock with nothing but some home made or improvised tools from time to time.
Mini-Blue
 
Posts: 18
Joined: 16 Nov 2003 1:58

Postby ninja5000 » 10 Dec 2003 15:02

I haven't really made my own since 92 or 93, but I recently started picking again, and ordered a 32 piece set from www.lockpickshop.com and I am really happy.

...so I voted professional :)
ninja5000
 
Posts: 10
Joined: 9 Dec 2003 16:36
Location: Sandnes, Norway

Postby I_Man10000 » 11 Dec 2003 0:33

I was thinking :arrow: and it seems to me that hair pins would make good picks, as they are small and strong... you'd just need a small screwdriver or something for a tension wrench
I_Man10000
 
Posts: 10
Joined: 9 Dec 2003 19:57
Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada

Postby jay_1372 » 3 Jan 2004 4:53

i make my own and always will ... making your own lets you know your tools and that builds confidense ... 1372
jay_1372
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 3 Jan 2004 4:08

Postby CitySpider » 3 Jan 2004 9:49

I_Man10000 wrote:I was thinking :arrow: and it seems to me that hair pins would make good picks, as they are small and strong... you'd just need a small screwdriver or something for a tension wrench


Strength isn't necessarily what you want in a pick, though. My best performing picks are, by far, the easiest to bend and break.
CitySpider
 
Posts: 595
Joined: 21 Dec 2003 4:01
Location: USA

Postby lockpickroy » 3 Jan 2004 14:08

I voted home-made. the hardest part is finding good templates to go by,they can also be very tedious, and time consuming to make. in fact i no longer own any "store bought" picks . before i got serious about making them i spent around $400 in 2003 for store bought picks including an electro pick and a manual pick gun. with all that being said i would still consider buying some that might be difficult to make . for example
http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/picks ... iable.html
lockpickroy
Supporter
Supporter
 
Posts: 184
Joined: 14 Oct 2003 19:18
Location: Bakersfield California

Postby I_Man10000 » 4 Jan 2004 3:17

jay_1372 wrote:making your own lets you know your tools and that builds confidense ...


Hell, i dont even know my tools, and I am making them :lol:
i have used some really sturdy 1/16" brazing rod i bent and shaped...
I_Man10000
 
Posts: 10
Joined: 9 Dec 2003 19:57
Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada

Postby hozer2k » 5 Jan 2004 0:06

I have found that my pics from southord work better after a little modification.
hozer2k
 
Posts: 69
Joined: 2 Jan 2004 20:43

Postby s25 » 18 Jan 2004 8:08

Well i will be starting on a pick today i will probaly hammer a hanger flat then heat it up and put it in water to toughen it or something along those lines anyways when i eventualy finish my lockpick iu will post it with a picture :D
Wow i changed my profile from a year ago and still post very little.

Next sig change-When i get good :)
s25
 
Posts: 14
Joined: 18 Jan 2004 7:04
Location: Rep.Ireland

Next

Return to Lock Picks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests