Thinking about ordering this...

[Timmy321]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... lance&s=hi

I'm gonna order some commercial picks to see how they stand up to my home-brew type...but I've never delt with HPC, so what do you guys think about it? Anyone have it? I tried searching for HPC here, and didn't find anyone who had much to say about there picks...

How does this compair to an equal southord kit?

- Timmy

[Timmy321]

PS. Sorry..I forgot to add...does anyone know if all of the picks have the same type of handle as the ones shown on the front part...looks like some don't. Why would some have that certain type of handle and not the others...?

- Timmy

[master in training]

it looks like a good set form the picture, no idea about actual size of the picks, feel of them or why some have handles and others dont though bit strange really...

[stick]

...

You couldn't find anything about HPC picks?

[Romstar]

You have to be kidding right?

Did you even BOTHER searching this site for HPC? They are mentioned more times tha just about any other picks except for the SouthOrd.

SouthOrd are popular because they are carried by so many distributors over the internet.

HPC are perhaps the most recognized of professional lock tools in the world.

The set you have identified is the "Tyro" or PIP-15 pick set. Consisting of 6 picks, 2 tension tools, and 1 broken key extractor.



Of the picks, the 3/4 rake, the medium diamond and the medium hook are riveted steel handles. There is a plain medium diamond, and a plain double ball. The other pick is a slender double ended pick with a "w" rake on one end, and a small diamond on the other.

The tension tools are a small and medium twist flex in medium tension steel. The key extractor is plain handled.

All picks are made of blued spring steel, and the handled picks have polished stainless handles. The case is of course genuine leather with a velour lining.

Romstar

[Mad Mick]

*Observes Rom's indignant, hands_on_hips_head_shaking stance*

[Timmy321]

Well, yes I did search...maybe not hard enough, but I did sift through several pages.

- Timmy

[Pick-It]

I know it's been a while since I've posted, but here goes...HPC makes a good pick. It's very similar to the Majestic Picks. They have riveted handles and, as Romstar stated, they are made out of blued spring steel. SouthOrd picks have handles but they are spot welding on and are made out of stainless steel. I, myself, prefer spring steel and oddly enough, I prefer the Majestic Pick sets. Once again, this is my opinion, but as long as you have a shallow hook, a snake rake and a flex twist tension wrench, that's all you need. I probably have 15 different sets of picks ranging from SouthOrd, HPC, Peterson, LAB and Majestic and I'm still using the Majestic set I purchased 10 years ago. However, when working with the spring steel picks I like to use sandpaper to smooth the rough edges of the pick from when it was punched before use. Keeps it from being so difficult to work in and out of the cylinder. My two cents.

[CaptHook]

HPC picks are some of if not the best commercial pick on the market. I use them extensively, and have never had any problems with materials or feel.
Chuck

[lockpickingnewb]

I have only used SouthOrd picks, but from what I've heard, HPC makes really good ones. As for why some of them don't have riveted handles, I would say that they only bothered to give you riveted handles on the "most used" picks, but this may be wrong.

[KR]

The ones without handles are duplicate picks. Break a pick remove the handle and rivet to duplicte pick.

[Romstar]

The ones without handles are duplicate picks. Break a pick remove the handle and rivet to duplicte pick.

That would be a great trick with HPC un-handled picks. Considering that they aren't drilled. Of course, if you can get the rivets, I would assume that you can drill the picks in the proper place.

Romstar

[CaptHook]

Its marketing. Its like counting the trays and the case as "pieces" in a socket wrench set. It gives you a higher piece count set, at a very minimal cost to the manufacturer (less work involved, they are just stamped out)
Chuck