Sharpening a lifter/hook pick

[Kodiak]

In Home Workshop Professional Lock Tools, the author mentions stoning the end of a lifter to a near knife blade edge. The idea being that this would allow the operator to dig into the soft brass tumbler and easily distinguish between pins. Has anyone tried this on their homemade picks? If so, did it provide any benefit?

[TOWCH]

I point my hooks peterson gem style, I don't sharpen them though.

[vector40]

Uhh... I find this idea questionable.

[WhiteHat]

I think that's bad for a couple of reasons:

if you're a hobby picker, you want long life out of both your picks and the lock and this will reduce the life of both.

if you're a criminal opening a lock, you want to leave as little trace as possible.


I seriously can't see how it would imrove your feel.

[Chrispy]

I'd want a flat end to the pick anyway..... Can't see a sharpened pick helping much. To each his own.

[cracksman]

What have the pins ever done to you?

[cracksman]

TOWCH,
Why do you point them like that? I am more inclined to go with the way db made his for the Medeco. I do like the Peterson, got the slim gem and their little slimline set, using it for a dimple lock. For regular picking though, do you use the hook with the diamond? just curious

[pretender]

I use a slightly angled, flat tip with rounded end and back face...works well enough.

Can't see the point in sticking really sharp pieces of metal into a lock.

[raimundo]

with a sharp hook you can jam it between the pin and the pins drilling, and really get it stuck. A sharp pick will cause problems. sand all yer picks to rounded corners so that they don't scratch the pins or the keyway, if you rough up either of these, things will go sideways.