How many pics do I need?

[Jesper]

Hi!

I'm a new lock-picker, I have buyed this pick-set: http://www.lockpicks.com/index.asp?Page ... &ProdID=23

My question is: How many picks do I actually need? Somebody tells me that I only need 3-4 picks to open the most locks? Is that right?

I have seen pick-sets with whole 74 pieces? http://www.devonlocks.com/cgi-bin/cart/section/2

Is that really necessary?

[Santos718]

Welcome!!!

∙ Read the Rules(and I mean ALL OF THEM)
∙ Use the search Function before creating a new thread, your question might have already been answered, or atleast, addressed.
∙ Happy Reading(which there is tons to do) and Happy Picking.

Use this for all your common questions please Search

Many issues/questions have been addressed many times. If you do post a topic that has been addressed many times, without doing a search, people may start floobing*, Don't take this as an insult or a way around your question, thats natural when questions have been asked many times...

*Floobing - good humored, teach them the rules, noob flaming - get used to this term, because it happens alot.
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Besides the fact...what you bought happens to be perfect for a new picker like yourself. I do not recommend looking into the 74 piece set. What you have is great. Good choice.

[Ezer]

For pin by pin picking most people just use either a half-diamond or a hook pick. For raking the snake rake is popular, and for wafer locks their are the ball type picks. All of these are in the set you just ordered.

Once you start getting into picking and if you really enjoy it, that's when you might want to try more picks, but not a larger pick set from the same manufacturer such as SouthOrd who made the picks you already ordered. If you actually want to try picks with a different feel to them and that give different feedback, try different brands such as HPC, Peterson, and so on. Once that time comes, do some research on this site looking at what others have said about them to help you make your decision.

Have fun and good luck.

[Chrispy]

All you need is a decent rake, a half-diamond, a half-hook (half-round feeler) and maybe a ball (or half-snowman). Tension wrenches are important, get a few of different head sizes.