Selections for custom pick set--put your 2 cents in.

[devildog]

Ok, I know I've got a post running asking about people's favorite picks, so if anyone finds this redundant, then I apologize.

What I have now decided to do, after spending several hours wading through posts I found by searching, is something that most of the wise old codgers here (if you've got a pretty high post count and you've been around for a while, then you're a 'wise old codger' in my book ) have done, and that is to just put together my own custom set with different brands and styles of picks. I'll probably throw in some homemade ones once I get my Dremel (see the Dremel post in General Chatter).

What would you add to a custom set???

Here's what I've already got in mind:

Peterson Just Picks w/ plastic handles : Lockpicks.com

A Majestic Short Hook: Lockpicks.com

A HPC Hook: Lockandsupply.com

Maybe some Falle copies: Southern Specialties (it's the just the Falle curved picks that I'm interested in--they're about half way down the page)

I'm basically just trying to sample the different pick types and brands that are available to see what I like, and what appears to be the best quality. Keep in mind that I don't need anything to open autos with, but I am going to be putting these picks to work on some pretty good quality locks (nothing weird like dimple-key locks or electronic locks), so they need to be effective on higher security locks like Schlage Grade 2 Residential/Commercial, American padlocks, Scorpions, US Lock, Abus padlocks, etc.

So I'll make this a lot simpler than my other post, and just ask everyone to throw out some suggestions as to what to put into a custom pickset

[SFGOON]

Nix the majestic and the HPC, Peterson has all the hooks you'll need. I'd also order a set of slimlines from the same company, and a set of majestic profile picks. The Falle replicas look okay and may be a good investment, let me know how that pans out.

[vector40]

How many hooks do you need?

[devildog]

I meant to say an HPC hook and a diamond from majestic--I'm just mainly looking to compare them.

[SFGOON]

Naw - peterson's diamond is all you'll need. When building a pick set, you should try to give youself as many diffrent ways of picking as possible which is why you need (in this order)
1. Basic Hooks
2. A few Rakes
2.5 Slim line picks of both
3. Rocker picks for those nasty security pins
4. a mechanical lockpick for days when you just don't want to put in the effort
5. Specialty bypass tools

And always, ALWAYS, a decent variety of tension wrenches. Duplication is waste. Spend your money well.

[vector40]

Why bother with regular + slim versions? Nothing a stodgy pick can do a thin one can't except not break, and nobody should be breaking their picks anyhow...

[cracksman]

have to agree with vector, slimlines do anything normal picks do, but not vice-versa.

[devildog]

Rocker picks are kind of like Bogotas??

I'll probably look into an HPC Electropick when I decide to go mechanical (probably going to be a while).

Bypass stuff will come when I work my way up to higher security locks and decide it's time to apply for the advanced section (probably going to be a while, too, since I just graduated from the masterlock/kwikset/brinks level and am still working on a Schlage Grade 2 Residential that I haven't opened yet ). I figure now I need to open a few Schlage deadbolts, some American padlocks, maybe a Yale or two, and...?? Scorpion? Schlage Primus? Medeco Padlock (are these as hard to open as the deadbolts?)?

[pretender]

I'd copy the Peterson picks for the basics, slimline only, and maybe experiment with the rakes Majestic has.

Kinda surprised to see a few different things I came up with myself was already out there.

[TOWCH]

I'm afraid I'm a bit heavy handed with my picking and like the added bulk of normal picks. I've never had much use for slim line. If this is your first set I would start with the basics, a couple of Southord Long Hooks, a double ball, and a half diamond. The long hooks can be modified to various hooks and the half diamond and double ball covers the rest.

[devildog]

Oh no, it's not my first set, it'll end up being my third now--my first was a SouthOrd jackknife, after which I promptly got the C1510 15 pc. slimline set when I read what people had to say about the jackknife (yeah, I got a little impatient and could have saved some money if I had read a little more before acting, but I was just an enthusiastic noob after all ).

So, I've never used anything but SouthOrds and am kind of excited to try some other brands that most people here agree are better made than the southords. Now, I do agree with you that the SouthOrds, in particular the C1510 set, are definately the best choice for a beginner to fiddle about with, and thereby get some experience, so that they can make the right decision about committing any more time, effort, or money that might otherwise be wasted without that proper experience.

[TOWCH]

Oh, in that case I have no idea. I have never gotten around to ordering a real set. I use a combo of a couple of Southords and a bunch of homemades.

[devildog]

Well, now, that would certainly be a 'real set' if it does the job; one of my favorite sayings is,"If it works and it's stupid, IT'S NOT STUPID!"

Sounds like you've already done what I want to do--put together a custom set just the way you want it, instead of something pre-assembled at the factory. Once I get the manufactured picks that I want, I'll just need to put together some homemade stuff like you've done, and I'll be pretty well set up ( I want a Dremel... ).

[TOWCH]

Get the dremel, it's worth it's weight in gold. 50% of the work I do with locks I have a dremel in hand.

[raimundo]

I was at lockmistress shop a while back, she had broken one of her peterson picks, I told her I could make a pick on the broken part. I spoke too soon, the metal was hardened so much that files wouldn't cut it. She had a dremel with some different tips, I chose a disc that was an inch or more in diameter, though not too thick, I don't think it was a cutoff though, it was some kind of grindstone material if memory serves, well, this shape kind of limited what I could do with it, I decided that it was best adapted for making a falle type deep curve. I brushed this grinder along the edge of the pick shaft, for a while, until i had the deep curve or at least one side of it, then i flipped it over and did the back edge. The original peterson was sharp edged everywhere the plane of the flat metal met the pattern cut on the picking edges, but I finished the falle-peterson cut down, with rounded edges. that metal is really hard to work, no wonder it's brittle.