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What kind of kit should I start out with?
Many people ask for suggestions on a "good, cheap set". Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no such set exists. If you want good picks, you are going to have to pay for them. All picks are not created equally and you really do get what you pay for. The good news is that this hobby is far less expensive to get into than many others. Even the best tools can be had for less money than a pair of soccer cleats.
Generally avoid premade kits. They usually contain lots of useless picks with very small scope of use. And, due to the amount of Amazon pick set questions we get, please take the time to watch the below videos (thanks to /u/hellslave for finding the links).
A list of common picks that are less than useful, but that are commonly found in sets are listed below:
Peterson has a variety of small kits that are a bit more in price, but are very comfortable to use with their plastic grips. Some kits come with pick profiles specific to Peterson, which some in the hobby really love (gem / reach). They range from $52 to $99, depending on the number of picks in the set, and the steel strength desired. They contain 6 to 13 pieces, and come with a leather snap case. Popular small kits include the Eagle's Nest, Ghost, and Talon. The Mayor set is a recent addition to Peterson's product lineup and was designed by our very own /u/CuriousLockPicker. The Mayor's strength is that it is heavy on hooks and light on rakes unlike the rest of Peterson's sub-$100 kits.
Southern Specialties has a number of good starter kits. The Kick Start is a great kit that includes a hook, diamond, bogata, offset, reach, a single pagota style pick, and 6 tensioning tools in with different widths for TOK and BOK tensioning.
Sparrows Lockpicks does sell The Kick Start, a kit that includes a hook, diamond, snake rake, and a 2 mountain bogota with different tension wrenches. This is one of the few premade sets that are decent quality and not too overpriced ($19.95). The Spirit is a larger set that costs a litte more ($32), but comes with a nice assortment of hooks and only two rakes.
Southord has a small 14 piece kit PXS-14 with a zippered leather case for around $28, which includes 2 hooks(standard and postal), city rake, ball, half ball, diamond, double bogota, snake, broken key extractor (all with rubber grips) and 4 sizes of tension wrenches. This is also a kit with decent quality, that won't break the bank.
UK folks should check out WithoutAKey. It is a good resource and has a lot of tools. You can use the code 'REDDIT15' for a 15% discount as well. It is one time use per person. Other UK and EU sites to check out are UK Bump Keys, UK Lockpickers, spooXe, and Multipick.
KLOM 9 Piece Lock Pick Kit Review
KLOM 18 Piece Lock Pick Kit Review
Here is a set we put together specifically for those who want very deliberate guidance. It represents the top three US manufacturers of picks, which will both give you the most useful tools and diversity of experience allowing you to really learn your style and which brand you prefer. For the beginner who is looking for a shopping list, this is it:
| Manufacturer | Pick | Thickness | Link | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterson | Hook #1 | 0.025 | Link to Item | $8.00 |
| Sparrows | Offset Hybrid | 0.025 | Link to Item | $3.90 |
| Sparrows | Triple Peak | 0.025 | Link to Item | $3.90 |
| SouthOrd | S Rake | 0.022 | Link to Item | $2.10 |
| SouthOrd | Offset Diamond | 0.022 | Link to Item | $2.10 |
| SouthOrd | Tension Tool TW60S | 0.04 | Link to Item | $1.55 |
| SouthOrd | Tension Tool TW-62S | 0.05 | Link to Item | $1.55 |
| Sparrows | Heavy Bars | 0.05 | Link to Item | $3.99 |
| Peterson | Pry Bar Lite | 0.04 | Link to Item | $10.00 |
| Sparrows | Tuxedo Case | N/A | Link to Item | $7.95 |
| Total: | ||||
| $45.04 |
Below is an example of custom built kits that belong to various members of the moderation team.
I engage exclusively in single pin picking, and below is the list of my go to picks. I have a bunch of others, but I only use them when these won't do the job, which is rare.
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Hook | .015", .023" | 301 Stainless Steel | Dangerfield |
| Hook 1 | .018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Euro Hook | .015" | 301 Cold Max Stainless Steel | Sparrows |
| Gem | .018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| DeForest Diamond | .015", .023" | 301 Stainless Steel | Dangerfield |
These are the picks, tension tools and case that makeup my set. My style is exclusively single pin picking. I either use my own homebrew picks or Peterson picks. They are, in my opinion, the best picks money can buy hands down. In my years picking I have found that they hold up better and last longer than any other manufacturer I have tried and have outlasted all other picks I have purchased.
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homebrew Standard Hook | 0.019" | 1095 Feeler Stock | Ith Bombgard |
| Homebrew Deep Hook | 0.019" | 1095 Feeler Stock | Ith Bombgard |
| Homebrew Short Hook | 0.021" | Wiper Insert | Ith Bombgard |
| Homebrew (unique shape) | 0.021" | Wiper Backing | Ith Bombgard |
| Homebrew Short Hook | 0.018", 0.021" | 1095 Feeler Stock | Ith Bombgard |
| Homebrew Medium Hook | 0.018" | Wiper Insert | Ith Bombgard |
| 8 Various Homebrew Hooks | 0.017", 0.018", 0.021" | 1095 Feeler Stock | Ith Bombgard |
| Gem | 0.015", 0.018", 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #1 | 0.021" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #2 | 0.018", 0.021' | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #3 | 0.021" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #4 | 0.021" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #5 | 0.021" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hooked Diamond | 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Reach | 0.015", 0.018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Pry Bar Lite | 0.040" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Pry Bar | 0.050" | Government Steet | Peterson |
| 3 Serrated Tension Tools | Not Published | Government Steel | Peterson |
| 3 IC Core Tension Tools | Not Published | Government Steel | Peterson |
| 15+ Home Brew Tension Tools | Unknown (not measured) | Wiper Insert\Backing | Ith Bombgard |
| Plug Spinner | N/A | Not Published | Peterson |
As far as a case I am using the Spooxe Large roll up pick case which can be found here. It has a lot of room for all my tools and wraps up very nicely. The only issue, and I use that word very lightly in this situation is that the case does not close very well as designed once you put picks in it, but that is quite easily remedied using a piece of elastic band or thick rubber band.
JpMcPinning These are the Tools I use most. only under extreme circumstances do I vary from them,
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 or Short hook | .015,.018.025 | Gov steel | Peterson |
| Gem | .015,.018,.025 | Gov steel | Peterson |
| Deep Gem | .020, .017 | SS | Homemade |
| Pry Bar | 1.2mm 1.0mm,0.8mm | SS | Mad Bob |
| Pry Bar | .050 | SS | Peterson |
| Honest dimple Kit | smoothed down | SP Steel | Honest |
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook1 | 0.025" and 0.018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Prybar | 0.050" and 0.040" | SS | Peterson |
| BOK | SS | Southord | |
| Hook7 | 0.025" and 0.018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Goso 3 | 0.030" | Unkown | Peterson |
| Hooked Diamond | 0.025" and 0.018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Lifter Pick | 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Bogota | 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| City Rake | 0.025" and 0.018" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Bump Key | N/A | SS | Code Cut |
These are the picks I use to open the majority of my locks. My most used pick is my hook 1 in 0.025" but if I had to choose one pick to bring with me it would be my 0.018" it is more versatile and very strong. It is seldom that I have needed to use a pick thinner than 0.018", the shape of the pick is more important and that is why I like my deeper hook 7. Single Pin Picking is my preference but I do enjoy to rake and bump locks as well. This is a video of my EDC kit and here.
These are the picks, tension tools and case that makeup my set. My style is exclusively single pin picking. It is my experience that Peterson makes the finest lock picking tools available anywhere at any price. In particular, the Government Steel picks have empirically proven to be longer lasting and more durable than the alternatives. They are also made here in the United States.
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gem | 0.025", 0.018", 0.015" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #1 | 0.025", 0.018", 0.015" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #7 | 0.018", 0.015" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hooked Diamond | 0.025", 0.018", 0.015" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Reach | 0.025", 0.018", 0.015" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Hook #1 DCAP | 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Lifter DCAP | 0.025" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Pry Bar | 0.050" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Pry Bar Lite | 0.040" | Government Steel | Peterson |
| 3 Serrated Tension Tools | Not Published | Government Steel | Peterson |
| Elite Bi-Fold Case | N/A | Calf Skin | Peterson |
| BMPS 8/2 Dimple Pick Set | Not Published | Spring Steel | SpooXe |
| PXD-15 Dimple Pick Set | Not Published | Stainless Steel | SouthOrd |
It is worth mentioning that the case, all of the tension tools and many of he picks are included in the PLASTIC HANDLE 14-PIECE GOVERNMENT STEEL PICK SET. The downside is that only the 0.025" and 0.015" thicknesses are included. New pickers considering this set should avoid using the 0.015" picks until they have developed a strong feeling for tension and upward pressure since they are ultra thin and very easily bent. 0.018 is a far more useful and forgiving thickness so it's a pity we can't replace the thinner ones with these. There is, however, a substantial discount when purchasing this set compared with the cumulative price of purchasing the individual components separately.
I deal exclusively in SPP, The only raking I would ever do is on a cabinet wafer lock (triple peak - Southord) All Southord picks are from the slimline set. Pick case is the Spooxe large bag and tension tools vary from the mad bobs set and sparrows pry bars occasionally using a homebrew TOK tension for wider keyways such as medeco.
| Tool | Thickness | Material | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deforest diamond | .015,.018.020 | 301 stainless S | Southord |
| Gem | .018 | Gov steel | Peterson |
| Shallow hook | .020 | 301 stainless S | Southord |
| Medium hook | .020 | 301 stainless S | Southord |
| High hook | .020 | 301 stainless S | Southord |
| Homebrew primus fingerpin | .019 | SP Steel | Homebrew |
Can I custom make my own picks?
Yes!
Now if you are good at crafting things and want to make your own picks, it can lead to good results.
There are several different items that can be used to make good lock picks. Most people tend to use hacksaw blades. Here is a nice hacksaw tutorial from our very own /u/kumaclimber. Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Local hardware stores also have 20' roll of 1/4" flat sewer rods. At Lowe's the item number is 24641 and the price is around $7. These can easily yield 40-50 picks.
If you want to be more precise with your DIY picks, you may want to go with scientific feeler gauges, such as "Starrett Steel Thickness Feeler Gage" or "Precision Brand Steel Feeler Gage" (Amazon.com). Both brands are sold in both rolls and individual lengths. A good thickness for lock picks is 0.013"-0.25". This will vary in price and are 1/2" wide, so you will need to remove more material to make your pick. Remember that your final pick will be slightly thinner than the stock that you started with due to sanding at the end.
Now that you have your material, how do you go about removing the material?
There are several ways of going about this:
Okay, so you have the metal, you have the tools, now what the heck are you going to cut? There are a few good techniques for making the design of lock picks:
Here are a few good sources of lock pick templates:
It is a good idea to make your own tension wrenches; not only is it cheaper, but it is easy and allows you to customize them to your needs. The best tension wrenches are made from either the underwire from a bra or windshield wiper blade inserts. You can either change your current wiper blades and use the old ones, or go to your local auto parts store and check the garbage cans or even go inside and talk to the store manager to see if they would be willing to keep them for you. Once you have these wires, here is a great guide that just requires a pair of plyers and some elbow grease: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovCy4e3tLec
Lockpick cases are a matter of personal preference. Most lockpick cases made specifically for lockpicks are going to be overpriced. There are many cases made for other things that make great lockpick cases however.
Where should I buy my locks?
You could go to home depot and buy up all of the padlocks they have on the shelves, but most of them are practically the same lock. What you want to do is get a variety of different locks from different manufacturers.
Here are good recommendations:
Here are some good ebay search terms:
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