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2024-05-13 23:05:50
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 Thorbrandr
Gender: Male
 |  |  | Lock picks - What size set?
< on 9/24/2005 7:40 PM >
|  | | | So I've been looking into getting a set of lock picks for quite some time now. I was originally contemplating getting a lock pick gun, but after reviewing some old posts on this forum, I have definitely realized that would not be a good idea haha. Anyways, I am fully decided that I will be ordering myself a set of picks so that I might start practicing and whatnot. However, I am all together unsure of what set I should be getting. I have been to www.southord.com and have browsed through a good chunk of their picks. I don't know if I should just buy the simple 5 piece set, or go up to a 14 piece or what. For my purposes I highly doubt that I would ever need above 14... or even 10. Although I am very inexperienced in this department, other than what information I have gathered over the past few years on the topic. I would really appreciate any information those with knowledge in this field could give me.
Thanks a lot!
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tick
 
Location: Abingdon, VA
Gender: Male
| |  | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 1 on 9/24/2005 8:38 PM >
|  | | | Get a simple set.
I have a 14-piece set (it was on sale for cheap), but I only ever use two of the picks and one wrench.
edit: And when you get it, practice on every lock you (legally) can! My old neighbors never remembered my name, they just called me 'that dude who knows how to break into our apartment'.
[last edit 9/24/2005 8:41 PM by tick - edited 1 times]
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grit1
 
Location: University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male
Got Shear Line?
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 2 on 9/24/2005 9:20 PM >
|  | | | Yeah you don't need a large pick set - you may need a large variety of miscellaneous tools, but in terms of actual picks you only need a few. Be cognoscent of the type of handles though, it's hard to say because you're new what kind of handles you'll like but different people have different tastes in pick handles. The really cheap sets don't have "handles" at all, just the single layer of stainless [or spring] steel. Some of these even have sharp edges from the die-cutting process that is used to make them, so they're a bit uncomfortable to use. I personally prefer the sort with the riveted handles - they're easier to hold on to and you don't loose the tactile feedback that is so important to lock picking. Good luck! ~Grit.
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lowkey
Gender: Male
| | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 3 on 9/24/2005 11:23 PM >
| | | | Southord has a jack-knife like set with 4 picks and a broken key remover. Small and inexpensive.
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Inphenity
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 4 on 9/25/2005 6:46 AM >
| | | | jackknife sets usually have horrible feedback .. but if you just want it for raking it might be ok
... well yea actually this is a flashlight in my pocket .. but im still happy to see you |
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grit1
Location: University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male
Got Shear Line?
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 5 on 9/25/2005 9:07 AM >
| | | | I've personally never tried a jack knife set but that would be my guess - that they have bad feedback. I suppose the same could be said about the kwikpick that I frequently use but I primarily rake with that anyway. ~Grit.
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 6 on 9/25/2005 12:39 PM >
| | | | If you're going to be breaking and entering, you should do it in style. Take a pipe wrench to the doorknob and yank it right off. Then all you have to do is force the internal mechanism. Don't waste your time picking locks! Precious seconds can be saved with your average handy-dandy pipe wrench!
(This post made in jest. I have done this, but never to get into anyone else's building.)
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Pravus
Location: Chicago Area
Gender: Male
Now the two key words for tonight - "caution" and "flammable"...
| |  | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 7 on 9/25/2005 1:53 PM >
| | | | I personally use the jackknife set, I like the thing.. lets me carry picks easily and in a manner nobody would look at them twice.. as for loose pick sets I wouldn't go past a 5 piece set, those are all the ones you need for a normal lock.. pointless if you buy a 350 piece set and use 3 of them..
Live to Serve, Serve to Live.. |
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Thorbrandr
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 8 on 9/25/2005 5:25 PM >
| | | | Ok, so I checked out Southord.com again, but I haven't seen a single pick set (other than the Jackknife sets) that don't have stainless steel handles. What other materials can they use for the handles on them? Would having the straight stainless steel handle be alright? I can imagine it would probably give decent feedback. I was considering either this 4 piece beginner kit
http://www.southor...llsize/PXS-05l.jpg
or the eight piece kit
http://www.southor...llsize/MPXS-08.jpg
What do you guys think?
BTW thanks a lot for the help and everything, I'm used to posting on forums and not getting any help at all because I'm a n00b haha
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Thorbrandr
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 9 on 9/25/2005 5:42 PM >
| | | | Also forgot to ask, does Southord ship to Canada, and do they accept paypal as a form of payment for the merchandise?
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Daemonicus
Location: New Port Richey, Florida
Gender: Male
| | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 10 on 9/25/2005 6:14 PM >
| | | | Posted by Thorbrandr
Also forgot to ask, does Southord ship to Canada, and do they accept paypal as a form of payment for the merchandise?
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According to their site: "Canada - Due to outrageous Canadian Duties, we are suspending shipping to Canada"
Maybe you can ship it to a trustworthy friend near the border and have him drive it up to you or drive to him/her to get it?
Also, I don't think they accept paypal since I see no reference to it on the site, just: "Orders can be paid by Credit Card, Check or Money Order (in U. S. Dollars)."
Sorry I couldn't help more.
Souce of both quotes: http://southord.com/about.htm
On a side note, first post!
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Thorbrandr
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 11 on 9/25/2005 6:35 PM >
| | | | I guess I could have searched around the site a bit more and found that myself... how lazy of me. Ok, well I only have one person I can think of that I could possibly send it to, and that is too iffy for me. Plus I can only pay using paypal. On to my next question, does anyone know of any other reliable places from which I can obtain a lock pick kit online or not in Canada, using paypal if online? I have searched the net and found a few places but I don't like the idea of buying from a place that I don't know of anyone buying from. Internet buying still terrifies me...
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slippery
Location: Ontario
Gender: Male
| | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 12 on 10/13/2005 3:45 PM >
| | | | Posted by Thorbrandr
I have searched the net and found a few places but I don't like the idea of buying from a place that I don't know of anyone buying from. Internet buying still terrifies me...
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You dont have to buy. I started off using a bent 'bobby pin' as a pick, and a 5 dollar replacement door lock I got at a discount store.
You can also build your own pick set. If you want to build a really nice set of picks all you need are:
- Some hacksaw blades ( or street sweeper blades )
- A good metal file ( hobby sized) or A dremel or any other hand grinder
- A desk grinder
- (And some time and patience)
There is a lot of good information over at http://lockpicking101.com/ including a few links to videos. There is a good video made by a guy called Pyro hxxp://bahamut.pos...Making_Picks_1.wmv ( not a direct link as that is not my website s/xx/tt/ )
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 13 on 10/13/2005 9:56 PM >
| | | | Don't get any lock picks ...It's trouble. Stay in school, don't UE, listen to your parents, be nice and wash behind your ears.
That's all.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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Tanuki
Location: Victoria, BC
| | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 15 on 10/14/2005 12:47 AM >
| | | | I use a dissection kit. The kind you'd use for a high school science class. They come with these little picks with wooden handles that you use for poking frog innards, get a couple extra and bend the ends in a few different shapes and you have a great set of picks. I use a bicycle spoke with the end ground down for the wrench, but it doesn't look at all out of place amoung the dissection tools. The advantage is that it's all together in a nice little case, and unless someone inspects it really closely it looks pretty innocuous, you just look like a science nerd. And if you get a sliver you'll have lots of tweezers.
But I agree with Random. Lockpicks seem pretty useless for getting into places. They are more just for personal amusement. Crowbars are much more effective for actually getting into somewhere. Of course, I've never done that personally, it'd be illegal, but I've heard rumors...
But if the lock you have to pick is a padlock, look into using a shimmy. I think there's instructions on the lockpicking101 website. They work amazingly well on cheap padlocks.
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Pravus
Location: Chicago Area
Gender: Male
Now the two key words for tonight - "caution" and "flammable"...
| | | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 16 on 10/14/2005 3:02 AM >
| | | | Posted by Tanuki
But if the lock you have to pick is a padlock, look into using a shimmy.
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from what I hear those don't work on alot of padlocks.. as far as picks vs crowbar, it's clear regardless of skill that the crowbar will get you in faster, but the picks are quite and leave no trace, and if you practice enough it shouldn't take too long
Live to Serve, Serve to Live.. |
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InsertNameHere
Location: North County San Diego
Gender: Male
We were playing flashlight tag, officer!
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 17 on 10/14/2005 4:20 AM >
| | | | Don't forget about the whole bumpkey thing mentioned in another thread. Those seem to have enormous potential to replace lockpicks in terms of UE.
A cage went in search of a bird. |
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grit1
Location: University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male
Got Shear Line?
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 18 on 10/14/2005 6:48 AM >
| | | | Lockpicks are rather useful for some types of UE, like institutional steam tunneling where you may run across gates you can't climb over or places that you can only get into by bypassing a locking mechanism. Some things are difficult to pick and you have to "go around" anyway but in some instances a good set of picks and some skill can save you a lot of time. Luck helps too.
There's really no way that techniques like bump keys, padlock shims and pick guns can replace a skilled picker. If you have a diverse set of tools and the mindset to keep practicing picks will blow those other techniques out of the water. It's obvious to try the easier methods first, but they unfortunately work rather infrequently. This statement saves me from being a hypocrite, as I have a toolbox full of these bypass tools, including padlock shims that were a rip-off, as I haven't found a lock in the field yet that they'll work on.
Lockpicking is a fulfilling hobby, just as UE is...the feeling of a lock unlocking by your doing without a key is really great, and if it gets you into some cool places it's even better! Happy pickings! ~Grit.
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Ninjalocksmurf
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Lock picks - What size set?
<Reply # 19 on 10/19/2005 8:19 PM >
| | | | | There's really no way that techniques like bump keys, padlock shims and pick guns can replace a skilled picker. If you have a diverse set of tools and the mindset to keep practicing picks will blow those other techniques out of the water. |
Thank you for saying that and saving me the trouble!
All the other techniques mentioned have their own problems and difficulties. The idea of the average Joe learning how to Bump so effectively that he can open 75-80% of locks, as stated in the other thread is to say the least, wildly fantastic. Without going into the details of just exactly why, I'll just say that a pippin file, a steady hand, a keen eye, and a less than perfect knowledge of the specific locks you want to open, are all you need to waste a lot of key blanks, time, and money.
Good basic picking skills are always going to be the key to success. Don't just learn how to rake however, learn how to single pin pick first. Develop a real feel for whats happening inside a lock when you pick it, and then start learning the various raking and hybrid picking techniques.
Forget the SouthOrd jack knife pick, it's junk and trying to learn how to pick while using one would be kind of like learning how to pick while wearing welding gloves. Possible, but not something I want to try.
Check out http://www.lockpicktools.com for a really good jack knife style pick set. They call it the "Folding Pocket Pick set" and due to the method of locking the pick in place (far far superior to SouthOrd's lousy oversized screw head) you actually can get a good "feel" off of the picks. This set also has the advantage of having replacable pick inserts. If you damage a pick, you can replace it easily or if you prefer a different profile than those that come stock, you can order from a good selection of other profiles. IMHO, this is the only truly useful jack knife set being made these days.
SHIPPING TO CANADA...
If you feel lucky, take your best shot but be advised, they are considered a prohibited item and Customs will seize them every time they see them.
WHAT SIZE PICK SET?
People all have their favorite pick profiles, the ones they believe work best for them, and usually it works out that the beginners prefer a couple of favorites and the guys who've been at it a long time can pick with anything but have a few profiles they have come to recognize as "JPU." (Edited to add, "Just Plain Useless.")
Either way, my advice to a beginner is to buy a good basic set, and again I highly recommend Lockpicktools.com. Try one of their better sets and buy some extra tension tools as well. With time and experience, a really accomplished picker learns that choosing the right pick isn't always as important as choosing the right wrench for a particular keyway/lock.
Always keep in mind however, when UrbExing, any tools you have with you will be considered "Burglary Tools" if you happen to run afoul of the law. (Shouldn't happen if you're doing things the way you're supposed to.)
Hence, my final advice on pick selection is to carry as few picks as possible and carry only picks you can ditch without a second thought should the need arise. The few moments thinking about how expensive and hard to get your nice 30 piece Rytan set was could cost you a lot more than the picks ever did.
Resist the urge to carry a big fancy and showy set of expensive picks, choose 2 or 3 profiles that work very well for you, 2 or 3 wrenches of various size/lenth, and be willing to toss them without hesitation at the first sign of trouble.
[last edit 10/19/2005 8:21 PM by Ninjalocksmurf - edited 1 times]
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