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I REALLY gotta put handles on my picks... This lock wasn't bad as it has a wide open keyway. Nasty pinning, but wide open access.

If you want really easy and cheap handles you should try this. May not be the prettiest but the rubber gives just enough comfort and grip without killing the feed back from the pins.

Today was a good! After warming up on a couple cheapo locks I picked a gold 1100 twice, repinned to get a better false set out of it, and picked again. Then I went a head and picked my 5200 and a red 1100. All SPP'd and quicker than usual for me. I guess practice does pay off!

Nice! I like those style Americans. Every time I go to buy one on epay, though, I find some unusual lock instead or another 341 no key.

For handles, I think I'll try dipping them in liquid electrical tape. A friend at work painted the bare metal handles of a pair of channelocks two years ago with that stuff and it's held up to a hoard of harsh chemicals and abuse.

I had a Sargent and Greenleaf Union Pacific Railroad lock come in over the weekend and while in Orange Beach bought an identical lock at an antique store from the Amtrak line. Picked both with a pocket screwdriver. I did cheat though as the UPRR has 02 on top and I guessed it was a 102 key. Looked at pictures and it was indeed. The Amtrak lock was the same key. Now to find a couple keys on epay.

I bought an American Lock 5100 off ebay and only picked it once. I was unsure if i forgot to lock it or really picked it. I and was having issues with my pick, so I made a new pick. A skinnier deep hook with a Gem tip in .018. I picked it tonight 3 times back to back to back easily and I believe without a false set because i never got any counter rotation.

Im not sure what I like better, making picks or picking them!

Thanks!

I gotta say BOTH. It's awesome to make a pick that works on a lock, then you find a same lock it doesn't work on. In my case the Abloy 341 classic. Then you make a new pick and it works. Then you find the same lock again and it doesn't work... so you try a stronger method and it WORKS! Making the tool by hand, getting the technique, and opening a lock are all goosebumps worthy.

I was spying some Lockport locks on epay, but gotta wait as I bought another anvil. Locks are everyday available here, but anvils are once a year treasures.

Dug out an old five pin Tell handle and picked. The liquid electrical tape is still soft, but stayed.

I lucked up at work by asking maintenance if they had any locks. I came home with one Yale style and two Schlage style handles. I had to put my wiper pick to the belt grinder and thin it, but opened the Yale and a Schlage. Tossed the handles, kept the locks, and saved $$$ on Lockport. It's nice to have a hobby where you can often get free stuff

Hours of aggravation, broken pick, and two new tension wrench shapes from this one. The lock did not turn clockwise in the handle. Pin two was first binder, then one, then no binders! Then tried counterclockwise and viola! Pin two, one, four, five, three and open. Soon, I’ll learn to try the simple solutions first.

Hit a jackpot at the antique store. Should stay busy for a while. This cool Master deadbolt didn't put up much fight. Pins 2-3-4 were same. Think I'll leave the core in the housing for now. I like the aged look. And a Brinks deadbolt.

6 LDSA deadbolts. Either I'm getting better, or the locks are getting worse... OK, these are bad locks. Actual picking time was about 4 minutes for the 6 locks. Single pin picking as usual.

The last of the antique store locks. The Brinks on the right netted me a broken wiper pick and sore fingers. It definitely held it's ground VS an amateur like myself.

had to pick this last week to rekey it.

I got an American 1305 open with a wiper blade. 4 serrated spools, 1 serrated pin - 3 serrated key pins and 2 standard. I've opened the "real" picks and will try the rest. Just had to prove it could be opened with a windshield wiper.