If you had to choose a Peterson pick...

[frostypicker]

Hey guys, I just started picking about a week ago, and I'm loving it. For locks I bought a Kwikset, a 4 pin and a 5 pin Brinks and a Master No. 3, and I can already open them all consistently under a minute. I ordered an American A1100 and a A5200 for a greater challenge, just waiting for them to get here...

Anyway, back on topic. I have the 15 pc. SouthOrd slimline pick set which is nice, although I need to polish them and put on some handles. However, it didn't include any top of keyway prybars and I already realize it would be a huge help to have them after a very tough time trying to top keyway pick the Brinks locks with bottom keyway wrenches, and especially now with the American locks I have coming. So I was going to order the two Peterson makes, and while I was there I figured I'd pick up one or two of their picks to try.

I've probably already spent $100 on lockpicking stuff since starting a week ago, so if I ordered some Peterson picks it would literally be only one or two, three tops. So my question is this...If you had to choose the 3 most versatile peterson picks to SPP with, what would you get?

I'm thinking the short hook, a gem and maybe a deforester; and I was going to get them in Euro cut gov't steel then polish them. But I'm a total noob so I'm very open to suggestion from more experienced pickers.

[jeffmoss26]

Peterson Gem for sure!

[Farmerfreak]

slender gov. steel Gem

[frostypicker]

Any second and third choices?

[spandexwarrior]

1) .018 Hook1
2)) .018 Gem
3) Euro Hook 1 in Gov Steel

If I could do a fourth, it would be the Euro Gem in Gov Steel. Those 4 picks plus both Pry Bars are almost all I use and I've found very few U.S. pin tumbler locks that those won't work on if you bring the right skills.

-Brian

[frostypicker]

1) .018 Hook1
2)) .018 Gem
3) Euro Hook 1 in Gov Steel

If I could do a fourth, it would be the Euro Gem in Gov Steel. Those 4 picks plus both Pry Bars are almost all I use and I've found very few U.S. pin tumbler locks that those won't work on if you bring the right skills.

-Brian

The Euro cut picks are .018...

[jeffmoss26]

The Euro profile picks are .025, the Slender Euro profile are .018 or .015.

[frostypicker]

The Euro profile picks are .025, the Slender Euro profile are .018 or .015.

Oh wow... I completely misread their site haha. Looks like you're right about that. Eugh, It was hard to choose before, now there's even more choices >.<

Their site isn't very well organized...

[spandexwarrior]

Right, "regular" Euro are .025. Those are good for most things but there are locks where you will want something thinner. There are the .015 blue handled picks which are great and also the .018 Euro purple handled picks which are better for most situations. The difference between the Euro and "regular" picks is the shank height, you have some material removed on the Euros which gives you more room at the cost of some rigidity and lifespan. Blue handled slenders are "regular" and the purple ones are "Euro". If you can't have them all, the purple/.018 ones are more durable and good for most locks so I would recommend them for a new picker since the blue/.015 picks will bend if you're not careful.

-Brian

[frostypicker]

Right, "regular" Euro are .025. Those are good for most things but there are locks where you will want something thinner. There are the .015 blue handled picks which are great and also the .018 Euro purple handled picks which are better for most situations. The difference between the Euro and "regular" picks is the shank height, you have some material removed on the Euros which gives you more room at the cost of some rigidity and lifespan. Blue handled slenders are "regular" and the purple ones are "Euro". If you can't have them all, the purple/.018 ones are more durable and good for most locks so I would recommend them for a new picker since the blue/.015 picks will bend if you're not careful.

-Brian

Thanks, yeah I'm a bit heavy-handed and clumsy still, my SouthOrds are (I believe) .022 and I still bend them a little occasionally. But I'm also not sure what they're made out of, I think Stainless but they might be a cheaper steel.

[whizdumb]

POSTAL!! in Regular Govt steel.. I'm kinda known for being a fan of the postal pick.

[rerun12]

POSTAL!! in Regular Govt steel.. I'm kinda known for being a fan of the postal pick.

i have the postal as well and think ive used it once. what are some locks you attack with it the postal?

also, my vote goes to the slender gem with dcap diamond being a close second

[whizdumb]

POSTAL!! in Regular Govt steel.. I'm kinda known for being a fan of the postal pick.

i have the postal as well and think ive used it once. what are some locks you attack with it the postal?

also, my vote goes to the slender gem with dcap diamond being a close second

This post explains the usefulness of the postal. Even in crazy keyways it can be your best friend.

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=3962

Happy Picking,
Whizdumb

[frostypicker]

POSTAL!! in Regular Govt steel.. I'm kinda known for being a fan of the postal pick.

i have the postal as well and think ive used it once. what are some locks you attack with it the postal?

also, my vote goes to the slender gem with dcap diamond being a close second

This post explains the usefulness of the postal. Even in crazy keyways it can be your best friend.

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=3962

Happy Picking,
Whizdumb

I'm sure the Postal can be useful, but it seems like it has limited application, i.e. certain high security locks. Right now i'm working on easy/intermediate locks and I don't have a very large budget, so I'm looking for two or three picks that will be as versatile and as useful as possible. That's why I'm going with Euro cut, because even though I might not be picking higher security locks with restrictive keyways now, I plan to in the future and want to get as much mileage out of them as possible.

So it's looking like I should get the Hook 1 and a Gem, in Euro cut gov't steel. Or possibly Euro Slender.

Are there any other picks you guys find useful? Like the half diamond, deforester or reach for example? I haven't found a use for these yet, but I'm trying to predict situations where I would use them.
I don't have a bagota rake yet, but I'll probably get one of those from Sparrow or SouthOrd, I think it'd be a good idea to get rakes in a bigger thickness, since they're likely to take more abuse.