Lockpicking

Oct 14, 202412 min read

Lockpicking

7 Mistakes Keeping You From Getting Better at Lock Picking Art of Lock Picking

The Tuxedo Set Sparrows Lock Picks – SPARROWS Lock Picks

What tools should I start out with?**

(not) Premade Kits

Premade lockpicking sets are often poor value, containing limited picks, sub-par rakes, and unnecessary tools. They may also lack picks suitable for paracentric keyways. Beginners should instead build a custom set tailored to their needs and budget.

Contents of a Complete Set

Essential lock picking tools include:

  • BOK (bottom-of-keyway) and TOK (top of keyway) tension tools
  • Short, medium, and deep hooks (0.015” to 0.025” thickness)
  • Diamond picks (e.g., Peterson Hooked Diamond, Sparrows Offset Hybrid)
  • Dimple picks (if picking dimple locks)
  • Specialty case for storage (optional)

Recommended Vendors

Vendors and kits to avoid

Users on Reddit advise against:

Example custom lock pick kit builds:

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:

ManufacturerPickThicknessLinkPrice
PetersonHook #10.025Link to Item$8.00
SparrowsOffset Hybrid0.025Link to Item$3.90
SparrowsTriple Peak0.025Link to Item$3.90
SouthOrdS Rake0.022Link to Item$2.10
SouthOrdOffset Diamond0.022Link to Item$2.10
SouthOrdTension Tool TW60S0.04Link to Item$1.55
SouthOrdTension Tool TW-62S0.05Link to Item$1.55
SparrowsHeavy Bars0.05Link to Item$3.99
PetersonPry Bar Lite0.04Link to Item$10.00
SparrowsTuxedo CaseN/ALink to Item$7.95
Total:
$45.04

Below are some examples of custom built kits from some of the community’s moderators and established members.

evr-

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.

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Short Hook.015”, .023”301 Stainless SteelDangerfield
Hook 1.018”Government SteelPeterson
Euro Hook.015”301 Cold Max Stainless SteelSparrows
Gem.018”Government SteelPeterson
DeForest Diamond.015”, .023”301 Stainless SteelDangerfield

ith says:>

Contents 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.

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Homebrew Standard Hook0.019”1095 Feeler StockIth Bombgard
Homebrew Deep Hook0.019”1095 Feeler StockIth Bombgard
Homebrew Short Hook0.021”Wiper InsertIth Bombgard
Homebrew (unique shape)0.021”Wiper BackingIth Bombgard
Homebrew Short Hook0.018”, 0.021”1095 Feeler StockIth Bombgard
Homebrew Medium Hook0.018”Wiper InsertIth Bombgard
8 Various Homebrew Hooks0.017”, 0.018”, 0.021”1095 Feeler StockIth Bombgard
Gem0.015”, 0.018”, 0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #10.021”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #20.018”, 0.021’Government SteelPeterson
Hook #30.021”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #40.021”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #50.021”Government SteelPeterson
Hooked Diamond0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Reach0.015”, 0.018”Government SteelPeterson
Pry Bar Lite0.040”Government SteelPeterson
Pry Bar0.050”Government SteetPeterson
3 Serrated Tension ToolsNot PublishedGovernment SteelPeterson
3 IC Core Tension ToolsNot PublishedGovernment SteelPeterson
15+ Home Brew Tension ToolsUnknown (not measured)Wiper Insert\BackingIth Bombgard
Plug SpinnerN/ANot PublishedPeterson

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 says:

These are the Tools I use most. only under extreme circumstances do I vary from them,

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
1 or Short hook.015,.018.025Gov steelPeterson
Gem.015,.018,.025Gov steelPeterson
Deep Gem.020, .017SSHomemade
Pry Bar1.2mm 1.0mm,0.8mmSSMad Bob
Pry Bar.050SSPeterson
Honest dimple Kitsmoothed downSP SteelHonest

stab_in_the_eye says:

See below

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Hook10.025” and 0.018”Government SteelPeterson
Prybar0.050” and 0.040”SSPeterson
BOKSSSouthord
Hook70.025” and 0.018”Government SteelPeterson
Goso 30.030”UnknownPeterson
Hooked Diamond0.025” and 0.018”Government SteelPeterson
Lifter Pick0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Bogota0.025”Government SteelPeterson
City Rake0.025” and 0.018”Government SteelPeterson
Bump KeyN/ASSCode 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.

tumbl3r

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.

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Gem0.025”, 0.018”, 0.015”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #10.025”, 0.018”, 0.015”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #70.018”, 0.015”Government SteelPeterson
Hooked Diamond0.025”, 0.018”, 0.015”Government SteelPeterson
Reach0.025”, 0.018”, 0.015”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #1 DCAP0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Lifter DCAP0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Pry Bar0.050”Government SteelPeterson
Pry Bar Lite0.040”Government SteelPeterson
3 Serrated Tension ToolsNot PublishedGovernment SteelPeterson
Elite Bi-Fold CaseN/ACalf SkinPeterson
BMPS 8/2 Dimple Pick SetNot PublishedSpring SteelSpooXe
PXD-15 Dimple Pick SetNot PublishedStainless SteelSouthOrd

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.

  • The SpooXe BMPS 8/2 dimple picks can be found here.
  • I do not use the PXD-15 Dimple Pick Set for picking dimple locks. Rather I generally use the components as “blanks” from which to shape custom tools used for picking sidebar pins, sliders and the like.

Supallama

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.

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Deforest diamond.015,.018.020301 stainless SSouthord
Gem.018Gov steelPeterson
Shallow hook.020301 stainless SSouthord
Medium hook.020301 stainless SSouthord
High hook.020301 stainless SSouthord
Homebrew primus fingerpin.019SP SteelHomebrew

priest

I engage exclusively in SPP, so my kit is geared towards that. My go-to picks are:

ToolThicknessMaterialBrand
Hook #10.018”, 0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #40.018”, 0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Hook #70.018”, 0.025”Government SteelPeterson
Gem0.018”, 0.025”Government SteelPeterson

Hook 1: good for a lot of low-medium security locks that don’t have wild variations in bitting (e.g. Master Lock and Kwikset)

Hook 4: great for locks with high/low bitting and security pins (e.g. American 1100)

Hook 7: excellent for reaching through paracentric keyways to access pin stacks (e.g. Yale and Best)

Gem: very effective for rotating Medeco key pins as well as accessing many residential style locks (e.g. Schlage C keyway)

These picks combined with 2 top of keyway prybars (one in 0.050” and one in 0.040”) and various bottom of keyway tensioners makes for a very effective pick set. The kit has a small footprint and fits in a pocket-sized case (I use the Sparrows Sentry case).

2. Can I custom make my own picks?

Yes! Lock Pickers United encourages its members to make their own picks and custom tools. The creation of custom tools becomes important as you progress through our Belt Ranking System.

Materials and Tools

There are several sources of steel that can be used to make lock picks. Many people use hacksaw blades (tutorial), though they tend to be brittle. Other sources of steel includes feeler gauge (from Starrett, Precision Brand, etc.)(tutorial) and 1/4” flat sewer rods

Shaping

There are several ways of going about this:

  1. Dremel with the following attachments: 9901 Tungsten Carbide Cutter for intricate shaping, EZ406 Metal Cutoff Wheel for bulk removal and rough cuts, TR470 Sanding bands (or similar) for smoothing out the shaft and adding curves hooks. Avoid stone bits, as they get destroyed by the hard metal.
  2. Belt Sander
  3. Bench Grinder
  4. Hand Files

Templates

There are a few good techniques for making the design of lock picks:

  1. Print templates with laser printer and transfer to metal (amazing guide can be found here)
  2. Print and cut out templates and trace on paper
  3. Trace out picks you have onto metal to make duplicates
  4. Free hand designs with sharpie

Here is a good source of lock pick templates.

Tension Wrenches

You can make wonderful BOK tension tools from windshield wiper blade inserts or bra underwire. Once you have these materials, you’ll just need a pair of pliers and some elbow grease, as described in this tutorial.

You can make TOK tension tools out of a BOK tensioner with a dremel with metal cutting wheel, pliers, and tin snips as described in this tutorial

Lockpick Cases

Sparrows sells several popular cases such as the Sherman Case, Tuxedo Case, and Comp Case. Peterson sells popular cases such as the Nylon Tri-fold case, the Eagles Series Case, and the leather Masters Tri-Fold Case.

Other cases can be used to store lock picks. Examples include:

  1. Sunglasses case
  2. Quilting needle case
  3. Mini screwdriver roll-up case
  4. Makeup Brush case
  5. Hand sewn/handmade cases.
  1. Where should I buy my locks?

We recommend a large variety of locks from a large number of manufactures. Note that many locks that you’d find on hardware store shelves, such as the Master 131 and Master 141, contain identical cores.

Here are recommended sources of locks:

  1. eBay
  2. Craigslist
  3. Local Locksmith
  4. Local scrap yard
  5. Habitat for Humanity ReStore
  6. Lockpicking Forums
  7. Lock Pickers United Discord (#lock-bazaar)
  8. Home Depot / Lowes
  9. Walmart
  10. Local Thrift stores

Here are some good eBay search terms:

  1. Lock cylinder lot
  2. No key padlock lot
  3. Browse the category:Business & Industrial -%3EFacility Maintenance & Safety →Access Control Equipment →Locksmith Equipment

Resources

Videos

Community Made Helpful Videos

Community Made Helpful Guides

Literature

Laser Cutting Templates for Lock Picks

Printable Lock Pick Templates

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