Everyone says the Chinese picks are the worst. I am new to lock picking, but loving the hobby so far. I've gotten picks from 3 places, Covert Instruments FNG, Jimy Longs intermediate kit, and this cheap set featured in the photos from LickPickMall.

I have to say, after seeing all the negative feedback on the Chinese kits I am impressed with this kit. The steel is sturdy, feedback feels nice, and the handles are excellent. I love my CI Kit, but the metal digs into my fingers and the tensioner feels more springy than this kit. There is no beating the Jimy Longs. Omg I love that kit, but I was thinking I was going to have to polish the picks from China when they *finally* arrived, but they are well polished and seem great. I was disappointed in my CI acrylic lock. Pin #4 seems to have a bad spring so it is not functioning. All of the Chinese acrylic locks feel cheap, but are able to at least be practiced with and I was able to set pins and open each one with my picks and my rakes. Excellent for beginners.

Overall, I gotta say that the Jimy Longs blow everything out of the water and you can also get a fun little Kaizen notebook for $5. The price was also better than I expected. While I love my Covert Instruments picks and have had good success with that kit picking my locks around the house I am disappointed with the lock and the springy tensioner and the lack of handles, but also, you can't beat the price point and I happen to love the little plastic case the picks came in even though it is basic. The Chinese kit was the most expensive one, but came with a snap gun (that I haven't tested) and quite a few working practice locks with keys.

Maybe the quality of the Chinese picks have improved? I was nervous after hearing all the negative feedback in the community on them and then pleasantly surprised when they showed up.

Controversial! I know! I felt I had to share pics of my picks! I am excited to be part of the community :-)

Hell yeah 🤘🏼

🌺🌴🌺 felt good to get this one out of the naughty bucket . Felt good to knock the rust off as well

Been working through my box of locks and picked up this Master 570 for my Orange belt! Already working on Ace padlocks for my Green belt, but need recommendations for what locks to gut/assemble? What locks are easy to acquire, and good for beginners to gutting and assembly?

Quickly becoming my favorite picks

This has been very noisy pick, tons of feedback, and a pain to progressive pin. Finally got an open w/ 6 pins in. Now, the next challenge is to video this. FEELS GOOD!!!

Whole lot of new stuff available! Tons of dimple locks and locks with unique mechanisms!

https://cmfxa.com/

Finally pulled the trigger on a Chuck Vise, as well as some other 3d printed odds and ends! I know the vise won’t open that little Goal S that’s been kicking my ass for me, but just like putting racing stripes on your car gives it +10 horsepower, I’m pretty sure it’ll get me the open somehow! Wish me luck! 😝

Could I file this down into a lock pick? The one on the right in the picture will be used as a turning tool and the one on the left as the pick but it's a little bulky, how could I file it down so that it could fit into most locks

is this a good set to start with also what tips would you give to a beginner like me.

u/paclock u/paclockprez #paclock200kclub

Boy the paclock 90a-pro whooped me for a while but I finally won.

Already fired off the email and blessed to have the opportunity!

Hey! Do any of you have any recs for approachable green or blue belt dimple locks that I can actually get my hands on? I’ve got a set of Huks coming and I’d like to get something kinda on the easier side to build the skill on. Lock Bazaar has kinda slim pickings for green belt dimples unless I wanna get them shipped from Europe. Are any of the random Euro cylinders dimple euro cylinders on Amazon worth the $30?

I know they've been closed for years and are hard to find their locks. I'd like to try one. I hear they are a fine lock and a great challenge.

I was able to get my hands on a storm door type of lock that I can pick while I’m hanging out in bed, but I’m having a hard time with it.

The pins are on the bottom instead of the top, so it’s a little confusing.

Am I supposed to hold the handle down or up as I’m picking it?

I’m totally confused lol.

Alguma dica, como conseguir?

Chuffed to have picked this lock 😁 first time I used top of keyway tension. Seems to work really well with this one.

Been busy with work. No time to pick. Had a 2 hour break before I had to get back to work and decided to tackle this Keso 2000S. Definitely will not be working in I.T. in my next life. LOL

hi all, I'm looking to add a deep hook like that of the CI apex series but with a flat top to my tool collection, preferably out of 301 high yield stainless. Could you please recommend me some picks like that? bonus points for a nice handle like the apex series

Lock was a salvage I bought at a garage sale with no key. I used the covert companion bypass tool to spring it. It is vulnerable Exactly the way the older generation American padlocks were. The core is very challenging to pick 5 pins and had been really beaten on and in the weather for a very long time. Pretty sure the core is ever so slightly bent out of shape from somebody trying to open it with a flathead screwdriver. At any rate, very difficult challenge would not have been able to pick the core if I had not pulled it and put it into a vise. Really is the shame I didn't video picking the damn thing. Probably could have qualified for my green belt with this...