Artistic Lock Picks.

The other day I voiced some ideas that I thought might make lock picks more durable. While collecting images for that blog I came across some photos of custom lock picks. Some of these have the features that I suggested, although the choice may be artistic rather than functional. Certainly they are things of beauty and worth sharing.

         If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.
The Books

Creating Better Lock Picks.

I must start this article by pointing out that I have very little formal training in engineering, so there may be flaws in the following proposition. My main intention is to provoke some thought and discussion on the subject.

Recently I came across a statement about lock picks breaking. Lock picks are used for repetitive actions and this may lead to fatigue and breakages, no matter how much you paid for your picks. Being relatively new to the field of lock sport I have yet to have a pick break on me, personally.

When a pick does break you are likely to discover that the only way to get a replacement is to buy a new kit, many suppliers not offering singles on their websites. Or you can make your own, using the old pick as a model.

The question I want to raise is, is it possible to reduce the likelihood of breakage?

Below is an assortment of picks that I own. For better comparison I have selected hooks.

SouthOrd

 

Chinese Goso Plastic Handle

 

Cheap Chinese (Goso?) Metal Handle

 

Dangerfield from Serenity Kit

 

Dangerfield Bogota Hook.

Obviously, some parts of a pick need to be small to fit into a lock. Does the rest of the pick need to be so fine, however? Even if you include large padlocks most keyways seem to be less than 50mm.

Most of the picks shown above have a relatively long, narrow neck that abruptly widens into a handle. The Dangerfield Serenity pick is off-set and widens with a step arrangement. In one of the Chinese picks the neck and handle are separate pieces joined by a pop-rivet. The Bogota (and Soho) picks remain fairly constant in width, twisting to form a handle that also serves as a turning tool.

Which of these configurations is stronger? The Bogota/ Soho configuration has the merit of versatility and compactness. Four such picks within a pouch take up much less room than two more conventional picks and eliminate the need to carry a standard width L-turning tool. Unfortunately this style is only available in a limited number of configurations. As well as the Soho and Bogota variants there is the Reina from Mad Bob, which appears to be the Princess/ Prince. Other than the Bogota single hook/ half-diamond hybrid there are no other hooks or lifters of this style, at least not commercially available.

If a pick does need a wider handle, would it not be mechanically stronger to have it widen as a curve rather than an abrupt step? Would some lightening holes in the wider part of the neck strengthen the tool and help disperse stresses? Perhaps there is a case for making picks from thicker stock and thinning the head section down?

         If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.
The Books

Lock Pick Kit: WIP

I have been planning to do a little “show and tell” piece on my growing lock sport kit. Unfortunately it seems every time I go to do this I think of another thing to address. Currently I have another pick in the post and I am intending to add some narrower and wider tension tools once I source some material. I am planning to make a post specifically on tension tools so it is appropriate that I post these pictures today as a work in progress.

Regular readers will know that I purchased a Dangerfield Serenity kit from UK Bump Keys, who very nicely upgraded the pouch and threw in a pair of Soho picks. To this basic but useful foundation I have added my Bogota set. Both the Sohos and the Bogotas also serve as tension tools. For easy identification the Sohos have been marked with red enamel paint and the Bogotas with blue.

Here is the pouch packed. In the right section are rakes. In the left are the hooks, lifters, tension tools and everything else, such as the Bogotas, Sohos and a razor pick.

The rakes laid out. I thought that the winter sun would be a good time to take photographs but the effect is more artistic than I intended. This will have to serve until the final photography session. From the top:

• Swerve Rake (Serenity)
• Bogota Rake (Serenity)
• Prince Rake (Serenity)
• Princess Rake (Serenity)
• Sandman (Sparrow)
• Trio of Snake Rakes: small, angled small and large (SouthOrd)

I was going to purchase a King and Queen but learnt these are too big for many locks and that the Princess and Prince effectively serve the same function. It may be the King and Queen work better with US locks. See my first post on lock picking for a caution on differences between US and UK/ European/ Japanese locks.

The hooks and lifters:

• Partial hook (SouthOrd)
• High hook (Serenity)
• Angled Reach Ball pick (Serenity)
• Curved Reach Ball pick (Serenity)
• Half-Diamond pick (Serenity)
• Razor pick (Withoutakey)

As you can see, I have expaned this section with a more conventional hook and added a razor pick (note homemade point cover).

The tension tools:

• Bogota picks
• Pry bar/ TOK tool (Serenity)
• Standard L tool (Serenity)
• Soho picks

The Sohos, Bogotas and L-tool are all the same width. This kit needs some narrower and wider tensioners.

Bogotas, Sohos, Serenity kit and Sandman were all purchased from UK Bump Keys. UK Bump Keys do not sell many “singles” so the SouthOrd picks and razor pick were brought from Withoutakey. Like UK Bump Keys, Withoutakey are a very nice and helpful company to deal with. The free ebook they send for signing up with their newsletter has some interesting stuff on combination locks.

         If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.
The Books

Anatopismo

         Those of you who have enjoyed my non-fiction writings may be interested to know my first novella is now available.

 

         If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.
The Books