Another excellent video from the tool master. I got a bunch of Mokis based on your recommendation and your assessment is correct. I buy extra Genesis sets to give away to people interested in lock picking and those that I am teaching. Don't have any Bare Bones or Law Lock yet, but your assessments of the others rings true. Thanks for your work.
Oh, yes and I agree with all your comments about them. The JimyLongs have somehow become my go-to picks. I keep a wide variety of picks on my side table while watching TV in the evenings with the wife and so I sometimes unconsciously just reach for a pick and I have found myself grabbing the Jimys for some reason. I also use the thin Petersons a lot for restricted keyways in which the taller shank profile of the Jimys don't work so well. For wider keyways, I use Multipicks and Mokis. I don't like Sparrows. I keep the Genesis, Companion, and Arbiter in my car for EDC and have used them a few times to help others and myself.@@sandman_locksport
Love your thought process on this while video! And mad respect for saying you seen bad quality control when you do! Mad respect brother! Im sort of newto lock sport but loving it and trying to advance fast as I can! Thank you for the content it has been a huge help!
Hahahaha your plan worked perfectly, that was exactly what I searched and this was the first video I clicked on!! Thanks heaps!! *edit* My favourite lock picking set is this flimsy $5 set I got on amazon because it was the set that got me to open my first lock that I had been waiting like 10 years to try, idk why but I almost teared up from the excitement as a 25 yo man haha. *another edit* Omg I am a professional woodworker and the point you made on the importance of getting the good chisels straight away, you'll save money in the long run, I agree on so many levels, I also went on reddit and got told to get the cheap $5 set I got, but that $5 set both scratched my lock and bent out of shape the second lock I had unpicked, so here I am looking for the best quality, which was what I was after when I got told the $5 set was the same thing. If someone is mature enough they know before they start a new hobby whether it's something they are going to stick with, so they know they can get the best stuff first go, but the people that don't think about the hobby or interest enough and whether they will enjoy it don't wanna commit, I know what I am gonna enjoy before I even try it haha.
I completely agree with everything. While the top 10 pick sets are subjective, quality and functionality is not. Thank you for watching and hopefully this channel will help you decide on your next investment.
I’ve been picking for a few years and I started off with a simple pick and tension set from Southern Specialties. After realizing I enjoyed locksport, I decided to get more picks. That led me to purchasing a couple of picks from Peterson and eventually Sparrows. Soon after I ordered some picks from Multipick and I couldn’t believe how effortlessly they glided into keyways. It was then I learned how important a good finish is on picks. I’ve since tried picks from Bare Bones, Moki, Jimy Longs, Covert Instruments, Law Lock Tools, and agree with your assessment on lock tiers and the best picks currently available. Keep up the good reviews. 🤘
Thanks for watching Brother , and thanks for commenting! You are one of the great ones! I hope all of the new Lock pickers can learn from you and your experience!
@@sandman_locksport it's working I think, I started with CI's "FNG" set and decided to go with Multipick next because I'm just not enough of a sandman for all this sanding I would have to do
I started with cheap Chinese stuff after watching LPL. then I got CI . then I got really hooked and I think I got just about everyones set. the ones I use the most now are the expensive sparrows with the wooden handles cause fits best in my hand, Of course there is no store to go to and feel things.
Years ago i lost my safe key and picked it open with a couple paperclips in seconds. After that i bought a goso set then then southord and sparrows, ect... i realized it makes more sense to just buy a cheap set and find your favorites and then buy higher quality versions. For 21 bucks including shipping I bought myself a christmas present and my jimmy longs are coming in the mail today. Super excited! Just checked and there are still a couple sets in stock on his site if anyone is interested. They seem to sell out fast.
The no bullshit approach is awesome. Liked and subscribed. I have the CI genesis set and I'm about to get my green belt on reddit with just that alone. I look forward to watching your other content.
I’m the newest guy here as of now. Just discovered my love for picking without picking a single lock yet. Attempted an old master lock no3 with nothing but paper clips and no knowledge of locks. Appreciate the info and I will definitely keep these recommendations in mind!
Spot on with this video reviewing the variety of pick sets available to the Locksporter and professional. I believe you did pick the best on the market and made it easier just for a beginner or intermediate picker to make an intelligent choice. In the final decision it is a subjective decision based on your individual needs and preferences. You go Sandman👍🦊
He (I won't give his real name here) sent me a set of these three weeks ago and I showed them off on Lady Locks' _Picking_ _Time_ (ep. 56) at the 9:55 mark. I give a bit of info on these tension tools. I hope he produces pry bars as some point as well.
Great information here! I personally own the whole moki and jimylongs line and while i even have pimped out moki picks i still mostly revert to my .019 round jimylongs for 75% of locks!!! As flags go you cannot beat the Multipick set but if your own a tighter budget the bare bones set is pretty good maybe some slight alterations on the smallest flag to make it a smidge smaller!
That is all really great information! And I have learned so much from you in our private conversations! You will be a black belt sooner than you think! Thanks for watching!
Great comprehensive review. Here are my thoughts: Best Lockpicks: Jimy Longs - Designed to last forever. They last forever. Moki - Thinner shafts for when Jimy's are too thick, extra pick in handle. Law Lock Tools - Comparable with Moki, more pick profile options. Southord - Pretty sure they have thinner shafts than Covert Instruments, Multipick, and others. They have my favorite medium round hook. I despise flat hooks lol. I prefer Law Lock Tools and Southord for my interchangeable handles. They both offer picks without handles and the pros listed above make them easy choices.
Love this review. I'm also in the mindset of getting the best tool able to afford. I want to enjoy the hobby instead of fighting the tool or being held back by inferior quality. I'm not at the stage to learn about modifications to make cheap stuff work. Learning how to make and mod tools can come later when I acquired the necessary knowledge based on personal experience. It's been 3 months but I'm loving the sport. I just got another genesis set from CI for a friend to try out this hobby. I feel that set is a good starting point because even with just 4 picks, I reach for the short hook 99% of the time and could open many locks around the house from white to orange category.
Yea I started grabbing some hack saw blades and some stainless steel zip ties I found. I kept killing the battery in my Dremel and getting the steel too hot. When I was finished they looked like crap. I knew I would have better luck with a paperclip.
A good video and hopefully it will help keep new pickers away from chinesium picksets. For me, I love Lawlock tools ever since I tried them. Their EDC pro set has everything to keep a new picker entertained and bring them into the world of locksport 🤘🏻😎
Great video, very very informative and helpful. I started with the cheap chinese picks and definitely agree they should be avoided, then after watching some Bosnian bill, lpl ect. Picked up the sparrows monstrum and personally love them and kinda got hooked lol. Finally got CI and barebones and in my newbie opinion i feel like covert picks just feel better in hand.
As a novice I recommend the genesis for a starter set as it covers most of what we see in my area (almost exclusively master lock) it's cheap, and high quality. I personally use a covert companion with Riv pick and turning tool expansion as I like the multi-tool format.
I'm just getting in because as a medic firefighter, I believe a less evasive entry could be beneficial. I wanted somewhat edc style stuff because I already have a bunch of gear to carry. I'm starting off with the SSF Genesis set with a jiggler set and 2 different padlock bypass tools. I've seen with those riveted they can act as a size key. They ARE located in Spotsylvania, Virginia and I received those the next day. For turning tools I went with the 4 piece Sparrow kit with the built-in combs. I seen people on Reddit talk s*** about both companies but in the same sentence state Sparrow had the best standard hook and Genesis was the best basic kit.
I have watched this review 2-3 x. This is a very comprehensive review. I like that you give your grading matrix up-front, and you don't really pull punches. You definitely have helped me make decisions on which lockpick sets to invest in but more importantly what to look for and expect from a lockpick company. Thanks again
I’m pretty sure the Jimy Longs picks can fit in the CI magnetic case (not sure if it can hold 8). With that and the 3 double-sided turning tools and the TOK bar (both from CI), I think it would be a great combo. That’s the combo I plan to get them and use them in the future when Black Friday comes by, and I think it would be pretty reasonable for all that pricing (if the Jimy Longs picks can even fit in the magnetic case in the first place) compared to something like a Peterson set like the Mayor, but overall nice video.
I'm a "Tim" and thank you for this video! Just a note, I don't know anything or the backstory, but the comment at 14:15 is hilarious.... That said, whenever I get into something I ALWAYS want to purchase the highest quality I could afford, (even beyond what I could afford) because I have learned if I don't, I'll be paying 3x more down the road.
20:51 all 300 series stainless steels are austenitic steel, meaning they are work hardened (cold rolled typically) to increase the ultimate tensile. This process also increases the yield strength as well. The smaller you go in size, the higher tensile and ratio of yield/tensile that you can obtain. I’ve worked with very fine 304 wire (0.004” diameter) that had a UTS over 425,000psi. A high yield percentage allows a high degree of deformation recovery, and that’s why we typically call this spring steel.
@@shooteveryday1841 thank you for that info. What tool steel would you recommend for a Lockpick in .015-.019” thickness, with a UTS stronger than 285,000? Right now 301HY is the strongest on the market with the average rating of 285,000psi. The manufacturers I’ve talked to have said they can get the 301HY as high as 300,000psi or a little higher but it’s cost prohibitive. If costs were not an issue, what would be the strongest or next best thing to 301HY? Thanks for the info
I am just starting to research what I want to get for the budget I am working with (about $75USD) and I was thinking of the Sparrows Dark Shift and the expansion just to start off with.
Your videos are great. I love the Lawlock tools. Great ergonomics. Great quality control and workmanship. Great turning tools. I do like the Southard but they’re more like popsicle sticks and not as comfortable, so I’ll personally stay away from Multipick. I am happy with Sparrows but I had to cut down the excess plastic so I could have more consistent entry into the keyways. Some were halfway up to the pick.
I've picked on and off since 2016 with a serious focus since 2020.. so I guess that's technically seven years now for me, three at a minimum. Favourites include but aren't limited to the Bare Bones 3 Bones deep hooks (my end-all favourite deep hook profiles, especially the collar bone, that thing wrecks high security stuff like medecos and the assa twins), the Jimy gem and rounded medium for medium hooks, and the moki rounded 1/pointed 2 for shorter hooks. In USD, that's 18 USD including handles for the Bones, 20 USD for a set of four Jimys, and 10 USD for the two mokis. Cheap as chips, but the best of the best in my opinion. You don't need any multipicks or Peterson at 10 USD a pick anymore. That's my take.
I got the covert companion by Cover Instruments and added the turning tool expansion and have loved it so far. I had the Peterson set as inheritance from a co worker who retired and moved to another state.
I have always been fascinated with locks and have picked several as a kid by finding things that fit lol. Things in life happened that left me in a bad situation. I am a single parent of two kids, one of which is Autistic. My parents are in bad health and in need of care. To top that off my sister just lost her legs from diabetes. Anyways I lost my job to family doctor appointments. Now with random doctors appointments, dialysis for my sis and mom, and everything that comes with being a single parent, I cant get a normal job because I don't have a schedule that meets an employers expectations. Plus I burnt bridges as a stupid young adult yrs ago. So loosing that job hurt. So I decided that since I need to choose my own hours, love to pick locks, disassemble and reassemble things, and that there isn't a locksmith in town, I might as well choose that as a career. I've had a cheap set of picks for a minute now, but just bought the genesis set from covert instruments. I'm excited and really look forward to the learning experience. Only problem is i don't know where to go for knowledge on locksmith certification.
Sorry you’re going through everything that you have been through. I know exactly how you feel. I was homeless once myself. That Genesis pick set is honestly the only set of tools you will ever need for picking locks as a locksmith. Anything you come across that you can’t get into with that set, just drill it. I would highly recommend you contact a locksmith within your state for mentoring and guidance. Just tell him your circumstance of where you live, and that you’re not in competition with him. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be willing to to help you. My advice would not be helpful because I was a locksmith in Colorado. It’s different for every state.
Crazy man I started with the old bankook how ever you spell that and it was trash couldn’t pick any masters because the pick was to thick went straight to sparrows and used that until I came across covert instruments now I have most of what they have to offer and pretty happy when ever I can afford more I’ll try some Peterson’s or a different brand watched the whole video while doing some dishes good time thanks
Hey. No youtube channel yet, but I am an avid picker. Still a relative newbie, but I enjoy it nonetheless. As for my experience with picks: DEFINITELY stay away from HPC. Their picks are made of brittle steel and simply not worth the money. Sparrows: decent picks for the price, and definitely economical for new pickers. Are there better picks? Hell yes. But, that being said. Sparrows has a more premium line too that costs a little more. Covert Instruments: Excellent quality stuff. Currently carry the covert companion everywhere with me. Going to add some of the new expansion packs soon. Multipick: They appear to have excellent quality, however, due to the cost I have not been able to order a set. Jimmy Longs: Also appears to be an excellent set, never heard of them before this video. Will definitely be ordering a set. They seem to be made in practical thicknesses for locks such as American 1100’s. Law Lock Tools, TOOOL, and Moki: Have heard of all of these, and Southern Specialties, but haven’t had the money to purchase them. Definitely want to try the Moki picks. Peterson: They have decent picks, but like sandman said, their quality control is seriously lacking. Bosnian Bill had quite a lot of picks from Peterson and they apparently did something seriously wrong to irritate him, because he suddenly gave ALL of them away in one of his videos. That pretty much turned me off to them. As for the “Amazon”/AliBaba Express/etc sites, where you can buy the stuff like HPC, GOSO, etc. I have 2 GOSO sets. They have picks in them I haven’t seen in any other set. Their pics are made of aluminum I think, so you quickly learn to be careful with them so you don’t bend or break them. Again, I would not waste money on a set from HPC though. So, that is my two cents worth. Hope it helps!
All love, no hate!!! I have Moki and Jimy sets that I use from time to time but Sparrows Monkey Paw is my go to, then seconded by a Southord Offset Diamond.
Thanks for commenting! You are really doing great with your channel, it’s crazy how far you’ve come in such a short amount of time! You’re kicking ass on some very difficult locks! Keep up the great work!
I don't really mind if my picks arrive kind of rough because I'm going to file and sand them to my liking anyway. It's just the way I'm wired. Leave it to me to occasionally remove too much material sharpening a knife or filing a pick, but it's been a long time since I have, lol. That being said, what I like about Peterson picks is their steel and their handles. The 420ss has a great heat treatment. It has plenty of stiffness before plastic deformation (bending, oh no!) occurs, while the plastic handles are comfortable and transmit great feedback. I avoid the rubber handles bc $16 per pick is a little pricey, and I'm happy with the $8 plastic handles. Sparrows have a higher theoretical yield strength with their 301, but they are definitely more bendy than the Petersons. Once bent, the yield strength is shot, and so is the pick. I think their shafts are a little thinner, or maybe it has something to do with the heat treat. Not my go-to picks, but for a cheap, super thin pick set you can slip in your back pocket and not even notice, they're tough to beat. Especially for the price. MUCH better than the little credit card pick sets that you slip in your wallet. Anyway, great video. I just wanted to throw my two cents in for redundancy.
YES! I’m a beginner, currently orange belt, and I didn’t want to go anywhere near cheap beginner sets. I wanted high performance tools that would make me want to continue with the sport rather than give up because my tools break, get caught on pins due to rough edges, etc. I started with a TOOOL necessary 9 v2 set (301 high yield) which is serving me well and have the Multipick Lock Noob rakes which I adore. I can’t wait to expand my collection. Thank you!
I started a little over a month ago with a Sparrows Tuxedo set.. I love those picks, but my hand tends to get a little numb after awhile. I did end up trimming back the plasti-dip. Then I tried JimyLongs, and the more substantial handles are definitely a game-changer in that arena, no more numbness. Serious quality picks. I'm somewhere between a Tim and a Big Tim on your scale. :) I'd love to see a video showcasing the gambit of pick cases available.
Thanks for watching! If you’re looking at different, Lock pick cases, check out my Lock lab video if you haven’t already. My favorite one is the Peterson “the book” pick case. It’s perfect for Jimy Long’s Lock picks, I have a review on that as well. Peterson manufacturing makes the best cases in my opinion. My favorite is the leather masters trifold, retails for $62, it will fit Jimy Longs as well. But they fit better in the nylon “the book” pick case.
@@sandman_locksport I do love me some leather accessories. 🤣 That Masters trifold looks amazing! Saved to my wishlist! I'll check out the review video! Thanks! Love your channel. 😁
Used to be Peterson for me, used to recommend them all the time, but Ken is terrible so I can't do so anymore. Fortunately JimyLongs came along and blew Peterson out of the water. Now I can wholeheartedly recommend JimyLongs and Moki picks above all else for hooks. I don't point anyone to cheap lockpick sets for one reason, I want them to enjoy locksport as much as possible to increase their odds of sticking around the hobby. As for Multipick, I have a set of flags, horribly pockmarked for whatever reason, and their flag lengths vary...nonetheless, they are definitely top tier.
@@SkepticTalk different brands definitely have their strengths. I can't say I use the shiv/decoder type tools often (thinner one for decoding, thicker one for bypass) as I primarily just do single pin picking and have very little interest in bypasses.
New-ish picker here, I never had the money to afford a decent set of pics so I made my own and they work great (with exception on my pick bending every now and then). One day I want to own a decent set of pics. I've been picking locks as a hobby for probably around 2 years, finding locks that no one uses anymore, finding old rusted padlocks and buying some common locks when I can afford it. Every video on sets and lockpicking is greatly helpful
From the perspective of a beginner myself, I've bought a bunch of stuff from Sparrows, the ghost set, an extraction set, and a few single picks from Peterson, and some stuff from CI including the covert companion which sits in my pocket every day. Personally the covert compaion is awesome for bypassing, but to start picking you need actual picks. I love my creeper set, and the eod set from Sparrows. I know Samdman says quality went down in past 7-8 years. I've only been around a few years and personally love the feel of their picks, and get great results.
If someone asks me about a first set or gifting a first set for a friend I'm honestly going to Sparrows. My first manufactured set was the Sparrows competitor and I still use it daily. It's my go to set when I can't pop a tough lock with any of my other brand picks. They're a 301HY or max steel that everyone looks for.... I Don't know why no one delves into the heat treatment of the steels considering its arguably more important that the type of steel... I digress, they're priced great, imo the quality is as good as anyone as far as fit and finish... Just as important for a newbie is they have a "fun" aspect to their products. I've heard ppl say things like " oh don't get me started on Sparrows" or "I have my opinion on Sparrows but that's for another time".... but I've never heard anyone actually voice their beef w them so idk why they get hate. But I highly doubt a new picker gives a shit about lockpicking politics... That said I think the Genesis is a GREAT starter set for $30... hoping the new echelon set has more picks to expand on it.... Love my multipicks but not ideal for newbies, Dame with Peterson... they're great designs but priced accordingly too.... I would advise Jimy Longs... as soon as they release the turners and/or some rakes(hopefully). Absolutely LOVE my Jimy Longs picks. For $100 you get the whole line and TOP quality fit and finish. So to conclude, I gotta go with Sparrows for the new guy... sorry if anyone hates on Sparrows but I've had nothing but GREAT experience with them so far...
All great information, but Sparrows does not use 301 High Yield steel. They use a “cold max” which is a buzz word, and claim to have 280kpsi in their steel, which is what 301HY will produce in ultimate tensile strength, but that’s not what they are using, there is no such thing as “American Made 301 Cold Max Steel with average tension strength of 280,000 psi”. I have asked 6 different pick manufacturers and they have all told me the same thing, it is not 301HY, they are lying in their marketing. They aren’t the only company to do that either. There are 4 companies that lie about their pick steel. 2 of them are in Germany, 2 are here in America. Sparrows is the 5th company in total that I’m aware of that doesn’t have transparency in their manufacturing process. But if it works for you, that’s all that matters! Also, I shit on sparrows daily and I have the crappy tools to prove it. Thanks for watching!
People always say well if you don't like the intro particular parts etc just skip you've got that ability well.. I've skipped and skipped I'm more than halfway through the video and they're still not been a single lock pick yet 😂😂😂 I'm playing appreciate the time thought and detail you're taking to give a nuanced and insightful look into the pics and how you're judging them
Was my dream to become a locksmith. Cant afford to move. Cant get started where I’m at. Washington state law is atleast 2 years of apprenticeship to become a locksmith. But I do help my friends n family out when they need it. Honestly I pick with what I can afford to bend. I use alot of heavy tension. And on disability. So i get some new pucks when holidays come or bday. Have tried lawlocks to their deaths, sparrows to their deaths, southords to their deaths, and have been trying peterson and Jimylongs. I mostly use Jimy’s now because of pricepoint and quality for price. I have liked them all. Some better than others. As i get better they last abit longer. But also crack alot of locks. I say try em all🤷🏼. Everyones different. What i like another hates n vise vs. get what ya can afford. Buy a few hooks in each till ya find what feels good. Hey great video! Made alot of good points.👏👏👏🤘😎
I pretty much agree with you on Sparrows, but I have to say I LOVE the case that comes with the Ranger kit. I added a few things to it, changed out some of the picks, but it is the PERFECT go-kit case for me.
Hi! FNG here, thank you for such an honest video and not making me feel like poop for starting out with CI like they did on Reddit. I'm just doing this as a casual hobby and mental focus, this video has been very informative and will help me decide where I want to go next if I decide to level up. I'm now a sub and will be taking your advice into strong consideration. Thank you for not treating the FNG like hot poop.
There are 200,000 accounts on r/lockpicking, and less than 116 black belts, and only 10% of them are still active on Reddit. Don’t listen to losers. Most of those people only own 1 or 2 pick sets, they have nothing to compare their tools to. I own over 50 pick sets, and can confidently say the FNG and anything from Covert Instruments is one of the best sets you can buy. Top 5 every day. Be proud you purchased some of the best tools money can buy as your first purchase.
To be honest, ive been picking for a while and use a combination of multipick, peterson, jimylongs, and a few sparrows....my go to lock pick these days however is a sparrows short hook in .015! It fits in any lock, its cheap to replace, and it works well as my first off....from there i go to one of my other higher quality for feed back reasons depending on the lock
@@jonholistik I love my masters tri-fold the most, they have calf skin which breaks in nicely. I have 3 of them. I prefer “the book” case for my Jimy Longs though as the handles are bigger and the picks are longer than Peterson picks. They still fit in the masters though. And I have my favorite Jimy longs in my go-to case which is a masters tri-fold.
@sandman_locksport thanks for the quick reply...lol i have 20% off my next order from peterson so i figured that basically covers 2 free picks w the purchase of one of the cases and wasn't sure which to swing toward! As always love the vids and you really are quickly becoming one of the most trusted names for product reviews at least in my book as well as many on fb and reddit sir!
Peterson is my favorite. I own tons of different tools but they are a reliable good quality tool. They hold up well against metal fatigue and have a good variety of profiles and thicknesses.
I am not new to lock picking, more of an off and on picker since high school ~15 years. It seems like there are sooo many more options than when I was started picking and trying to make my picks from hacksaw blades and windshield wipers. I also think sellers have become less restrictive (I do not see anyone asking for "proof" of profession). There looks like a lot of high quality stuff out there. I appreciate the information on the steel. I still find myself bending 301 High Yield picks, but at least I know that is as good as it gets. I recently purchased Jimy Longs picks and have found myself using them more than anything else lately. I also have picks from TOOOL, Covert Instruments (CI), Southern Ordinance, and Peterson. I like them all. TOOOL for an intro set, CI for the cool case, Southern Ordinance for the prices/selection, and Peterson for the quality/selection. I don't like all the negative talk from Peterson on his website though, it makes me not want to purchase from him. One thing I do not see mentioned as much is the turning tools (tension wrenches), but I feel like the fit of the turning tool makes a big difference picking. I really like the necessary turners in the TOOOL set, and the ergo turners from CI (wish they fit in a small leather case better).
thanks for watching, i have several videos on just turning tools and tension wrenches. i collect those more than i collect picks. when i buy a lockpick set, i usually also buy a second set of the turning tools to experiment with. i use 4 lock picks for every day picking, but I keep around 30 turning tools in my case at all times. if your bending 301 HY, your doing something wrong. back off on tension, and make sure your not stuck on the plug warding.
11:35 I agree so much! It's how I feel about music - I know parents don't want to spend a fortune on an instrument knowing their kid might not stick at the hobby, but when they buy the $10 guitar with mile-high action and splinters on the back of the neck, I am like 'This is WHY they won't stick at it!' 😂😂
I have used Sparrows for 8 years, and have really loved them. I am starting to venture into other brands, but Sparrows ssdev and the Atilla are the best ive found. I pick Medeco a lot. Have also picked many other high sec locks with them.
Anybody have any SPECIFIC pick recommendations for American use? (stationed in Hawaii and am going to implement this into a side-gig/hobby). It’s 01:18 and I have to be up in 4 hours for work - but if you could piece together individuals picks/rakes - at about $5-10 a pick - what would you recommend for a cargo-pocket carry? I’ve picked basic padlocks, master 140s, 575s, and the arms rooms locks at work - although they are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT…
To be completely honest I don’t. I love his TH-cam videos. I talked with Chris once back in 2017 I think when I interviewed him for a website. He’s a very nice guy and a standup distributor in my opinion. But I didn’t get into collecting picks internationally until this year because it’s just another level of investment I hadn’t committed to yet. They say his picks are similar or copies of mad bobs, but I personally don’t care about that, I’m a consumer and a collector first and foremost and I buy what I can get, and right now, mad bobs hasn’t sold any picks in 2 years so it is what it is. I don’t judge what people sell. I just buy it when I can afford it and then decide if it was worth the money or not. I say give his tools a try.
@@sandman_locksport thanks I appreciate it. I literally just got into picking and bought a a sparrows set before I found any videos or books and I’ve been able to pick 4 different locks in the 2 days I’ve been doing it but I don’t care for not having a grip on them. I ordered several Lishis and curious to play with those and seen some of your videos. Thanks for the content I’ll have lots of videos to watch.
Actually I had the praxis set by Dangerfield and really was happy with them. That is a great set. Comes in .23 for standard locks and .15 for you euros.
I have covert I have the valerian euro but I still find I use the Chinese set I bought from Amazon for $10, they open everything that comes my way and I have no fear of breaking them I'm a weirdo I know! 😂 My covert companion is my favourite belonging in the world though , it comes everywhere and also... Nothing it cannot open I'm not a huge fan of my valerian euro .. it's thin metal due to being able to get into European locks and it does the job perfectly but as you said in the video .. for that price I wish it came with handles
They are not THE BEST lock picks. Not even top 5. This video is highlighting the best on the market. Sparrows doesn’t even come close. But they are a lot of fun, they are functional, they are good. Just not best.
I'm also love the Jimy Longs pick. The thickness is just nice for Malaysian locks. Its sturdiness compared to Chinese made picks. And also its affordable to us Asian lockpickers.
Can any of y'all share your thoughts on this one? I can't decide if I want to get the Covert Instruments genesis set, or the Bare Bones equivalent that I put together in my cart. Please, help me😕
Are you new or intermediate? I recommend covert for starting out, they are thick and inexpensive. But if your intermediate, bare bones has tools in .016” and .019” for tighter keyways. But you don’t want to use those if you’re staring out.
Regarding to Sparrows quality, the American bypass and several others are all made in China, and I bet they do not have a Sparrows employee over there keeping an eye on the Chinese. What bothers me more than the extra dip is the bottom end, some are nice and round, some look cut off an an angle, others cut at the bottom. They need to work on better dipped handles. It says a lot when someone newer to the game like Jimy Long can make a much better handle for the same price.
that sparrows american bypass is a piece of shit...the shitty plastic handle rotates when you try to turn it. what a joke... i bought it just for fun and it was totally useless..
@@sandman_locksport i dont adhere to one company... i regularly use sparrows, southern spec., peterson, jimy, multipick.. i just buy individuals and assemble my own kits.. fuck premade kits..
@@sandman_locksport Yeah I was just going through CI's mysterious "Vault" and was intrigued by all their projects, looks like they are going to drop some nice handles soon and the magnetic pinning patch is clearly genius so I may wait on that order. I noticed you had just posted on the rarely used LP101 forum, I've been a member there since 08' I think but seems dead now, where's the best discussion community right now? Thanks for your all your videos, been a great help getting back into the madness.
Hello Sandman, your videos are great, I've been watching them for a couple of days now, it's all clear and simple. I have a question : I am in law enforcement, I don't care about the budget. I would like to buy a set that can open padlocks, house doors, bike chains and U shaped locks (for protesters), maybe cars trunks/doors (for older cars instead of breaking the windows) : I might never use them I don't know, but 2 times last week we had to wait for firefighters to arrive with a huge bold cutter to cut a padlock, I mean I could have picked the thing in less than a minute I suppose, it would have been better. That's why I've been watching your videos. Maybe I should go with 2 sets, one on my combat vest that I carry all the time, and another one, more complete in variety in the service car ? What do you think ? would you recommend a (or multiple) specific sets ? I live in Western Europe. Thanks mister ! (Sorry for potential mistakes)
NY Legal - must show intent New York Consolidated Laws of New York - PEN Title I - Article 140 - § 140.35 - Possession of burglar's tools. A person is guilty of possession of burglar's tools when he possesses any tool, instrument or other article adapted, designed or commonly used for committing or facilitating offenses involving forcible entry into premises, or offenses involving larceny by a physical taking, or offenses involving theft of services …, under circumstances evincing an intent to use or knowledge that some person intends to use the same in the commission of an offense of such character.
If you have picks that are slightly burred or have sharp edges all is not lost. Get a hold of wet sand paper, from the hardware store or better yet hobby shop or auto motive shop, . They come in various grit size from 299 course up to 2,000 or greater, I recommend 250 and then to 400 , & then 600. That should be sufficient. But you can get up 1,ooo. Some anal retentive types (like me) might go to 2,000. They come up ten thousand and even higher. 600 is sufficient. That grit size will polish the steel to a mirror finish. Industrious sanding will round the edges, and tips, and yield a pick that is smooth like a babies bottom. I do carve wood handles, for my most used picks, that precisely fit my desired shape, and hand. Great video. I appreciate it. P.S. If you are in a hurry, you can use a rotary grinder with felt polishing fobs and grinding stones. There are many grits available, use a separate fob for each grit. PPS I have read that Sparrow tools are No longer made in Canada, They are now made in China, and they are said to be wonky and of poor quality. PPPS the Jimylong site is all sold out. And I have read that he is no longer making tools. Bummer.
Jimy Longs is still making tools. He is sold out because he always sells out every two weeks within 5 to 10 minutes, and has repeatedly done so over the last three months. He’s still making tools He is just sold out. He will have mass production by the end of summer. Everybody has known that sparrows has been selling tools from China for at least a decade. All of the packaging says made in China. Whoever is giving you your information, you should start ignoring them because they don’t know what they’re talking about. Lol jk Also, I’m a woodworker by trade, your theory on using wet sanding only applies to lacquer finish and wood. It doesn’t apply to metal. You don’t need to wet sand metal. You are not sharpening a chisel. And you shouldn’t have to sand any polished lock picks that come from a reputable manufacturer. But I agree a good polish can make them into a mirror and buttery smooth. thank you for watching.
i am by no mean a pro i have only been at this for less then a year, but what has worked best for me so far has been ones i have made myself. but i'm also not on difficult locks yet either, but i don't make fancy picks boils down to what ever thin metal scrap i throw on a bad grinder and and cut random groves into. i even made a few out of dollar tree stake knives. but this does have it's own issues sometimes i don't grind them down enough or some keyways are too small, but i would like a few picks made of tungsten so i can be a little more rough
I'm new to locksport and really enjoy it. I found this channel after Bosnian Bill and LPL along with lockwood. I have a cheap amazon set, a Master #3, a TSA #007, a couple of acrylic trainers and the Sparrows training locks. I need turners and a few other shapes and I'd like to try bypassing. What do you recommend for a US buyer?
Hi sandman new to the channel, I had just ordered some sparrows 😬 I think they were $120 but after watching this video and one of your other ones I cancelled my order and ordered some Multipicks! Thanks so much for your guidance 😅
@@sandman_locksport thanks brother! 🙌🏻 😂 yea I was sweating it after that first video and then this one confirmed it big time 😂 I’ll probably continue getting multipick until I get better and start branching off trying some of the other ones you recommend for smaller hands 🙌🏻
Tier 1 toys are best. Law Lock is #1, Covert Instruments is the #2, I would love to own some Jimmy Longs but He's disappeared but I believe they are on the top as well. I've only been in this for a year and am a nobody, So what the hell do I know.
This may be a little off topic,and not trying too be an ass! But I'm an actual 2nd degree black belt and I'm pretty sure that brown belt is right before black. Just try too understand why they put red before brown? But love your content!! Most definitely one of my favorite lock pickers!!!😊
I’m a real second degree black belt as well in American Karate. I can tell you Kano Jigoro invented the original belt system for judo that only comprised of white, then black belt. Then he added blue to show intermediate level. The karate systems took those ideas and created their own version shortly after. There is no standard version of the karate belt system. Brazilian jiujitsu, which derives from judo has five belts, while most karate systems have nine or 10. Some taekwondo schools end with red belt before black, and some of them end with brown belt before black. And in jiujitsu, red belt is only for grandmasters. There is no one particular order for belts in any martial. There is only the order that you have grown up in. In the end, It’s just a game for Lock pickers. Lastly, you need to consider reading books on other martial arts. You’re a second degree now, you should know these things. Thank you for the compliments and for watching my videos. Learn from everyone and cross train in everything.
Ya, it has been years ago since I've been in practice, appreciate you hitting me back, hey, do you have any videos on maybe maybe decent plug followers and equipment to dismantle locks?
I picked up the Southord PXS-14 kit. Is that an ok one? I really wish i watched this before buying em. It woukd be my first pick set after the PNG set from CI.
Have fun with it. That’s all that matters. I could tell you that Jimy Longs is the best be they are always sold out and impossible to get. Same with Moki. Just collect and have fun. Your collection will grow and you’ll find what you love ❤️
I absolutely despise velcro cases. If I'm about to pick my way into something or somewhere in a secret evil military compound, the last thing I want is a loud, annoying case holding all my precious tools... "Damn, it's locked..." *opens case, alerting every guard in the compound within a half km radius* 💂💂👮👮💂👮
So I’m not a locksmith or a pro picker. But I can say in a lot of jobs and hobbies the person using the tools can make up for crappy tools with experience. So I would take that into account when you see a phenomenal picker say a lower quality tool will work just fine. Sometimes it’s worth it to save up and go up in quality to have an easier time starting out.
That’s fine, but a race car mechanic doesn’t use Icon or Husky Tools. my entire channel in 60 videos that I have made up to this point is highlighting the best tools in the hobby. You won’t like this channel if you’re not in that frame of mind. This is a review channel, it would not be fun to watch if I talked about all the Chinese knock off garbage tools and tell you that you can pick a lock with them. I can pick a lock with a paperclip. It doesn’t mean I should start reviewing paper clips.
@@catdaddy3941 I was a recipient of the Rob Cosman purple heart project, October 2021. He flew me out to Canada and I took his 7 day class for veterans and he gave me $4k worth of tools and a $2k work bench. He’s a great man.
@@sandman_locksport Outstanding! I love his PHP and I’m glad I’ve “met” a recipient! Thank you for your service and I know I’m not alone in thanking Rob for what he does for veterans. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 💜
@@sandman_locksportI have I think 6 kits 2 are homage though. I just like it partly because I have had the most time using the picks by like 2 years and it was the first kit that got me into this hobby. Also my edc
😮Off topic message to Sandman- Try writing a script for yourself. Just like other speech making, some folks are better suited to adlib or extemporaneous speeches than others. Some, like myself need to organize out thoughts to stay on point. Having only watched one video, i have no question about your base knowledge, it is the presentation I would suggest could be improved. Don't be too shy to post production edit your product.
South Ord is Tier 2 my friend. Not trash, but low class, not even top 10. most of their stuff is just highly polished 1095 stainless steel. which is the same steel thats been used for 100 years. Zero innovation. Huge selection, but your not getting quality for the money in my opinion. I have their tools, I don't collect them beyond what I have purchased already.
My Peterson set is very old and very well done. I don’t know about the plastic handled, but all rubber are full tang. My SouthOrd Max are tanks, but I actually prefer shorter handles. Lately, I have preferred carrying compact edc tools though. Swick and CI Covert Companion are both good, but The Entry Kit from Tuff Possum Gear is excellent!
Hey Sandman, just saw your review of JimyLongs picks. Went to the website and bought a couple sets based on your recommendation.
Your the coolest person I know Mike! I'm telling you, they are the #1 picks on the market! cant wait to see what you think! let me know!
@sandman_locksport I did the same thing lol. Get urself a discount code with these companies and make a few bucks!
Lucky! They are completely sold out 😢
Sparrows bypass tools are cheap and useless. Bend too much and are extremely uncomfortable to use. Most of it comes from China. RUN from them!!
Purchase and been using... I really feel the difference in quality tools, as I am still kind of new to all this.
Another excellent video from the tool master. I got a bunch of Mokis based on your recommendation and your assessment is correct. I buy extra Genesis sets to give away to people interested in lock picking and those that I am teaching. Don't have any Bare Bones or Law Lock yet, but your assessments of the others rings true. Thanks for your work.
Thanks for watching Judge! Do you have any Jimy Longs or Peterson?
Oh, yes and I agree with all your comments about them. The JimyLongs have somehow become my go-to picks. I keep a wide variety of picks on my side table while watching TV in the evenings with the wife and so I sometimes unconsciously just reach for a pick and I have found myself grabbing the Jimys for some reason. I also use the thin Petersons a lot for restricted keyways in which the taller shank profile of the Jimys don't work so well. For wider keyways, I use Multipicks and Mokis. I don't like Sparrows. I keep the Genesis, Companion, and Arbiter in my car for EDC and have used them a few times to help others and myself.@@sandman_locksport
Hey bro. . . Spare one?
Oh, yes. Both. @@sandman_locksport
I've referenced this video 3 different times today while researching picks thank you Sir.
Love your thought process on this while video! And mad respect for saying you seen bad quality control when you do!
Mad respect brother!
Im sort of newto lock sport but loving it and trying to advance fast as I can!
Thank you for the content it has been a huge help!
thanks for watching!
My name is Tim, thank you for speaking directly to the tim community!
who are you though?? big tim? timothy???
None, my dayjob is a spring maker.
So I have access to a handful of alloys, and a grinder!
Diy!
@timebombcatnip why am I laughing at that answer lol 😂😂😂😂😂
Hahahaha your plan worked perfectly, that was exactly what I searched and this was the first video I clicked on!! Thanks heaps!!
*edit*
My favourite lock picking set is this flimsy $5 set I got on amazon because it was the set that got me to open my first lock that I had been waiting like 10 years to try, idk why but I almost teared up from the excitement as a 25 yo man haha.
*another edit*
Omg I am a professional woodworker and the point you made on the importance of getting the good chisels straight away, you'll save money in the long run, I agree on so many levels, I also went on reddit and got told to get the cheap $5 set I got, but that $5 set both scratched my lock and bent out of shape the second lock I had unpicked, so here I am looking for the best quality, which was what I was after when I got told the $5 set was the same thing.
If someone is mature enough they know before they start a new hobby whether it's something they are going to stick with, so they know they can get the best stuff first go, but the people that don't think about the hobby or interest enough and whether they will enjoy it don't wanna commit, I know what I am gonna enjoy before I even try it haha.
I completely agree with everything. While the top 10 pick sets are subjective, quality and functionality is not. Thank you for watching and hopefully this channel will help you decide on your next investment.
I’ve been picking for a few years and I started off with a simple pick and tension set from Southern Specialties. After realizing I enjoyed locksport, I decided to get more picks. That led me to purchasing a couple of picks from Peterson and eventually Sparrows. Soon after I ordered some picks from Multipick and I couldn’t believe how effortlessly they glided into keyways. It was then I learned how important a good finish is on picks. I’ve since tried picks from Bare Bones, Moki, Jimy Longs, Covert Instruments, Law Lock Tools, and agree with your assessment on lock tiers and the best picks currently available. Keep up the good reviews. 🤘
Thanks for watching Brother , and thanks for commenting! You are one of the great ones! I hope all of the new Lock pickers can learn from you and your experience!
@@sandman_locksport it's working I think, I started with CI's "FNG" set and decided to go with Multipick next because I'm just not enough of a sandman for all this sanding I would have to do
@@Suiseisexy fair enough! I love the FNG, it’s the best starter set. Which multipick set did you get?
I started with cheap Chinese stuff after watching LPL. then I got CI . then I got really hooked and I think I got just about everyones set. the ones I use the most now are the expensive sparrows with the wooden handles cause fits best in my hand, Of course there is no store to go to and feel things.
Years ago i lost my safe key and picked it open with a couple paperclips in seconds. After that i bought a goso set then then southord and sparrows, ect... i realized it makes more sense to just buy a cheap set and find your favorites and then buy higher quality versions. For 21 bucks including shipping I bought myself a christmas present and my jimmy longs are coming in the mail today. Super excited! Just checked and there are still a couple sets in stock on his site if anyone is interested. They seem to sell out fast.
The no bullshit approach is awesome. Liked and subscribed. I have the CI genesis set and I'm about to get my green belt on reddit with just that alone. I look forward to watching your other content.
I’m the newest guy here as of now. Just discovered my love for picking without picking a single lock yet. Attempted an old master lock no3 with nothing but paper clips and no knowledge of locks. Appreciate the info and I will definitely keep these recommendations in mind!
Paper clips work! I used to teach that to my marines nearly 2 decades ago. Thanks for watching
Spot on with this video reviewing the variety of pick sets available to the Locksporter and professional. I believe you did pick the best on the market and made it easier just for a beginner or intermediate picker to make an intelligent choice. In the final decision it is a subjective decision based on your individual needs and preferences. You go Sandman👍🦊
Thanks, Brother! I appreciate it. I still have a lot to learn. You are one of the great! Keep up the great work, and all of the great content!
I am really interested to see the new TOK tension tools from Jimy Longs, I hope they are available soon.
The should be ready by end of this year but I can’t speak for him. They are simplistic and yet ergonomic and practical
He (I won't give his real name here) sent me a set of these three weeks ago and I showed them off on Lady Locks' _Picking_ _Time_ (ep. 56) at the 9:55 mark. I give a bit of info on these tension tools. I hope he produces pry bars as some point as well.
Great information here! I personally own the whole moki and jimylongs line and while i even have pimped out moki picks i still mostly revert to my .019 round jimylongs for 75% of locks!!! As flags go you cannot beat the Multipick set but if your own a tighter budget the bare bones set is pretty good maybe some slight alterations on the smallest flag to make it a smidge smaller!
That is all really great information! And I have learned so much from you in our private conversations! You will be a black belt sooner than you think! Thanks for watching!
@@sandman_locksport I've applied!!!
Great comprehensive review. Here are my thoughts:
Best Lockpicks:
Jimy Longs - Designed to last forever. They last forever.
Moki - Thinner shafts for when Jimy's are too thick, extra pick in handle.
Law Lock Tools - Comparable with Moki, more pick profile options.
Southord - Pretty sure they have thinner shafts than Covert Instruments, Multipick, and others. They have my favorite medium round hook. I despise flat hooks lol.
I prefer Law Lock Tools and Southord for my interchangeable handles. They both offer picks without handles and the pros listed above make them easy choices.
Love this review. I'm also in the mindset of getting the best tool able to afford. I want to enjoy the hobby instead of fighting the tool or being held back by inferior quality. I'm not at the stage to learn about modifications to make cheap stuff work. Learning how to make and mod tools can come later when I acquired the necessary knowledge based on personal experience.
It's been 3 months but I'm loving the sport. I just got another genesis set from CI for a friend to try out this hobby. I feel that set is a good starting point because even with just 4 picks, I reach for the short hook 99% of the time and could open many locks around the house from white to orange category.
Nice!!
Yea I started grabbing some hack saw blades and some stainless steel zip ties I found. I kept killing the battery in my Dremel and getting the steel too hot. When I was finished they looked like crap. I knew I would have better luck with a paperclip.
A good video and hopefully it will help keep new pickers away from chinesium picksets. For me, I love Lawlock tools ever since I tried them. Their EDC pro set has everything to keep a new picker entertained and bring them into the world of locksport 🤘🏻😎
Thank you for watching and commenting, you’re one of the greats and I hope your advice will influence other new pickers.
YES! Let us get rid of all the Amazon Sets.
I just ordered the Multipick Christina Palmer 'Medium' set. I like their turning tools better than most I've seen.
You will love it!
Great video, very very informative and helpful. I started with the cheap chinese picks and definitely agree they should be avoided, then after watching some Bosnian bill, lpl ect. Picked up the sparrows monstrum and personally love them and kinda got hooked lol. Finally got CI and barebones and in my newbie opinion i feel like covert picks just feel better in hand.
That’s awesome, it always feels good to upgrade! Keep up the great work!
As a novice I recommend the genesis for a starter set as it covers most of what we see in my area (almost exclusively master lock) it's cheap, and high quality. I personally use a covert companion with Riv pick and turning tool expansion as I like the multi-tool format.
I couldn’t agree with you more!
It's the set I just started with 😊
I'm just getting in because as a medic firefighter, I believe a less evasive entry could be beneficial. I wanted somewhat edc style stuff because I already have a bunch of gear to carry. I'm starting off with the SSF Genesis set with a jiggler set and 2 different padlock bypass tools. I've seen with those riveted they can act as a size key. They ARE located in Spotsylvania, Virginia and I received those the next day. For turning tools I went with the 4 piece Sparrow kit with the built-in combs. I seen people on Reddit talk s*** about both companies but in the same sentence state Sparrow had the best standard hook and Genesis was the best basic kit.
I have watched this review 2-3 x. This is a very comprehensive review. I like that you give your grading matrix up-front, and you don't really pull punches. You definitely have helped me make decisions on which lockpick sets to invest in but more importantly what to look for and expect from a lockpick company.
Thanks again
Glad you enjoyed it and it was helpful! I'm working on my brevity.
Plan worked perfectly lol. I got myself the valyrian set from law lock tools the other day still waiting for it to come!
Nice!!
I’m pretty sure the Jimy Longs picks can fit in the CI magnetic case (not sure if it can hold 8). With that and the 3 double-sided turning tools and the TOK bar (both from CI), I think it would be a great combo. That’s the combo I plan to get them and use them in the future when Black Friday comes by, and I think it would be pretty reasonable for all that pricing (if the Jimy Longs picks can even fit in the magnetic case in the first place) compared to something like a Peterson set like the Mayor, but overall nice video.
Thanks for watching brother! Let me know if it works out!
JL don't fit in the tradecraft magnetic case too long and too fat
@@lililililililili8667 Seems like a big problem to me… thanks for the heads up, ill see what i can do
I'm a "Tim" and thank you for this video! Just a note, I don't know anything or the backstory, but the comment at 14:15 is hilarious.... That said, whenever I get into something I ALWAYS want to purchase the highest quality I could afford, (even beyond what I could afford) because I have learned if I don't, I'll be paying 3x more down the road.
I completely agree! Thank you for watching!
20:51 all 300 series stainless steels are austenitic steel, meaning they are work hardened (cold rolled typically) to increase the ultimate tensile. This process also increases the yield strength as well. The smaller you go in size, the higher tensile and ratio of yield/tensile that you can obtain. I’ve worked with very fine 304 wire (0.004” diameter) that had a UTS over 425,000psi. A high yield percentage allows a high degree of deformation recovery, and that’s why we typically call this spring steel.
@@shooteveryday1841 thank you for that info. What tool steel would you recommend for a Lockpick in .015-.019” thickness, with a UTS stronger than 285,000? Right now 301HY is the strongest on the market with the average rating of 285,000psi. The manufacturers I’ve talked to have said they can get the 301HY as high as 300,000psi or a little higher but it’s cost prohibitive. If costs were not an issue, what would be the strongest or next best thing to 301HY? Thanks for the info
I am just starting to research what I want to get for the budget I am working with (about $75USD) and I was thinking of the Sparrows Dark Shift and the expansion just to start off with.
You will hate that pickset my friend. For $74 you can buy much better and more comfortable picks.
@@sandman_locksport I mean I can up some in price, Maybe $120-$150 without the wife getting too upset about another hobby.
Great video my friend
Thanks for sharing
Stay well
Thanks Mur-Lock!
Your videos are great.
I love the Lawlock tools. Great ergonomics. Great quality control and workmanship. Great turning tools.
I do like the Southard but they’re more like popsicle sticks and not as comfortable, so I’ll personally stay away from Multipick.
I am happy with Sparrows but I had to cut down the excess plastic so I could have more consistent entry into the keyways. Some were halfway up to the pick.
I've picked on and off since 2016 with a serious focus since 2020.. so I guess that's technically seven years now for me, three at a minimum.
Favourites include but aren't limited to the Bare Bones 3 Bones deep hooks (my end-all favourite deep hook profiles, especially the collar bone, that thing wrecks high security stuff like medecos and the assa twins), the Jimy gem and rounded medium for medium hooks, and the moki rounded 1/pointed 2 for shorter hooks.
In USD, that's 18 USD including handles for the Bones, 20 USD for a set of four Jimys, and 10 USD for the two mokis. Cheap as chips, but the best of the best in my opinion. You don't need any multipicks or Peterson at 10 USD a pick anymore. That's my take.
Your advice is always appreciated! You’re one of the great ones! Thank you for watching and commenting for us all to learn from you!
I got the covert companion by Cover Instruments and added the turning tool expansion and have loved it so far. I had the Peterson set as inheritance from a co worker who retired and moved to another state.
Which do you prefer to use?
Wait, so _class_ shooter_ric(a_co-worker): ? (Only python Devs will get this joke)
I have always been fascinated with locks and have picked several as a kid by finding things that fit lol. Things in life happened that left me in a bad situation. I am a single parent of two kids, one of which is Autistic. My parents are in bad health and in need of care. To top that off my sister just lost her legs from diabetes. Anyways I lost my job to family doctor appointments. Now with random doctors appointments, dialysis for my sis and mom, and everything that comes with being a single parent, I cant get a normal job because I don't have a schedule that meets an employers expectations. Plus I burnt bridges as a stupid young adult yrs ago. So loosing that job hurt. So I decided that since I need to choose my own hours, love to pick locks, disassemble and reassemble things, and that there isn't a locksmith in town, I might as well choose that as a career. I've had a cheap set of picks for a minute now, but just bought the genesis set from covert instruments. I'm excited and really look forward to the learning experience. Only problem is i don't know where to go for knowledge on locksmith certification.
Sorry you’re going through everything that you have been through. I know exactly how you feel. I was homeless once myself. That Genesis pick set is honestly the only set of tools you will ever need for picking locks as a locksmith. Anything you come across that you can’t get into with that set, just drill it. I would highly recommend you contact a locksmith within your state for mentoring and guidance. Just tell him your circumstance of where you live, and that you’re not in competition with him. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be willing to to help you. My advice would not be helpful because I was a locksmith in Colorado. It’s different for every state.
I'm pretty sure that anyone can call themselves a locksmith
@@PWEIcom except in states and counties where you’re required to have a license to work as a locksmith 🤷🏻♂️ such as the state of Texas, where I live.
Congratulations on cracking the 900 milestone mate.
Thanks PocketWomen! I'm just trying to be cool like you!
Crazy man I started with the old bankook how ever you spell that and it was trash couldn’t pick any masters because the pick was to thick went straight to sparrows and used that until I came across covert instruments now I have most of what they have to offer and pretty happy when ever I can afford more I’ll try some Peterson’s or a different brand watched the whole video while doing some dishes good time thanks
That’s awesome! Check out Bare Bones and Moki picks if you like big handles, or multipick for smaller handles. Thanks for watching!
Hey. No youtube channel yet, but I am an avid picker. Still a relative newbie, but I enjoy it nonetheless. As for my experience with picks:
DEFINITELY stay away from HPC. Their picks are made of brittle steel and simply not worth the money.
Sparrows: decent picks for the price, and definitely economical for new pickers. Are there better picks? Hell yes. But, that being said. Sparrows has a more premium line too that costs a little more.
Covert Instruments: Excellent quality stuff. Currently carry the covert companion everywhere with me. Going to add some of the new expansion packs soon.
Multipick: They appear to have excellent quality, however, due to the cost I have not been able to order a set.
Jimmy Longs: Also appears to be an excellent set, never heard of them before this video. Will definitely be ordering a set. They seem to be made in practical thicknesses for locks such as American 1100’s.
Law Lock Tools, TOOOL, and Moki: Have heard of all of these, and Southern Specialties, but haven’t had the money to purchase them. Definitely want to try the Moki picks.
Peterson: They have decent picks, but like sandman said, their quality control is seriously lacking. Bosnian Bill had quite a lot of picks from Peterson and they apparently did something seriously wrong to irritate him, because he suddenly gave ALL of them away in one of his videos. That pretty much turned me off to them.
As for the “Amazon”/AliBaba Express/etc sites, where you can buy the stuff like HPC, GOSO, etc. I have 2 GOSO sets. They have picks in them I haven’t seen in any other set. Their pics are made of aluminum I think, so you quickly learn to be careful with them so you don’t bend or break them. Again, I would not waste money on a set from HPC though.
So, that is my two cents worth. Hope it helps!
I would say you definitely know what you’re talking about! Thanks for taking the time to help the new pickers! Keep up the hard grind!
Id love to hear your thoughts on Southord, i really love them... Misplaced love??
Excellent video, thanks.
All love, no hate!!!
I have Moki and Jimy sets that I use from time to time but Sparrows Monkey Paw is my go to, then seconded by a Southord Offset Diamond.
Thanks for commenting! You are really doing great with your channel, it’s crazy how far you’ve come in such a short amount of time! You’re kicking ass on some very difficult locks! Keep up the great work!
I don't really mind if my picks arrive kind of rough because I'm going to file and sand them to my liking anyway. It's just the way I'm wired. Leave it to me to occasionally remove too much material sharpening a knife or filing a pick, but it's been a long time since I have, lol.
That being said, what I like about Peterson picks is their steel and their handles. The 420ss has a great heat treatment. It has plenty of stiffness before plastic deformation (bending, oh no!) occurs, while the plastic handles are comfortable and transmit great feedback. I avoid the rubber handles bc $16 per pick is a little pricey, and I'm happy with the $8 plastic handles.
Sparrows have a higher theoretical yield strength with their 301, but they are definitely more bendy than the Petersons. Once bent, the yield strength is shot, and so is the pick. I think their shafts are a little thinner, or maybe it has something to do with the heat treat. Not my go-to picks, but for a cheap, super thin pick set you can slip in your back pocket and not even notice, they're tough to beat. Especially for the price. MUCH better than the little credit card pick sets that you slip in your wallet.
Anyway, great video. I just wanted to throw my two cents in for redundancy.
YES! I’m a beginner, currently orange belt, and I didn’t want to go anywhere near cheap beginner sets. I wanted high performance tools that would make me want to continue with the sport rather than give up because my tools break, get caught on pins due to rough edges, etc. I started with a TOOOL necessary 9 v2 set (301 high yield) which is serving me well and have the Multipick Lock Noob rakes which I adore. I can’t wait to expand my collection. Thank you!
Those are great picks you mentioned. Time to start building your turning tool collection.
I started a little over a month ago with a Sparrows Tuxedo set.. I love those picks, but my hand tends to get a little numb after awhile. I did end up trimming back the plasti-dip. Then I tried JimyLongs, and the more substantial handles are definitely a game-changer in that arena, no more numbness. Serious quality picks. I'm somewhere between a Tim and a Big Tim on your scale. :) I'd love to see a video showcasing the gambit of pick cases available.
Thanks for watching! If you’re looking at different, Lock pick cases, check out my Lock lab video if you haven’t already. My favorite one is the Peterson “the book” pick case. It’s perfect for Jimy Long’s Lock picks, I have a review on that as well. Peterson manufacturing makes the best cases in my opinion. My favorite is the leather masters trifold, retails for $62, it will fit Jimy Longs as well. But they fit better in the nylon “the book” pick case.
@@sandman_locksport I do love me some leather accessories. 🤣 That Masters trifold looks amazing! Saved to my wishlist! I'll check out the review video! Thanks! Love your channel. 😁
Used to be Peterson for me, used to recommend them all the time, but Ken is terrible so I can't do so anymore. Fortunately JimyLongs came along and blew Peterson out of the water. Now I can wholeheartedly recommend JimyLongs and Moki picks above all else for hooks.
I don't point anyone to cheap lockpick sets for one reason, I want them to enjoy locksport as much as possible to increase their odds of sticking around the hobby.
As for Multipick, I have a set of flags, horribly pockmarked for whatever reason, and their flag lengths vary...nonetheless, they are definitely top tier.
Thanks for commenting Norlin! I hope new pickers will read your advice!! You’re one of the legends of Locksport for sure!
What about the knife tools? Again, Peterson is way expensive but some of their tools I find hard to replicate (the knife tool being an example).
@@SkepticTalk different brands definitely have their strengths. I can't say I use the shiv/decoder type tools often (thinner one for decoding, thicker one for bypass) as I primarily just do single pin picking and have very little interest in bypasses.
@@norlin76I was thinking for more a long the lines of certain dial locks but also Gen 3 smartkey from Kwikset needs a shim on the sidebar.
New-ish picker here, I never had the money to afford a decent set of pics so I made my own and they work great (with exception on my pick bending every now and then). One day I want to own a decent set of pics. I've been picking locks as a hobby for probably around 2 years, finding locks that no one uses anymore, finding old rusted padlocks and buying some common locks when I can afford it. Every video on sets and lockpicking is greatly helpful
From the perspective of a beginner myself, I've bought a bunch of stuff from Sparrows, the ghost set, an extraction set, and a few single picks from Peterson, and some stuff from CI including the covert companion which sits in my pocket every day. Personally the covert compaion is awesome for bypassing, but to start picking you need actual picks. I love my creeper set, and the eod set from Sparrows. I know Samdman says quality went down in past 7-8 years. I've only been around a few years and personally love the feel of their picks, and get great results.
Edited for spelling errors
if you love them, then that is all that matters! Thanks for watching!
If someone asks me about a first set or gifting a first set for a friend I'm honestly going to Sparrows. My first manufactured set was the Sparrows competitor and I still use it daily. It's my go to set when I can't pop a tough lock with any of my other brand picks.
They're a 301HY or max steel that everyone looks for.... I Don't know why no one delves into the heat treatment of the steels considering its arguably more important that the type of steel...
I digress, they're priced great, imo the quality is as good as anyone as far as fit and finish...
Just as important for a newbie is they have a "fun" aspect to their products.
I've heard ppl say things like " oh don't get me started on Sparrows" or "I have my opinion on Sparrows but that's for another time".... but I've never heard anyone actually voice their beef w them so idk why they get hate. But I highly doubt a new picker gives a shit about lockpicking politics...
That said I think the Genesis is a GREAT starter set for $30... hoping the new echelon set has more picks to expand on it....
Love my multipicks but not ideal for newbies,
Dame with Peterson... they're great designs but priced accordingly too....
I would advise Jimy Longs... as soon as they release the turners and/or some rakes(hopefully). Absolutely LOVE my Jimy Longs picks. For $100 you get the whole line and TOP quality fit and finish.
So to conclude, I gotta go with Sparrows for the new guy... sorry if anyone hates on Sparrows but I've had nothing but GREAT experience with them so far...
All great information, but Sparrows does not use 301 High Yield steel. They use a “cold max” which is a buzz word, and claim to have 280kpsi in their steel, which is what 301HY will produce in ultimate tensile strength, but that’s not what they are using, there is no such thing as “American Made 301 Cold Max Steel with average tension strength of 280,000 psi”. I have asked 6 different pick manufacturers and they have all told me the same thing, it is not 301HY, they are lying in their marketing. They aren’t the only company to do that either. There are 4 companies that lie about their pick steel. 2 of them are in Germany, 2 are here in America. Sparrows is the 5th company in total that I’m aware of that doesn’t have transparency in their manufacturing process. But if it works for you, that’s all that matters! Also, I shit on sparrows daily and I have the crappy tools to prove it. Thanks for watching!
My favorite picks are the ones I make for myself.
People always say well if you don't like the intro particular parts etc just skip you've got that ability well.. I've skipped and skipped I'm more than halfway through the video and they're still not been a single lock pick yet 😂😂😂 I'm playing appreciate the time thought and detail you're taking to give a nuanced and insightful look into the pics and how you're judging them
Was my dream to become a locksmith. Cant afford to move. Cant get started where I’m at. Washington state law is atleast 2 years of apprenticeship to become a locksmith. But I do help my friends n family out when they need it.
Honestly I pick with what I can afford to bend. I use alot of heavy tension. And on disability. So i get some new pucks when holidays come or bday. Have tried lawlocks to their deaths, sparrows to their deaths, southords to their deaths, and have been trying peterson and Jimylongs. I mostly use Jimy’s now because of pricepoint and quality for price. I have liked them all. Some better than others. As i get better they last abit longer. But also crack alot of locks. I say try em all🤷🏼. Everyones different. What i like another hates n vise vs.
get what ya can afford. Buy a few hooks in each till ya find what feels good.
Hey great video! Made alot of good points.👏👏👏🤘😎
Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching!
I pretty much agree with you on Sparrows, but I have to say I LOVE the case that comes with the Ranger kit. I added a few things to it, changed out some of the picks, but it is the PERFECT go-kit case for me.
Hi! FNG here, thank you for such an honest video and not making me feel like poop for starting out with CI like they did on Reddit. I'm just doing this as a casual hobby and mental focus, this video has been very informative and will help me decide where I want to go next if I decide to level up. I'm now a sub and will be taking your advice into strong consideration. Thank you for not treating the FNG like hot poop.
There are 200,000 accounts on r/lockpicking, and less than 116 black belts, and only 10% of them are still active on Reddit. Don’t listen to losers. Most of those people only own 1 or 2 pick sets, they have nothing to compare their tools to. I own over 50 pick sets, and can confidently say the FNG and anything from Covert Instruments is one of the best sets you can buy. Top 5 every day. Be proud you purchased some of the best tools money can buy as your first purchase.
@@sandman_locksport thank you good brother, I appreciate you!!!
To be honest, ive been picking for a while and use a combination of multipick, peterson, jimylongs, and a few sparrows....my go to lock pick these days however is a sparrows short hook in .015! It fits in any lock, its cheap to replace, and it works well as my first off....from there i go to one of my other higher quality for feed back reasons depending on the lock
Btw sandman im curious which of the peterson cases do you prefer....the g3 or the masters case?
@@jonholistik I love my masters tri-fold the most, they have calf skin which breaks in nicely. I have 3 of them. I prefer “the book” case for my Jimy Longs though as the handles are bigger and the picks are longer than Peterson picks. They still fit in the masters though. And I have my favorite Jimy longs in my go-to case which is a masters tri-fold.
@sandman_locksport thanks for the quick reply...lol i have 20% off my next order from peterson so i figured that basically covers 2 free picks w the purchase of one of the cases and wasn't sure which to swing toward! As always love the vids and you really are quickly becoming one of the most trusted names for product reviews at least in my book as well as many on fb and reddit sir!
Peterson is my favorite. I own tons of different tools but they are a reliable good quality tool. They hold up well against metal fatigue and have a good variety of profiles and thicknesses.
I am not new to lock picking, more of an off and on picker since high school ~15 years. It seems like there are sooo many more options than when I was started picking and trying to make my picks from hacksaw blades and windshield wipers. I also think sellers have become less restrictive (I do not see anyone asking for "proof" of profession). There looks like a lot of high quality stuff out there. I appreciate the information on the steel. I still find myself bending 301 High Yield picks, but at least I know that is as good as it gets. I recently purchased Jimy Longs picks and have found myself using them more than anything else lately. I also have picks from TOOOL, Covert Instruments (CI), Southern Ordinance, and Peterson. I like them all. TOOOL for an intro set, CI for the cool case, Southern Ordinance for the prices/selection, and Peterson for the quality/selection. I don't like all the negative talk from Peterson on his website though, it makes me not want to purchase from him. One thing I do not see mentioned as much is the turning tools (tension wrenches), but I feel like the fit of the turning tool makes a big difference picking. I really like the necessary turners in the TOOOL set, and the ergo turners from CI (wish they fit in a small leather case better).
thanks for watching, i have several videos on just turning tools and tension wrenches. i collect those more than i collect picks. when i buy a lockpick set, i usually also buy a second set of the turning tools to experiment with. i use 4 lock picks for every day picking, but I keep around 30 turning tools in my case at all times.
if your bending 301 HY, your doing something wrong. back off on tension, and make sure your not stuck on the plug warding.
11:35 I agree so much! It's how I feel about music - I know parents don't want to spend a fortune on an instrument knowing their kid might not stick at the hobby, but when they buy the $10 guitar with mile-high action and splinters on the back of the neck, I am like 'This is WHY they won't stick at it!' 😂😂
Im glad you made criticisms as well because that made it feel like an honest review. Liked and subbed!
Thank you. Most people hate how long my videos are. But it wouldn’t feel genuine if it was only five or 10 minutes long.
@sandman_locksport True. You said what you wanted to say, and that matters more than duration imo
Those Sparrow's bare picks with a little sanding also fit the Southord PVC grips ............
Hey sandman, can you do more videos of lockpicking with genesis set. Thank you so much.
No problem. I plan to do more lockpicking in the coming months for sure, and showing ALL kinds of picks. Thanks for watching
@@sandman_locksport 👍
I have used Sparrows for 8 years, and have really loved them. I am starting to venture into other brands, but Sparrows ssdev and the Atilla are the best ive found. I pick Medeco a lot. Have also picked many other high sec locks with them.
Anybody have any SPECIFIC pick recommendations for American use? (stationed in Hawaii and am going to implement this into a side-gig/hobby).
It’s 01:18 and I have to be up in 4 hours for work - but if you could piece together individuals picks/rakes - at about $5-10 a pick - what would you recommend for a cargo-pocket carry?
I’ve picked basic padlocks, master 140s, 575s, and the arms rooms locks at work - although they are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT…
Buy covert instruments Genesis pick set. Thanks for watching one minute and 18 seconds.
I was wondering if you have any experience with Dangerfield picks and if they’re good or not? Thanks for any help.
To be completely honest I don’t. I love his TH-cam videos. I talked with Chris once back in 2017 I think when I interviewed him for a website. He’s a very nice guy and a standup distributor in my opinion. But I didn’t get into collecting picks internationally until this year because it’s just another level of investment I hadn’t committed to yet. They say his picks are similar or copies of mad bobs, but I personally don’t care about that, I’m a consumer and a collector first and foremost and I buy what I can get, and right now, mad bobs hasn’t sold any picks in 2 years so it is what it is. I don’t judge what people sell. I just buy it when I can afford it and then decide if it was worth the money or not. I say give his tools a try.
@@sandman_locksport thanks I appreciate it. I literally just got into picking and bought a a sparrows set before I found any videos or books and I’ve been able to pick 4 different locks in the 2 days I’ve been doing it but I don’t care for not having a grip on them. I ordered several Lishis and curious to play with those and seen some of your videos. Thanks for the content I’ll have lots of videos to watch.
Actually I had the praxis set by Dangerfield and really was happy with them. That is a great set. Comes in .23 for standard locks and .15 for you euros.
Thanks for the review and the reasons why you like what you like.
Is Jimy that popular or out of business? Everything on the site is showing sold out.
He’s been sold out since June. Everything comes back in stock this afternoon. But he will sell out again so get what you can today.
@ my timing is good (hopefully) stalking his site!!
I have covert I have the valerian euro but I still find I use the Chinese set I bought from Amazon for $10, they open everything that comes my way and I have no fear of breaking them
I'm a weirdo I know! 😂 My covert companion is my favourite belonging in the world though , it comes everywhere and also... Nothing it cannot open
I'm not a huge fan of my valerian euro .. it's thin metal due to being able to get into European locks and it does the job perfectly but as you said in the video .. for that price I wish it came with handles
I'm a advanced novice at Best, but I like your style and approach to other bad ass picker s
so Sparrow lock picks aren't a good kit? (for example the monstrum xxL)
They are not THE BEST lock picks. Not even top 5. This video is highlighting the best on the market. Sparrows doesn’t even come close. But they are a lot of fun, they are functional, they are good. Just not best.
Hey Sandman, I appreciate your imput, both here and reddit. 👍🏻
Thank you
I'm also love the Jimy Longs pick. The thickness is just nice for Malaysian locks. Its sturdiness compared to Chinese made picks. And also its affordable to us Asian lockpickers.
I'd agree with everything but the shade you threw at sparrows picks, though the bypass tool is inexcusable I dont think the normal picks are bad.
I understand. Some people love them. there's nothing wrong with that.
Can any of y'all share your thoughts on this one? I can't decide if I want to get the Covert Instruments genesis set, or the Bare Bones equivalent that I put together in my cart. Please, help me😕
Are you new or intermediate? I recommend covert for starting out, they are thick and inexpensive. But if your intermediate, bare bones has tools in .016” and .019” for tighter keyways. But you don’t want to use those if you’re staring out.
Regarding to Sparrows quality, the American bypass and several others are all made in China, and I bet they do not have a Sparrows employee over there keeping an eye on the Chinese. What bothers me more than the extra dip is the bottom end, some are nice and round, some look cut off an an angle, others cut at the bottom. They need to work on better dipped handles. It says a lot when someone newer to the game like Jimy Long can make a much better handle for the same price.
I agree, and Jimy makes them out of his Garage or something like that, and they are the best picks on the Market! That’s crazy to even think about.
that sparrows american bypass is a piece of shit...the shitty plastic handle rotates when you try to turn it. what a joke... i bought it just for fun and it was totally useless..
@@bryanfuknc 100% agreed!
@@sandman_locksport i dont adhere to one company... i regularly use sparrows, southern spec., peterson, jimy, multipick.. i just buy individuals and assemble my own kits.. fuck premade kits..
You competed in locksmith competition? That sounds fun
Great video, you have an lot of picks bud, I'm going to listen to your suggestion lol sucks JLP is sold out right now...
He’ll get caught up eventually! This is a big year for lockpicks! The best tools in the market are coming out this year at the same time
@@sandman_locksport Yeah I was just going through CI's mysterious "Vault" and was intrigued by all their projects, looks like they are going to drop some nice handles soon and the magnetic pinning patch is clearly genius so I may wait on that order.
I noticed you had just posted on the rarely used LP101 forum, I've been a member there since 08' I think but seems dead now, where's the best discussion community right now? Thanks for your all your videos, been a great help getting back into the madness.
Hello Sandman, your videos are great, I've been watching them for a couple of days now, it's all clear and simple.
I have a question : I am in law enforcement, I don't care about the budget. I would like to buy a set that can open padlocks, house doors, bike chains and U shaped locks (for protesters), maybe cars trunks/doors (for older cars instead of breaking the windows) : I might never use them I don't know, but 2 times last week we had to wait for firefighters to arrive with a huge bold cutter to cut a padlock, I mean I could have picked the thing in less than a minute I suppose, it would have been better. That's why I've been watching your videos.
Maybe I should go with 2 sets, one on my combat vest that I carry all the time, and another one, more complete in variety in the service car ?
What do you think ? would you recommend a (or multiple) specific sets ? I live in Western Europe.
Thanks mister ! (Sorry for potential mistakes)
@@echellepliante8759 send me an email, I’ll help you better there. Sandmanryu@protonmail.com
@@sandman_locksport Alright, mail sent Sandman. Thank you for your time !
THANKS SO MUCH.
Thanks for watching!
What kind of a problem am i gonna have buying a set of lock pick tools while living in New York State???
NY
Legal - must show intent
New York Consolidated Laws of New York - PEN Title I - Article 140 - § 140.35 - Possession of burglar's tools. A person is guilty of possession of burglar's tools when he possesses any tool, instrument or other article adapted, designed or commonly used for committing or facilitating offenses involving forcible entry into premises, or offenses involving larceny by a physical taking, or offenses involving theft of services …, under circumstances evincing an intent to use or knowledge that some person intends to use the same in the commission of an offense of such character.
If you have picks that are slightly burred or have sharp edges all is not lost. Get a hold of wet sand paper, from the hardware store or better yet hobby shop or auto motive shop, . They come in various grit size from 299 course up to 2,000 or greater, I recommend 250 and then to 400 , & then 600. That should be sufficient. But you can get up 1,ooo. Some anal retentive types (like me) might go to 2,000. They come up ten thousand and even higher. 600 is sufficient. That grit size will polish the steel to a mirror finish. Industrious sanding will round the edges, and tips, and yield a pick that is smooth like a babies bottom. I do carve wood handles, for my most used picks, that precisely fit my desired shape, and hand. Great video. I appreciate it. P.S. If you are in a hurry, you can use a rotary grinder with felt polishing fobs and grinding stones. There are many grits available, use a separate fob for each grit. PPS I have read that Sparrow tools are No longer made in Canada, They are now made in China, and they are said to be wonky and of poor quality. PPPS the Jimylong site is all sold out. And I have read that he is no longer making tools. Bummer.
Jimy Longs is still making tools. He is sold out because he always sells out every two weeks within 5 to 10 minutes, and has repeatedly done so over the last three months. He’s still making tools He is just sold out. He will have mass production by the end of summer. Everybody has known that sparrows has been selling tools from China for at least a decade. All of the packaging says made in China. Whoever is giving you your information, you should start ignoring them because they don’t know what they’re talking about. Lol jk Also, I’m a woodworker by trade, your theory on using wet sanding only applies to lacquer finish and wood. It doesn’t apply to metal. You don’t need to wet sand metal. You are not sharpening a chisel. And you shouldn’t have to sand any polished lock picks that come from a reputable manufacturer. But I agree a good polish can make them into a mirror and buttery smooth. thank you for watching.
i am by no mean a pro i have only been at this for less then a year, but what has worked best for me so far has been ones i have made myself. but i'm also not on difficult locks yet either, but i don't make fancy picks boils down to what ever thin metal scrap i throw on a bad grinder and and cut random groves into. i even made a few out of dollar tree stake knives. but this does have it's own issues sometimes i don't grind them down enough or some keyways are too small, but i would like a few picks made of tungsten so i can be a little more rough
I don't doubt you at all! Thanks for watching!
I'm new to locksport and really enjoy it. I found this channel after Bosnian Bill and LPL along with lockwood. I have a cheap amazon set, a Master #3, a TSA #007, a couple of acrylic trainers and the Sparrows training locks. I need turners and a few other shapes and I'd like to try bypassing. What do you recommend for a US buyer?
I recommend covert instruments for the best turning tools and bypass tools if that’s what you were asking about. They are based out of Virginia.
I keep hearing that CI is made in USA, but I bought the genesis set and then another small set (I forget the name) but both said "made in China".
@@AC-lq4zw some things are made USA, ive been to their factory. But have no idea what is made where
I've always wondered why Sandman had that black eye...
Hi sandman new to the channel, I had just ordered some sparrows 😬 I think they were $120 but after watching this video and one of your other ones I cancelled my order and ordered some Multipicks! Thanks so much for your guidance 😅
Good decision my brother! You dodged a huge bullet there.
@@sandman_locksport thanks brother! 🙌🏻 😂 yea I was sweating it after that first video and then this one confirmed it big time 😂 I’ll probably continue getting multipick until I get better and start branching off trying some of the other ones you recommend for smaller hands 🙌🏻
Tier 1 toys are best. Law Lock is #1, Covert Instruments is the #2, I would love to own some Jimmy Longs but He's disappeared but I believe they are on the top as well. I've only been in this for a year and am a nobody, So what the hell do I know.
You say that locks have been ranked in difficulty. Where may I find these locks you described and are they available for purchase anywhere?
Lpubelts dot com
@@sandman_locksport Yes.. this pleases me. Thank you.
This may be a little off topic,and not trying too be an ass! But I'm an actual 2nd degree black belt and I'm pretty sure that brown belt is right before black. Just try too understand why they put red before brown? But love your content!! Most definitely one of my favorite lock pickers!!!😊
I’m a real second degree black belt as well in American Karate. I can tell you Kano Jigoro invented the original belt system for judo that only comprised of white, then black belt. Then he added blue to show intermediate level. The karate systems took those ideas and created their own version shortly after. There is no standard version of the karate belt system. Brazilian jiujitsu, which derives from judo has five belts, while most karate systems have nine or 10. Some taekwondo schools end with red belt before black, and some of them end with brown belt before black. And in jiujitsu, red belt is only for grandmasters. There is no one particular order for belts in any martial. There is only the order that you have grown up in. In the end, It’s just a game for Lock pickers.
Lastly, you need to consider reading books on other martial arts. You’re a second degree now, you should know these things.
Thank you for the compliments and for watching my videos. Learn from everyone and cross train in everything.
Ya, it has been years ago since I've been in practice, appreciate you hitting me back, hey, do you have any videos on maybe maybe decent plug followers and equipment to dismantle locks?
@@Mofo78786 amazon, the pro-lok 4 piece color set is what I use, and junlinx lock pin tumbler tweezers is all you need.
I picked up the Southord PXS-14 kit. Is that an ok one? I really wish i watched this before buying em. It woukd be my first pick set after the PNG set from CI.
Have fun with it. That’s all that matters. I could tell you that Jimy Longs is the best be they are always sold out and impossible to get. Same with Moki. Just collect and have fun. Your collection will grow and you’ll find what you love ❤️
@@sandman_locksportthanks for the quick reply! I appreciate the advice! Thank you
I absolutely despise velcro cases. If I'm about to pick my way into something or somewhere in a secret evil military compound, the last thing I want is a loud, annoying case holding all my precious tools...
"Damn, it's locked..." *opens case, alerting every guard in the compound within a half km radius*
💂💂👮👮💂👮
Luckily, you’re not not 007
How do you feel about Sparrow Monkey Paw?
I havnt spent a lot of time with the new ones yet. The old one is .025” which is too thick for Schlage or most paracentric locks
@@sandman_locksport The .025 work just fine in a Schlage lock.
So I’m not a locksmith or a pro picker. But I can say in a lot of jobs and hobbies the person using the tools can make up for crappy tools with experience. So I would take that into account when you see a phenomenal picker say a lower quality tool will work just fine. Sometimes it’s worth it to save up and go up in quality to have an easier time starting out.
That’s fine, but a race car mechanic doesn’t use Icon or Husky Tools. my entire channel in 60 videos that I have made up to this point is highlighting the best tools in the hobby. You won’t like this channel if you’re not in that frame of mind. This is a review channel, it would not be fun to watch if I talked about all the Chinese knock off garbage tools and tell you that you can pick a lock with them. I can pick a lock with a paperclip. It doesn’t mean I should start reviewing paper clips.
Blue Spruce Tools, Lie Nielsen, Veritas and Multipick. Rock on 👍🏼
lol. yeah buddy. i have a lot of lie nielsen. i skipped the veritas, but i have rob cosman and vintage and antique stanley, new old stock,
Hell yeah! I lucked into a Rob Cosman dovetail saw second, and I can’t find the flaw anywhere! Fantastic 👍🏼
@@catdaddy3941 I was a recipient of the Rob Cosman purple heart project, October 2021. He flew me out to Canada and I took his 7 day class for veterans and he gave me $4k worth of tools and a $2k work bench. He’s a great man.
@@sandman_locksport Outstanding! I love his PHP and I’m glad I’ve “met” a recipient! Thank you for your service and I know I’m not alone in thanking Rob for what he does for veterans. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 💜
My favorite kit is the sparrows tuxedo lol
Is it your favorite among 5 other sets that you own? Or is it your favorite because it’s the only one you have? (Amazon sets don’t count)
@@sandman_locksportI have I think 6 kits 2 are homage though. I just like it partly because I have had the most time using the picks by like 2 years and it was the first kit that got me into this hobby. Also my edc
Nothing wrong with that. Use what you love
@@sandman_locksport yeah
@sandman_locksport yeah
Dangerfield makes good picks
I want to review some. Just don’t have any
Lovely.
You will have some my friend!@@sandman_locksport
Jimy longs, hands down
I’m retired and I picked up lock picking as a hobby. Keeps the hands working and keeps the brain thinking
Sparrows quality should be better, but I really like their artistic nature of their products
I agree!
😮Off topic message to Sandman-
Try writing a script for yourself. Just like other speech making, some folks are better suited to adlib or extemporaneous speeches than others. Some, like myself need to organize out thoughts to stay on point. Having only watched one video, i have no question about your base knowledge, it is the presentation I would suggest could be improved. Don't be too shy to post production edit your product.
What about SouthOrd?
South Ord is Tier 2 my friend. Not trash, but low class, not even top 10. most of their stuff is just highly polished 1095 stainless steel. which is the same steel thats been used for 100 years. Zero innovation. Huge selection, but your not getting quality for the money in my opinion. I have their tools, I don't collect them beyond what I have purchased already.
My Peterson set is very old and very well done. I don’t know about the plastic handled, but all rubber are full tang. My SouthOrd Max are tanks, but I actually prefer shorter handles. Lately, I have preferred carrying compact edc tools though. Swick and CI Covert Companion are both good, but The Entry Kit from Tuff Possum Gear is excellent!
301 full hard was my nickname in college
I love it! 😂
Lady locks is awsome helps me out when i need it on facebook messenger