What is a good set of lock picks for beginners?

[@scottmerriman8549]

I don't care what anybody says about sparrows, I like their picks, tension tools and all the practice lock that they sell! And their prices are very reasonable, and shipping is great!

[@pieinthesky4106]

SPP is great, however some of us are interested in opening locks by the greatest number of means. No matter how we open is a successful operation, other than, of course, destruction. It's a wide sport with many ways of thinking. Individual thought rules the day.

[@lockpickingbelfast]

Loved the video! I have to admit I do enjoy a wee rake. I feel it shows the vulnerability of every day locks to a non skilled attack. Where I live in N Ireland i think most people think every padlock is secure, not the case unfortunately, as lots can be opened in seconds with a non skilled rake attack 🤔 People need to see this!!! That said, every day is a school day for me lol Happy picking :)

[@kixpickss]

Great the video Jon, excellent recommendation and I agree with you in everything but I'd add 1 rake, most of begging if they didn't see a lock open they will give up fast, so rake just to boost the confidence, then they open with the rake that would challenge them to move a single pin picking..

[@NiqScott]

I feel as though this is the G Rated remake of my beginner video 😉 - nice job Jon. 100% agreement on the Amazon junk.

[@roysammons2445]

I think this is a very well made video and you have covered most points. There's fantastic advice here that 'would be' Lock Sport pickers would do well to follow. Cheers Jon, great video.

[@JonLock]

I appreciate that so much, thank you!

[@thedownwardmachine]

I'm partial to the Sparrows Wizwazzle. Nice handles, good pick selection, and lots of turning tools. It just needs a set of flat bars to fill it out. This kept me going for years until I needed the SSDeV set for a certain lock, and I needed some thinner picks for some tighter keyways. Also highly recommend that reload kit and the pinning tweezers.

[@craigslitzer4857]

Just a brief word about rakes. They may bypass the "sport" aspect of lockpicking, but from a functional standpoint, sometimes they can get a lock to turn quicker & more easily than SPP, depending on the brand and bitting of the lock. So from a "working" standpoint, they are viable in their own right and can add a good value to a pick kit. This means locksmiths who have been hired to enter a space or similarly minded individuals. Likewise if you're into the sport of it, and your practice locks have been kicking your butt, sometimes you need a win for morale and go grab your cheap padlock that you know a rake can pop open.

[@chriscapune7873]

Wonderful video!!!! I agree with all your recommendations 😃 Most of my picking is done with a Sparrow’s euro hook. Lately some of it is done with the Monkey Paw 😀 They have great value, are delivered quickly and last a long time . My go to pick has lasted a bit over two years . Can’t ask more then that! Great information and description of the products. 🐈‍⬛🐾🐈🐾🍻

[@thetwistedshackle]

Great Video and good advice. 👍

[@JonesingForTools]

Great review brother, I also subscribed!

[@JoePicksLocksport]

Fantastic video Jon! One of the many reasons I love your channel! You provide so much helpful information to lock pickers and would be lock pickers alike!

[@LockFumbler]

What a great video 👍👍👍 I wish I would have seen this video before buying my sets back in the days... now I also have accidental rake set In a drawer 🤦‍♂️... completely agree to all your points 👍 I also loved the progressive locks set in addition with the repinning kit 👌 thanks for creating this 👏👏

[@StevesLockPicking]

Very nicely done

[@butchvandyk1051]

thank you for the good info... just one question... how about the "revolver" from sparrows?

[@JonLock]

I don’t recommend the revolver. There are some quality control issues which make it very easy to pick, easier than most normal locks.

[@j.gabriel8573]

nice information, I went a little above and beyond and actually got the monstrum beginner set to give one of my boss's nephews, among some other stuff. I thought I would give him a generous care package in the spirit of the LockSport community

[@peter-gn8ey]

newcomer here, I'm looking to purchase my first proper set and I'm also in the UK. I constantly see comments along the lines of "you'll want some slimmer picks for those narrower keyways which are common in Europe" so I was initially leaning towards the tuxedo royale but then equally you see comments saying 0.015 is too thin for beginners. I was wondering then what if I just order the sparrows range in 0.02 which should in theory be a happy medium. any thoughts?

[@jeffandthings77]

I've missed the Hooker set-I had gone with the Spirit set myself, spending a little more. Not sure which is better or worse, since I rarely use the rakes, and would probably prefer those handles on the Hooker set.

[@geoffrymcgary]

Got my first pick set (CI Genesis set) last October then for Christmas 3 separate people got me different Amazon pick sets. They were almost unusable compared to the Genesis set :p filed a few to better profiles and gave them to friends :D Enjoyed the vid, always great to hear experienced enthusiasts perspective.

[@canadafree2087]

Sparrows fan boy here but I'd never recommend any Sparrows without their handles like the Tux set. New pickers should not suffer the pain of .025 thin sheet metal digging into their hands.

[@Nicks-Picks]

Only thing I can add is I've seen snapped Peterson's and sparrows, never seen a broken lawlock though.also agree with you on app all the way😁 Nice vid and thanks for sharing🙏😁🤜🤛

[@jameshall1300]

My first real set of picks that I bought for myself after the Amazon specials was the Hooker set from sparrows, which I highly recommend. That set, the other BOK tensioner set, and a TOK pry bar set from them will go a very long way. I tried a Dangerfield set before that ( the dial guage one ) that didn't like much at all and got drawered very quickly. I still primarily use sparrows picks to this day, although it's mostly the SSDEV and monstrum picks, supplemented with some SouthOrd .20" inch hooks and a snake rake to get some locks into a false set. Still want to venture into some MultiPick and Law Lock picks at some point, but the price has kept me away for now. The SouthOrd picks are a great value at about $1.50 each if you get the no handles version and some marine grade heat shrink to make handles for them.

[@nyteslain5967]

sparrows customer service sux i ordered a kit never recived it and they told me to go fly a kite so ya .

[@TheTastefulThickness]

Red Belt. Hiyaa