There are few things worse in this world than being so close to opening a lock and having to drop your tools because of hand cramps or bleeding fingers. There is something about holding tiny tools in your hands for an extended amount of time that will cause you pain… and not just physical, but emotional. Note that this isn't stating that Sparrows lock picks are low quality, but rather that they hold a different standard and profile. Because the tip of the hook is wide and flat, it is easier to locate the pins and control them while lifting as they are less likely to slip off a flat surface. This is where the Peterson short hook has the advantage for a beginner. Notice that the bottom of the key pin is very narrow and imagine the amount of precision it would take to align a pointy tipped hook with that pin and lift it without it slipping off.

This difference may seem slight but it can make a huge difference in how the lock pick acts on the pins. Sparrows.Īs you can see, the Peterson short hook has a much wider and flatter tip while the Sparrows is much thinner and pointer. To illustrate this, let’s look that the common short hook from two different popular manufactures - Peterson vs. Of your picks will directly affect how effective they can be in the lock.ĭifferent manufactures have different standards and designs at which they uphold. Invest in quality, stay away from Amazon. When it comes to the quality of the material used, remember that it typically costs considerably less to start with quality picks than it does to replace cheaper ones several times over. So this means that GSP picks are very strong and can put up with a ton of abuse for a long time. Government steel is a special stainless steel alloy similar to the 420 stainless steel that is used in many surgical tools when they don't want pieces breaking off into people – The GSP stands for ' Government Steel Picks.' This is where the GSP Ghost set has a HUGE advantage over other lock pick sets. Many cheaper picks, like those found on Amazon, are simply stamped out of very soft and malleable steel that will bend and break very easily. If you choose picks made of a poor material they could easily break or bend –Įither of which makes it difficult to continue using the tool. Lock picks are thin and fragile creatures by nature that are designed for the simple purpose of opposing the force of a small spring and the slight amount of friction caused by binding pins.īut regardless of their fragile nature, beginners tend to have a very heavy hand while picking and are typically very abusive to their picks – Let's look at a few important characteristics of a good lock pick.

These qualities not only affect the lifespan of your picks but also the feedback they provide you and the overall effectiveness they have in the lock. There are several characteristics that determine the quality of a lock pick. Quality is one of the most important aspects of lock picks, yet it is sadly one that many beginners tend to overlook or ignore. Let's cover each and see where the GSP Ghost set fits in! Quality of Tools When it comes to selecting your first set of lock picks, it truly boils down to two primary concerns – What Makes the Best Beginner Lock Pick Set? So let's jump into what exactly you should look for when investing in lock picks, what you should avoid, and why the Peterson GSP Ghost Set is hands down the best beginner lock pick set out there! With so many different types of picks and random-looking tools out there today-it's truly a daunting task for anyone just starting out.

Rather it’s caused by beating one’s face repeatedly against the nearest hard object while trying to establish what the best beginner lock pick set is. Oddly enough, the first headache inflicted by this awesome craft of lock picking typically isn't from picking a lock. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Peterson lock picking tools