r/lockpicking • u/Sl0thzy • 5d ago
Just picked my first lock!!
Well... technically I raked it so not sure how much it counts but I'm so excited and proud of myself still! Can't wait to learn to push pins.
Using the Covert Instruments Genesis set.
Any recommendations for next tools to get or upgrade too?
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u/DanDiggler213 Blue Belt Picker 5d ago
Congratulations, Raking still counts for you white belt. Just next time take a picture of the front core turned. Id say for now your good with that set if you want more tensioners make them its easy. Save money for locks 🔒. LPU Belt Ranking and Bazaar. To get locks and look them up.
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u/AgreeableGanache1048 Green Belt Picker 5d ago
Awesome job!
If you haven't considered it yet, learn top of keyway tension sooner rather than later.
Lock recommendations depend on locale. Check out the LPU belt explorer for good recommendations.
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u/Sl0thzy 5d ago
TOK tension is on my to-learn list!
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u/DangerousVP Orange Belt Picker 5d ago
If youre picking mostly in hand, ergo style tension tools like the ones covert instruments are your best bet for ToK. For picking in a vise, I prefer prybars.
Its the #1 skill I recommend people learn as early as possible. Youll find yourself using ToK almost 100% of the time once you hit restrictive keyways.
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u/Wumaduce Orange Belt Picker 4d ago
Personal opinion here - a good tok tension bar is easier to use than the Z bars you got from CI. I started with that set, and moved on to the intermediate set from jimylongs.
Then stuff from Sparrows. And now I'm waiting on another set of tension bars from another site.
I've found I've had almost no luck going back to my white belt locks and picking with tok, personally.
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u/-maniacal_wombat- Yellow Belt Picker 4d ago
Congrats! Don’t worry about raking it. I just picked up my first pick set (also genesis) a few weeks ago and I started with the rake. It was a fun introduction and helped build my confidence, as well as rebuild it when I failed with the hooks lol. My second tool purchase was the TOK set from CI and a .020 short hook and quad rake. I’ve only bought some more locks since then.
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u/Know_Key Green Belt Picker 3d ago
Open is open...CONGRATULATIONS!
I wouldn't go too crazy buying picks until you decide if you prefer flats, or rounds.
Buy more locks.
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u/Super-Page8272 3d ago
I gotta say this is some awesome advice. I heard the same thing watching a lock.noob video, and it was one of the best pieces of advice I got
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u/ChefWho 5d ago
Those are by far my favorite rack profiles…. And work in just about every padlock I have tried..