Many of us entering the world of lock picking are looking to buy our first lock pick set. However, the mass number of products flooding the market can sometimes seem daunting.
On top of that, do we really need all these picks? Do we really need to throw down $200 on a set with every pick known to man, or can we obtain a functional lock pick set for cheap?
If you have read my last post about the different types of lock picks, you will know to successfully pick most locks, we only need a few primary picks.
So what is the best budget lock pick set?
Best Lock Picking Set
Hands down, the best beginner lock pick set is the GSP Ghost Lock Pick Set.
This high-quality lock pick set includes everything that any picker will need to get a running start into the craft of lock picking!
Be sure to check out my hands-on review of this lock pick set, where I explain exactly why it is the best for any skill level and exactly why each tool is ideal!
Budget Lock Pick Set
First, I will just come out and just say what I think you should get as a beginner on a budget.
Buy these three items, and you're pretty much set for life!
- Short Hook Pick: The most common and reliable short hook used in North America is Peterson's GSP H1 Short Hook (10.00)
- Bogota Style Rake Pick: The most common rake used in locksport is the Bogota Peterson's Bogota 3 (10.00)
- Tension Wrench Without a Twist: And a fantastic set of tension wrenches for every sized lock Peterson 6 Piece Tension Wrench Set (12.00)
With these two picks and a decent set of tension wrenches, you can pick any pin tumbler lock in North America! (Check out this guide - 9 Best Locks To Quickly Learn Lock Picking)
Locksmiths today still use a rake pick style that is more than 50 years old. However, this Bogota Style, aka “Pagoda,” was developed 10 years ago and is now the favorite among locksport enthusiasts and locksmiths alike.
That’s it. No frills, no fluff, not even a damn carrying case.. speaking of which.
The Lock Pick Case
Who am I to tell you how to accessorize? Let this choice be yours alone, but I will, of course, gladly point you in a few directions.
You can buy a SouthOrd leather case, but they are pretty crappy.
I personally favor Peterson's pick cases. Their nylon cases are padded, so you won’t bend or damage your lock picks while they are tucked away in your pocket, and they won’t stab you in the ass if you sit on them. However, they are pricey.
Peterson does make a nicer line of pick cases that are made of Cow Hide or Lamb Skin. I prefer Lamb Skin as they are a snug fit around your lock picks. But they are pretty expensive, definitely not needed for a budget lock pick set.
Let's Talk Locks
A lock pick set should be designed around the type of lock you want to compromise.
However, the fact is 90% of all North American residential and commercial locks are pin tumbler locks.
So when you are being offered a $150 pick set with 50 different lock picks inside it, chances are it’s just 50 lock picks designed to open one type of lock… the pin tumbler lock.
So that’s potentially 48 lock picks that are not needed and are just added fluff to your set!
There are very few pick sets that actually offer tools that open multiple styles of locks, and the ones that do cost in excess of $200-$500, and rightfully so as they implement special tools for certain high-security features.
But even taking a closer look, those sets just include tools used for bypassing or for destructive entry only. They rarely include any tools for actual surreptitious entry or anything that can manipulate the key pins covertly beyond what the basic pin tumbler lock pick can do.
Before I can go further, we must establish what a high-security lock is and isn’t. A lock with special pins, such as spool pins or mushroom pins, is not a high-security lock. It is just a lock with added security pins. The lock is no different by design or function.
An actual high-security lock will have added security features such as a slider or finger pins, a sidebar, rotating pins, and so on. These are actual physical changes in the design and function of a traditional pin tumbler lock, thus qualifying it as high security and even giving it a UL rating in some cases.
Some of these locks do require special tools to manipulate those features, but those tools are not lock picks. They are usually special tension wrenches, probes, small “jackknives,” or special dimple picks called “Flags”. These tools do not look like a lock pick, nor function as one.
So once again, 90% of all residential and commercial locks do not need these special tools to be compromised. However, then again 10% do.
With that being said, there are only 2 methods of attack when utilizing lock picks on non-high security pin tumbler locks; single pin picking and raking. (Be sure to check out our comprehensive lock picking guide!)
Therefore, there is no need for 50 lock picks. There is only a need for a pick and a rake. However not all pin tumblers have the same size keyway or the same shape of keyway.
Some are downright nasty looking and can require thinner tools for the job. But those thinner tools require a thinner touch.
When you’ve found the two picks you like the best and have used them for a period of three months, consider investing in another 2 picks with a thinner gauge metal than your previous pair. This will help with those pesky devil locks.
The average North American Pin Tumbler Lock Pick will be 0.025 thick. However steel manufacturers have up to 0.002 tolerances, so you could get picks that are considered “standard” sized at 0.023-0.027 thick. That is fine. North American keyways are HUGE by comparison with European or Japanese locks. So your first set should be in that range.
Your second set should be in the 0.015 to 0.020 size range. Common ‘Slim’ or ‘Slender’ lock picks are sold in 0.015 and 0.018 sizes. There was once a 0.014 thick line of picks offered by Peterson, but everyone complained so they didn’t last a full year to my knowledge.
Now onto our choices for budget lock pick sets.
Complete Budget Sets
Peterson Locksmith Tools
Note: One of the key advantages of Peterson lock picking tools are their handles. They are ergonomic, cross-hatched to prevent slipping, and you can hold them for long picking sessions without your hands cramping every 5 damn seconds.
Talon Pick Set (priced $59.95). The Talon set offers a great selection of picks including a nifty little pick called the "Hooked Diamond" that is fantastic for reaching behind lower set pins. This set also includes 6 tension wrenches and one of Peterson's padded nylon cases. The one con of this set is it doesn't include a top of the key-way prybar – but most sets don't anyways.
Ghost Pick Set (priced $68.95). This set also offers a great selection of picks including a "Peterson Reach," a tool similar to the Hooked Diamond that is not only great for picking behind low set pins but also great for rotating pins if you get into picking high-security locks. This set also includes 6 tension wrenches and one of Peterson's padded nylon cases. BUT, this set also includes a top of the key-way prybar for tensioning the center of the key-way.
GSP Ghost Pick Set (priced $76.99). This set contains all of what was mentioned above in the Ghost Pick Set. The difference, however, is the metal used. This is a GSP set which stands for "Government Steel Pick." Most pick manufacturers use spring steel for their picks, but Peterson's government steel picks are made of an elite stainless steel alloy that far stronger and exclusive to Peterson tools. (Check out our review!)
SouthOrd
PXS-14-Beginners Lock Pick Set (priced $26.95). This is a very nice lock pick set! However their rubber handles have been known to “dampen” feedback, thus making it harder to identify locks with security pins, and even harder to manipulate them. It includes very good tension wrenches and a decent zip-up case, however, that case does not have any slots for your picks, you have to just toss them into the case!
MPXS-11 Piece Lock Pick Set – With Metal Handles (priced $31.95). This is not too bad, but it is still a mixture of decent picks with crappy ones.
BPXS-12 Pagoda Lock Pick Set – With Metal Handles (priced $38.95). This is a very cool looking set! But it has a ton of fluff. Your lock does not know the difference between 2 ridges or 3, or the interval of ridges in between. I suspect the people that buy this set are either really curious, or they dress their miniature dogs to match the weather. I can see me buying this set, as I too am curious… and own a miniature dog… no, I don’t dress her… yet.
MPXS-14 Piece Lock Pick Set – Metal Handles (priced $37.95). This is not a bad pick set at all! Great set, some fluff but not too much.
Sparrows Lock Picks
Expansion Set (priced $19.95). This set is not for me. Lock picks without handles are very uncomfortable, and this does not have a good selection of tension wrenches, and no case.
Kick Start (priced $24.95). This has better tension wrenches and includes a case, but it’s still very uncomfortable to use non-handle lock picks.
The Grad 2.0 (priced $29.95). We just went from better… back to worse with this set. It has a horrible selection of tension wrenches, very uncomfortable non-handle lock picks, there is no case, but includes pinning tweezers? A lot of good tweezers will do you without a set of plug followers!
Ok, screw this, I’m just going to skip right to their lock pick sets that have handles on them. If you personally enjoy picking locks for hours on end without a handle on them, maybe you’re on the wrong site, the BDSM page is on another site!
Apparently, the “budget” sets with handles on the Sparrow’s website are in the advanced portion of the site. But I’ll stick with the tempo here and list the budget sets below that have handles.
Sparrows Night School (priced $95.00). This is a very awesome set! Very cool! Very expensive! Definitely not a budget set but if you have a job, then why not right? However, keep in mind it is EXTREMELY hard to hold onto any “Key In Knob” cylinders without a table vice to clamp it in. Great kit though, even for its price.
HPC
The problem with HPC is not quality or even price, but availability. When they are available for sale, it is usually only as a set, and at outrageous prices. When sold individually, they sell for as low as $1.50 for a spring steel lock pick and $4.00 for a stainless steel pick (similar prices compared to SouthOrd). But they seem to be only available individually to locksmiths. That means their distribution is locked down real tight to only legitimate security hardware distributors. Good luck finding them individually!
Novice Lock Pick Set (priced $24.95). This is a 13 piece set, with only 3 of the picks having handles attached to them. The actual value of this set is probably around $5 total. So you are paying $20 for the case and added fluff tools.
Tyro Lock Pick Set (priced $24.95). This is a 15 piece set for the same price as the Novice pick set, and still only includes 3 lock picks with attached handles on them. You are still just paying for the case and added fluff tools that you will never need or use.
HPC Delux Pick Set ($38.50). This is a 16 piece kit, that is pretty much the same as the Tyro pick set, just one extra handled pick and a more expensive case! The actual value of the tools is around $6 total. So you are paying now paying $32 for the case!
Superior Lock Pick Set (priced $56.75). There is nothing superior about this set, other than it offers 8 lock picks with handles, for a total value of $12! But don’t forget to add that crappy case for $44. Wait a minute… didn’t we just see that case for $32 in the previous set??? WTF is going on here!
Now there is a 35 Piece Lock Pick Set being offered for around $63 online. It is a colored set, with all the picks having colored aluminum handles, and it comes with the same case as the Superior Lock Pick set, but for 1/3rd of the cost! However it is restricted to security professionals only, or con-artists that know how to talk to the distributor. It really is a decent set! And at $1.50 for each of the 35 lock picks, you’re paying $52.50 for all the picks, and only $10.50 for the same case that cost $44 in the previous set. That will lead us to believe that if you want HPC, you really need access to a legit distributor. But at the end of the day, 35 lock picks is way too much fluff, and $63 is NOT a budget lock pick set. However, this is a very common lock pick set used by locksmiths.
Build It Yourself
Do you like Sparrows or Petersons but don’t want to buy a complete kit? Then build one yourself based on either my suggestions of picks to buy or your own.
For Sparrows, you will be looking at $35-$50 for a basic kit with 2-3 picks, some tension wrenches, and a case. However, their tension wrench selection is sub-par as they would prefer you buy them in bulk from their site and not individually like most others.
For Petersons, you will be looking at a $40-$70 for a basic kit with 2-3 Nickle Plated Picks at $3.00 each, their Government Steel with Plastic Handles are priced at $8.00 each, and their Government Steel with Rubber Handles are priced at $15.00 each. A tension wrench will run you $10, and a case is nylon case is $22. So depending on which type of pick you prefer, rubber handled or plastic, nickel finish or stainless steel, will all change the cost.
For a list of quality lock pick manufacturers, check out my article Where To Buy Lock Picks: Ultimate Buyer's Guide
To Conclude
Those are my suggestions and criticisms. If you can grasp the concept that you don’t need 50 picks to open one lock, then you can appreciate this lengthy article. But if you’re a tool collector like me, you won’t listen to any of the 2,600+ words I’ve typed here, and you’ll buy every pick you can afford till the wife catches you sneaking off to the mailbox before she gets home from work!
