54 • HINTS&TIPS
Take
Your Pick
Mark Ward of Anglia
Locksmiths explains that
as with all locksmith tools
- it’s not the tool that does
the work it’s the practice
and techniques learnt
by the locksmith sat in
front of the television at
night or in the workshop
which brings perfection
and makes the job look so
easy at times in front of
customers. When it comes
to a picking gun, you will
find that your success rate
in opening cylinders will
increase immensely with
the following advice…
» » “NOWADAYS THERE IS AN ARRAY OF
EPGs (Electric Pick Guns) on
the market ranging from under
£50 up to £500. When buying
one,it’s the same old adage,
you get what you pay for.
Once you have your gun,
you need to take a look at the
picking blades which either
come with the pick gun or
are available to purchase
separately. You have a choice
between thin stainless blades
or the heavier black steel type.
For everyday use, the black
steel blades should be sufficient and will
last longer but with some of the higher
security profile cylinders you will have no
choice but to use the thinner stainless
steel version. With both types it is
always a good idea to get some fine wet
and dry paper or emery cloth and then
smooth the rough edges and polish the
blade. This will allow the blade to move
much more freely within the keyway
‘with some of the higher
security profile cylinders
you will have no choice
but to use the thinner
stainless steel version’
ensuring you of a higher rate of success
in opening the lock. They both come in
an array of different shapes and sizes
but I personally still prefer the standard
straight flat blades.
Secondly - and the one where I see
most people doing it wrong - is to
make sure you insert the picking blade
correctly. If you look at a blade you will
see that there is one straight edge and
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another edge which has a curve. The
strength in the blade is on the straight
edge and should be the edge that
always strikes the pins. You will definitely
break far more blades when it is inserted
incorrectly, that is upside down. So if
picking a rim cylinder the straight edge
should be at the top and if picking a Euro
cylinder the straight edge should be at
the bottom. Another reason for fixing this