The lockpicking tools aren’t the ones that can open every lock, but the ones that help you pick locks faster and better. A proper lock picking technique (Single Pin Picking or SPP) isn’t complicated and, with a little practice, will have you opening locks in days, if not hours. The key to SPP is identifying the first binding pin and slowly lifting it while maintaining steady pressure with a tension wrench. Then you can find the next pin that binds more than the remaining ones and similarly lift and set it. Continue this process until all the pins are lifted and you have a working lock.
Lockpicking Tools: A Comprehensive Guide to the Essentials for Beginners
There are a number of different picks and tension wrenches that you can use to help you with SPP but not all of them are created equal. You’ll want to have a good variety of tools, particularly different rakes. Some locks will respond to a certain technique more than others and having multiple options available can save you time and money by not forcing a lock that doesn’t need it to open.
If you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to stick with just a couple of tools until you get the hang of picking. Swapping between 17 different tools will only confuse you. This is especially true if you’re trying to learn SPP because each tool gives you a slightly different variation of feedback.