Best/Favorite pick set?

[Fusion13]

Looking at getting a new set of picks, of course there is Amazon with Gearwrench, Titan etc... They're is snap on and the other truck brands...
What's your favorite pick set? What do you think is the best pick set to buy?

 

[ItsNemo]

I have the OTC master hook and pick set, it's been good, 7 years and only one of the little ones with the funny offset tip has ever bent (not broke).

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

This Icon set has been great. Bought it to replace the orange Pittsburgh set. These are much better made and I’m using them professionally. I think the set was $14 I want to say and it’s well worth it.

 

[CJM8515]

ullman. sears used to sell craftsman branded one. simple and effective

 

[bob15]

snap on soft instinct handle set, green

 

[speed88]

snap on soft instinct handle set, green

+1

 

[Fusion13]

snap on soft instinct handle set, green

These are what I was looking at

 

[charbar]

I reach right over the top of my Snap On picks and go for my orange handled Harbor Freight ones almost every time.

I'm pretty hard on picks and they hold up pretty good. When one starts going to chit then throw it in the trash and grab another one. The 4 pc. sets are 99 cents. I have them all over the shop.

 

[Mikeske]

I am the same with getting the cheapest pick sets as I am really hard on the picks and the Harbor Freight ones are my go to ones as why spend more when I just bust them up anyway.

 

[thr3squared]

Full size pic set - Mayhew (they're beefy)

Mini pick set - orange handled HF

 

[Jlarson]

For minis I go with the mayhews now along with their matching o'ring spoons. Use them almost every day resealing valves, cylinders, orb fittings among other picking tasks. They have the progrip usa made ones now too

 

[four.cycle]

Wilde-branded set made by Ullman. Well made, but handles are pretty skinny.
Craftsman set (also made by Ullman, if I'm not mistaken.) Handles are of adequate size, the the shaft of the tool threads into the handle and they are constantly coming loose, which drives me nuts.
To be honest, I'm not really sure I'm happy with either of these sets, but something along the line of that "Icon" set above with those monstrous handles would be far more handle than I'd like. Something between these two, where the business end wasn't continually working loose from the handle, would be ideal.
Just my two cents.


I suppose securing the shafts to the handles on the Craftsman set with an epoxy glue might solve the issue, and wonder if anyone else here has had the same issue with these and what remedy they used.

 

[bassJAM]

Wilde-branded set made by Ullman. Well made, but handles are pretty skinny.
Craftsman set (also made by Ullman, if I'm not mistaken.) Handles are of adequate size, the the shaft of the tool threads into the handle and they are constantly coming loose, which drives me nuts.
To be honest, I'm not really sure I'm happy with either of these sets, but something along the line of that "Icon" set above with those monstrous handles would be far more handle than I'd like. Something between these two, where the business end wasn't continually working loose from the handle, would be ideal.
Just my two cents.


I suppose securing the shafts to the handles on the Craftsman set with an epoxy glue might solve the issue, and wonder if anyone else here has had the same issue with these and what remedy they used.

I have that identical Craftsman set, plus a "stubby" Craftsman set. Occasionally the picks are a little loose and I hand tighten them. I've considered fixing them with red threadlocker, but it's one of those things that doesn't bother me enough to take 5 minutes to do. I've never even used pliers to tighten, which might be enough to keep them snug.

 

[KenC]

HF here too. 'cause they're cheap, work ok and I don't feel bad about cutting, grinding, bending etc to get a particular shape or size. Just grab another set, did I mention cheap?

 

[oldwino]

Ullman here. reasonable price and can withstand some abuse

 

[Fusion13]

Thanks guys...I don't have a harbor freight or anything around being in Canada but I'll keep an eye out for some decent cheap ones

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I'm not a professional but the HF set (or two) has served me well for the better part of a decade (perhaps longer?). Not something to spend a ton on IMHO.

-Brian

 

[charbar]

Wilde-branded set made by Ullman. Well made, but handles are pretty skinny.
Craftsman set (also made by Ullman, if I'm not mistaken.) Handles are of adequate size, the the shaft of the tool threads into the handle and they are constantly coming loose, which drives me nuts.
To be honest, I'm not really sure I'm happy with either of these sets,


I suppose securing the shafts to the handles on the Craftsman set with an epoxy glue might solve the issue, and wonder if anyone else here has had the same issue with these and what remedy they used.

I also have a couple sets of the actual Ullman branded ones. Exactly the same as those. The extra length is nice at times, but I have the same complaints. Handles are way to skinny to the point my hand starts to cramp if I'm really "getting in there" with them. Shafts worked loose on all of them. I put some green sleeve retainer on a few of them to keep them tight. Seems to work well.

 

[Keep]

I picked up a set of the mini PB Swiss. While they are nice picks, they are very brittle and I have since broken 2 of them, snapped right off with minimal force.

The PB Swiss full size picks are great though. More because I like the handles.

I have a set of the Snap-on green handled minis and they are outstanding, but pricey.

The Canadian Tire mastercraft mini's are not bad either.

If you have a Princess Auto around you they carry "Titan" which will be pretty close to the Harbor Freight items.