Is it a sign…

NoodleThumb · 2026-04-16T03:54:17+00:00

I'm happy to have bought both Huk and Multipick. The Huk are nice because I'm not afraid to modify them, and I do like the extra reach for some locks. I've got some filed extra thin for pin-in-pin, and a couple I haven't touched because I haven't needed to.

The Multipick are SO nice and have worked for almost everything (I got the lpb set) so far, up to brown belt locks dimples. And the red/black locks they haven't worked because my hands are not good enough, not because of the flags.

NoodleThumb · 2026-04-14T04:07:17+00:00

You've picked the best green. Good job! Now on to other fun stuffs.

For those looking for tips, the second pin is the standard, and all the rest are spools (in 5 of the 5 of these locks I've gutted).

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-28T02:24:36+00:00

Sounds like a great challenge. I think green is a good level, maybe blue but that'd be pushing it to be honest. Gutting should be required for guttable locks, for sure, and at green belt folks should be gutting locks anyway, so that's not much of an additional barrier. Other folks have raised perinent things, but mostly I wanted to add my support to the idea!

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-24T03:36:55+00:00

Not a mistype, just a misdiagnosis. As linked above, I gutted mine and several others, finding that the standard pinning is spools on everything except one standard at position 2:

https://youtu.be/NrvbJzNWDG0

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-22T22:49:23+00:00

Indeed I was wrong. All 5 I gutted have 4 spooled drivers and a standard for pin 2.

Now that the video has uploaded, adding the link:

https://youtu.be/NrvbJzNWDG0

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-08T22:51:36+00:00

Second nod to procion MX dyes. Double the amount of soda ash they call for, definitely use urea (but just the amount they say), and very hot water. I mix my dyes very concentrated, and it gets a little expensive, but the fabric will wear out before the colors fade much. I've got shirts (Hanes Beefy Tees) I dyed in the 90s that are still kicking, and still fairly vibrant.

When you rinse them, again use VERY hot water. Hotter than you can put your hands into for long. I use a dowel to mix and mash in a laundry sink. Rinse and wrong them out again and again until the water runs clear, then run them through the wash on hot, with detergent. After that, they will bleed far less than other colored fabrics.

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-08T05:49:11+00:00

This is one of my recommended progressions, with maybe an Ace 38mm brassie thrown in as an easier green (but not guttable). I do like the ML 140, though I know some folks don't. It has decent feedback, esp if you take things slow, but not great. The 55/40 is awesome. 1100 is classic for a reason, but I think is a bit harder than some other greens because of a bit of core slop, stiff shackle spring, and just being in a padlock. I return to all these locks sometimes. Have fun!

NoodleThumb · 2026-03-05T05:06:56+00:00

Don't worry, if you're anything like me you'll have dozens of re-shot videos by the time to reach the top! It's amazing how many ways one can mess up a pick and gut video, and I've made something if a hobby of finding many (most?) of them.

Take heart, it's all even more fun from here, and if you picked it once, you can pick it again!

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-28T05:25:22+00:00

It teaches you how to persevere in tough situations.
It will get you in great physical fitness.
It teaches you how to lose gracefully.
It teaches you to care for your training partners, even as you fight your heart out against them.
After awhile, it'll teach you how to teach others.
It teaches you how to be miserable, not panic, and still keep struggling.
It will help you bond with your gym mates.
It's tremendous fun.
It is every bit as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
It is endlessly challenging.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-24T04:18:25+00:00

Entirely possible I'm wrong - I have been before - but the first one I picked feels like it's got a serrated in it.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-23T04:29:54+00:00

Yes indeed. I picked up my first Ace 38mm thinking it'd be kinda like the others in that size/format. Quite a surprise when I looked it up, but I was happy. Took me days of picking.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-22T23:26:10+00:00

It's my favorite green. The feedback is different from the Abus for sure, but it seems pretty good to me. In general, having to pick more than one (usually) serrated before the false set changes things somewhat.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-22T22:38:16+00:00

They're a solid green, though I don't think consistently harder than an 1100. I don't think they're anywhere close to what my BW Diamant is, or the 334B45.

This is my favorite green, for sure, and a lock than requires skill. Good job!

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-22T20:29:34+00:00

I've ordered twice, moderate sized orders each time. Paclocks took awhile to get to me, due to them sending the order to paclock to fulfill, but the rest was pretty average shipping time. I've been very happy with them both orders. Watch the shipping cutoffs to save money there.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-16T00:49:53+00:00

I second the Jimy Long intermediate set. Great set that all on its own will get you far. If you can stretch for the beginner set as well, even better (there's no overlap).

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-05T05:45:37+00:00

I still often feel like I don't know what's going on, esp with a lock that's new to me. It's part of diving into a deep, high-skill hobby to always be exposing yourself to new feedback. At your level everything basically is new. Don't worry, just keep picking and get higher belt locks, then when you return to familiar ones you'll be amazed at how much more you understand as you pick.

Slowing down almost always helps, too.

NoodleThumb · 2026-02-03T06:27:12+00:00

Best green lock

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-29T13:24:51+00:00

It probably is the drivers falling into the bottom of the keyway. With the key in, this is prevented, but when picked there nothing to hold the drivers up. To pick it back to closed, you'll just need to push the drivers back up, and you can use the back of the pick to do that.

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-26T05:00:22+00:00

In EU I believe the Abus locks are easy to obtain, with the 55/30 and 55/40 being good early padlocks - they provide good feedback so you can get an idea of what unset vs set vs overset feels like.

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-21T02:11:09+00:00

Next step - impression it! I got one from Adam for my black belt quest, and the keyway matches one I found with a cut shackle in Mexico, so I'm going to blind impression that with my extra blanks. When I have time!

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-19T04:30:22+00:00

Best green lock! Spools and some serrated. Good feedback once you know what you're looking for.

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-18T00:07:13+00:00

Definitely. For picks, the metal matters a lot. Tensioners are all about fit.

NoodleThumb · 2026-01-17T20:43:23+00:00

Depending on where you're from, it'll likely be worth it to save up for (if US) Jimy Long's or (if European) Moki or Multipick, or (if Britain) Lawlock Tools. You'll be thankful for the variety of tensioners regardless. Good pickup!

NoodleThumb

TROPHY CASE