Lock Pick Rakes - Polaris - by Dangerfield
Lock Pick Rakes - Polaris - by Dangerfield
Polaris lock pick rakes for fast, readable feedback
Raking is where most people first feel a lock give. Instead of setting one pin at a time, you sweep a shaped profile across the pin stacks under light tension and let rhythm and movement do the work. The Polaris rake set is a focused collection of 301 stainless steel rake profiles from Dangerfield, designed to teach that rhythm and bite into suitable pin tumbler locks.
Rakes work the whole pin stack at once
A pin tumbler lock has a row of spring-loaded pins that all have to reach the shear line before the plug turns. A hook lets you set those pins one at a time. A rake takes the opposite approach: you slide a contoured profile in and out, scrubbing or rocking it so it bounces several pins toward the shear line together while you hold light turning pressure. On a lot of standard locks, the right rake will find the opening rhythm faster than careful single-pin work.
Polaris is built around that job. Each profile is shaped to ride across the pins differently, so you can change the shape and the angle until one of them clicks with the lock in front of you.
Light tension, short strokes, change the rhythm
Set a tension tool in the bottom of the keyway and apply gentle turning pressure, just enough to hold the plug. Slide a rake in, then scrub or rock it in short strokes while you keep that pressure steady. Vary the speed and the angle. When pins start to set you will feel the plug creep, and a small lift in tension at the right moment often carries the lock the rest of the way.
If a lock will not give to one profile, swap to another or finish with a hook. Raking is fast and fun, but it is a feel game: results depend on the lock, its pinning, and how clean your tension stays.
Build the rhythm before you chase the open
Raking is a great early win and a tool you will keep reaching for, but it is not a shortcut around tension control. The pickers who get the most from a rake set are the ones who slow their hands down first.
A proper rake set beats a random budget bundle
Rake-led design
Profiles shaped around sweeping movement and pin feedback, not afterthoughts in a general kit.
Starship-grade 301 stainless
A springy, resilient steel that holds its shape through repeated scrubbing and stays usable for years.
British-designed
Dangerfield drew up the Polaris profiles by hand in the UK, the same quality-first line as the Praxis pro set.
Wallet included
The rakes travel in a leather wallet that keeps the profiles together and protects the tips between sessions.
What to know before you buy
| Brand | Dangerfield (British-designed) |
| Type | Lock pick rake set |
| Mechanism | Pin tumbler raking |
| Material | Starship-grade 301 stainless steel |
| Gauge | 0.635 mm / 0.025 in |
| Carry | Leather wallet to hold and protect the rakes |
| Best for | Fast feedback, rhythm practice, and EDC raking on suitable locks |
Use lock picking tools responsibly. Pick only locks you own or have clear permission to open, and check your local laws before you buy.
Set yourself up to rake well
Tension Tool Set
Rakes only give clean feedback when your tension does. A range of styles lets you find the lightest pressure that still holds the plug.
Dangerfield SOHO Rakes
Slim Bogota-style pocket rakes for everyday carry when you want a rake or two on you, not the full wallet.
Bogota Picks
The classic two-piece EDC rake. A good way to compare the compact Bogota feel against the wider Polaris range.
Quick answers from the LockPickWorld bench
What is a rake and how is it different from a hook?
A hook sets pins one at a time. A rake is shaped to sweep across several pins at once while you hold tension, so it finds the opening rhythm faster on a lot of standard locks.
Is Polaris alright for someone newer to picking?
Yes. Raking is one of the most satisfying early skills. Start on a clear practice lock with light tension, learn one profile, then branch out as the feel makes sense.
Will rakes open everything?
No tool does. Rakes shine on many common pin tumbler locks, but security pins and tighter pinning sometimes want single-pin work. Keep a hook handy to finish those.
What should I pair it with?
A good tension tool above all, plus a practice lock to learn the rhythm on. For pocket carry, the SOHO rakes ride lighter than the full wallet.
Add the rake set that makes practice come alive
Polaris gives raking a sharper, more deliberate range of profiles. Keep your tension light, work the rhythm, and let the feedback teach you. Pair it with a tension set and a practice lock and you have a fast, fun route into the craft.