Mr. Li or Lishi

[Jimmy07]

Another black Lishi Pick bites the dust with little or no pressure. Looked at this one it broke 😬

Are Mr. Li picks better quality?

[rapidlocksmiths]

i have alot of each tool from both manufacturers , and prefer one over the other on different tools , i have 3 of each tool from each manufacturer on the van and alot more of each in workshop , on some both are on par , on some i find 1 is better and on another the other is better for me , ive good and bad tools from both as happens in most large scale manufacturer .

i was never a fan of the all black tools , they were originally made for a specific customer group , the process of blackening th the pick arms did make the pick tips on some brittle on some and not on others , they improve significantly when they kept the black bodies and reverted to the silver pick arms , these are far more robust than the full black tools with black pick arms.

i use both and have done development work for both , so would never advise one over the other , both do the job.

what i do know is the market is to blame for todays tool , the demand for mass production and cheaper tools especially cheaper tools is at the heart of quality issues , i remember when these tools were £125 plus vat each , and they were excellent and as lower demand were far higher quality , most of my original 1st generation tools are still in use daily on my van , anyone who believes they will get the same tool for £30 that was once £125 is misguided , of course corners get cut to bring the cheap price people demand , which is in my opinion a real shame , also a huge reason why development and new tools are few and far between now , as no profit in development . the saving grace is that 1 job pays for the tool so payback is quick , though a tool that is dearer and pays back many times over many years is a far better buy in my opinion and cheaper in the long term , though i guess with less actual tradesmen these days theres less demand for quality precision tools as cheap rules the day.

[lion0304]

I've bought on Ali all my Lishi tools (around 50pcs now), some are clone, but most are original like advertised by seller.

All lishi used until now work good (pick decode OK) VA2T, VAC102, NE72, HU101, HU83, NSN11, HYN11, VA6, SIP22.

The only lock i have problem (pick decode OK) but key cutted doesn't turn is C4 2012 VA2T.

Like rapidlocksmiths said, the most important when working with any hands tools is experience. (https://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums/member.php/225894-rapidlocksmiths)

[doolittle]

I've bought on Ali all my Lishi tools (around 50pcs now), some are clone, but most are original like advertised by seller.

All lishi used until now work good (pick decode OK) VA2T, VAC102, NE72, HU101, HU83, NSN11, HYN11, VA6, SIP22.

The only lock i have problem (pick decode OK) but key cutted doesn't turn is C4 2012 VA2T.

Like rapidlocksmiths said, the most important when working with any hands tools is experience. (https://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums/member.php/225894-rapidlocksmiths)

The reason the citreon c4 wouldn’t turn is because it’s va6

[Jimmy07]

It wasn’t the pick arms that broke Rapid it’s cage part at the tips they are very brittle and you would think the material used was a cheap die cast. I’d gladly pay the extra for a stronger tool.

I’ve also went for the likes of Mr.Li Vauxhall pick as it’s an 8 lifter on it rather than Lishi 10. If tool is a bit shorter hopefully it will be a bit stronger also a bit easier to use, decode etc as you haven’t got 9 & 10 to worry about. also ordered a VA2 hopefully it’s a 6 rather than an 8 as pictures weren’t great at time of order.

I can understand the extra 2 lifters as manufacturers are trying to cover as many models as possible but personally if picking a 6 cut I’d prefer a 6 lifter not an 8 or an 8 instead of a 10.

I’ve worked with tools before that go through the blackened process and there’s no doubt it can weaken them. Hopefully Mr.Li picks, at least on certain locks are made of stronger stuff.

[lion0304]

The reason the citreon c4 wouldn’t turn is because it’s va6

I've tried VA6, VA2 all menu Renault Peugeot. Pick by VA6 OK, decode not OK because some are out of grid.

Cut blade cannot put complet in the lock.

[rapidlocksmiths]

jimmy , if you bought the 10 cut HU100 tool then you purchased the wrong tool for vauxhall , although it will still pick the 8 cut the decode will be sloppy , the 10 cut is for usa and usa imports and is used on various models including the silverado , so the 8 cut is for vauxhall and the 10 cut is for chevrolet amongst others , you have bought the wrong tool if for vauxhall though the 10 cut has its uses on some ignitions. ok VA2 , the 8 cut was first made on the VA8 tool to be used on the later 8 cut toyota and 7 cut daf cf series vehicles , they were asked for a single lift version for picking the daf cf series and new toyota , thus they released the 8 cut va2 for this purpose , all va2 you will see on ic card 1049 will be 6 cut you wont see a va2 8 cut lock in uk, but the 8 cut tool will pick the daf cf series and the late toyota ignitions for which it was made for.
its a matter of you have selected or been sent the wrong tools.
for HU100 both manufacturers make the 8 and the 10 cut versions , even though with a bit of knowledge and understanding of the key series the 10 cut can still be picked and decoded with the 8 cut tool. but the point is both manufacturers make both tools for different locks.
same with VA2 , you needed to select the 6 cut tool and not the 8 cut tool at point of purchase as both really for different jobs.

doolittle , it makes no difference if the lock is VA2 or VA6 , the va2 should pick both , it just wont decode the va6 lock , however if an older gen1 va2 tool it wont get full insertion into some of the locks without a shoulder modification , good examples are berlingo and partner and ds3 , thus the gen2 va2 tool was made with the shoulder modification to get these too. but for picking it shouldnt make a difference which tool is used , both will pick it but only the correct tool will decode it.

[rapidlocksmiths]

I've tried VA6, VA2 all menu Renault Peugeot. Pick by VA6 OK, decode not OK because some are out of grid.

Cut blade cannot put complet in the lock.

if your VA6 tool picks the lock fine but your VA2 tool doesnt then the va2 tool may be the old gen1 and need a shoulder modification to get full insertion as with the berlingo and partner , lay your va2 tool back to back with your va6 tool that did pick it and look at the shoulder area , if the shoulder is shorter or lower on the va6 tool then you can clearly see the modification needed to get full insertion , which is easily achieved with a file .

[Jimmy07]

Thanks Rapid you certainly know your picks 😮

Bought a dozen or so picks when first started out so starting to realise some distributors either don’t do they’re homework or don’t care as long as they sell the tool. Some give a list of models covered and some just a key number like HU83. Its only when you start using the picks you realise how inaccurate sales descriptions really are. For example the company I bought Vauxhall pick from only sold a 10 cut tool and listed all models covered so I thought at the time this must be the only tool for Vauxhall I see now how wrong I was and how in accurate the sales side is 😬

Getting into it now like it when you manage to pick a lock reasonably quick and decode then the client thinks your some sort of magician and stands scratching their head as they’re pulling the cash out 🤗

[lion0304]

if your VA6 tool picks the lock fine but your VA2 tool doesnt then the va2 tool may be the old gen1 and need a shoulder modification to get full insertion as with the berlingo and partner , lay your va2 tool back to back with your va6 tool that did pick it and look at the shoulder area , if the shoulder is shorter or lower on the va6 tool then you can clearly see the modification needed to get full insertion , which is easily achieved with a file .

My VA2T V.2 pick well and read all wafers on every height, i also use this VA2T to pick, decode n cut blade Peugeot 301 2014 OK first time.

VA6 4 lifters, pick OK, decode not, wafers height are out the grid. Tried cut some blade, no one can complet enter inside the lock.

I also pick Igntion lock, decode with VA2, VA6 all the same code as door lock. Diffrent with door is: All wafers need pick down.

[rapidlocksmiths]

jimmy they are not telling lies , the 10 cut will pick all the 8 cut locks too , you just need to take care decoding as pick must remain square throughout the decode or it miss reads

[Jimmy07]

Perhaps I wrote this wrong Rapid I’m saying descriptions by some distributors are vague to say the least. Being green at the time didn’t help my cause and I’m sure there are a lot of tools in everyone’s kit they wish they hadn’t have bought once they realise there’s a better or more efficient tool available. Part of the learning curve and one of the cases where research only goes so far it’s very much hand on suck it and see

Mr. Li picks coming tomorrow so looking forward to testing these. They look better than Lishi but we’ll see

[Dubber69]

In my experience, The Mr Li tools are consistently high quality, with strong welds. Lishi tools are hit and miss, welds seem poor.

[p1et]

In my experience, The Mr Li tools are consistently high quality, with strong welds. Lishi tools are hit and miss, welds seem poor.

Yup Mr. Li very strong and solid, aswell as very pleasant in touch

[rapidlocksmiths]

i could say alot about both brands but i wont as not ethical i love them both , they were once 1 brand together for many years.

it can work both ways , you can buy the 8 cut then get called to a silverado import ( ive done 2 so far) and wish you had the 10 cut especially if ignition differs to the door , same with VA2 8 cut if you get called to open a daf cf series truck after 2013 you will wish you had the 8 cut , the first one i did was pre this tool being made , it took some head scratching , trial and error and patience to figure out how to defeat it with the 6 cut tool .
sods law is alive and well , you can almost guarantee if you dont have the tool then you will find yourself in the situation where you need it , may be murphys law over there.

i think following the last stock take i have near on 900 lishi tools over both manufacturers, many adapted by file to work differently , by far the best quality tools were the very first ones made in the early years when they worked together , i suspect these will still be working long after the newer ones have passed away.

Lion
they should never all pick down , is it same in ignition and door , all picking down ? if the case it sounds like someone has stripped the lock and replaced the wafers wrong or an aftermarket lock , on that year it should be va2 and not va6 , but you shopuld still have 4 wafers one side in positions 1245 and 2 wafers the other side in positions 3 and 6 . all of the cut to code machines will be cutting the key with the cuts as they should be , 4 1 side and 2 the other which will not work if all wafers are in same direction
what decode are you getting with the VA2 abcdef tool from bow to tip

[rapidlocksmiths]

lion - i found your other post again , ok if all wafers are on the same side then i suspect its been messed with , as a real long shot , if all picked one way and you decoded in opposite direction to you picked as you should , then if your code was

FAACAE , but this doesnt work , try one of these 2 keys and see if it works ;

1) FAFCAB
2) AFADFE

failing this it will be strip down the lock and and figure it out this way , but all VA2 on ABCDEF series should have 4 wafers 1 side and 2 on opposite side

[Jimmy07]

Rapid if your ever think of offloading some of your collection your apprentice in N.I. would definitely buy some lol

[Dubber69]

I've still got the first Lishi tools I bought from the ALA show in 2010. Still going strong.

[rapidlocksmiths]

I've still got the first Lishi tools I bought from the ALA show in 2010. Still going strong.

my point exactly , these tools wer made to last and priced to allow for the quality they were , the tools were far better when they were as one before the split and when they were made for tradesmen rather than a mass market to cheapen them

jimmy , 90% of my tools were batch samples and prototype samples , given to me to test by the manufacturers , they were not given to me to sell on , this is not something id entertain , my own standards wouldnt allow me to sell tools entrusted to me for testing and development purposes .

[Jimmy07]

Hi Rapid

Was joking I know they’re your babies 😉

[Jimmy07]

Mr.Li picks arrived and they look better quality I’ll test these in scrap yard at the start of the week but looking good compared to Lishi equivalent

[HeXeN]

Please recommend me tool decoding for BMW F-series, Lishi or Mr.Li?

This is 2in1 HU100R?

And where do you order in china?

[lion0304]

Please recommend me tool decoding for BMW F-series, Lishi or Mr.Li?

This is 2in1 HU100R?

And where do you order in china?

I bough from here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Genuine-LiShi-2-in-1-Tool-Locksmith-Tools-HU100-10-HU101-HU100R-HU162-T9-HU162-T10/32977825396.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.56d13c00N9lQUv

Not tested for HU100R, but others i've got work good.