Strong Tension Tool

[Exodus5000]

The first time I broke a tension wrench on a rusty lock trying to turn the hull after it was succusfully picked i was very dismayed. I keep my tension wrenches in better condition now by turning these locks with an improvised tool i made.

I find that normal screw drivers are cumbersome to carry around. So i obtained a small screw driver - the kind that looks like a pen half way up with the pocket clip on it - and i used a vice and hammer and bent the metal part to a roughly 90 degree angle. I'll pick the lock, and if it is heavily spring loaded or rusty, i'll insert this tool which fits nicely into my carrying case and dont have to worry about bending my wrench. Simple, but effective.

[Mad Mick]

A ground Allen wrench can also be used, and has the added features of being smaller and stronger. It's already at a suitable angle and just needs a little tapering (if you have the tools to do so).

[Exodus5000]

Agreed. I made one of those recently, but at the time I did not have access to a grinder to grind down an allen wrench, and i just happened to have one of those types of screw drivers lying around in my room.

[Mad Mick]

Whatever works is fine. If you do have access to the suitable equipment though, making strong/durable tools will benefit you in the long run. I prefer to rely on a tool I know will do the job, than to risk something which I only have one of and which may fail.

[Brauman]

Every Wal-Mart I've looked in sells a 16 piece hex key set with a couple neat springy keyring things and a heavy plastic ziploc container for 88 cents (!).

If you live in the U.S. and want to use ground down hex keys, I suggest that you take $1 to Wal-Mart. If you grind down every key on one ring, you'll have a nice 8-piece tension tool set ranging from tiny to mammoth, all on a handy keyring binder thingy. And then if you break some, you can grind down the other keyring ;)

[Brauman]

Actually, I have a better idea :)

[GilbertGrape]

Can you actually use WD-40? I heard that this screws with your lock or something like that. From what I hear, we are actually supposed to use graphite or something similar. What DOES WD-40 do to locks anyways?

[Kung]

WD-40 (water displacing #40) removes water and turns to grease, so it makes the lock gummy and full of nasty stuff that will attract dirt

[funboy79015]

Correct me if I am wrong but my understanding was that you shouldn't use graphite in locks either. Everywhere I have seen recomends teflon or silicon.

[Kung]

its a prefrence i dont think dry lube is good because it doesnt penetrate as well. more of a maintence lube graphite is IMO.

[archiebald]

Please dont use WD40 it is crap on locks,that stuff is a NO NO on locks.

[Ice]

No just Wal-Mart, but many of the dollar stores have them too. Hex keys are always handy, even without the grinding! I picked one up a few months ago, and another set a few years ago... they'll be around for a while yet for $1!

If you live in the U.S. and want to use ground down hex keys, I suggest that you take $1 to Wal-Mart.