Tapered Tension Tool? (picture)

[raimundo]

I have done bends like rohi mentions, and I have done some that have a zig as well as a zag, they jam tight between the walls of the keyway and not against the cylinder wall, but I also do another thing to tensors, it started when I wanted a wider footprint for the tensors than the bristle I was using could supply, I take two pliers with their grip grooves and I place a piece of bristle in the grooves, so that the groove holds it in a vertical plane and held between two of these pliers, you can bend it slightly in the wide plane. this gives it a wider footprint in the keyway, based on three points, two low and one on the high side. Now I sometimes also file the top edge from the high point of the bend toward the tip so that you also have a thinner tip just like you have thinned the tip of those tapered wrenches. This wrench also gives a wider footprint as you insert it deeper into the keyway, typically putting it in as far as it will go then relaxing it back out a bit to keep it from jamming.

[eViLZuG]

my search-foo is't strong enugh

Fear not! Relax and have a beer. The search function will appear much more easily than you ever imagined!!

[jzorn1]

I've been playing with my Majestic pick set for years and never really was any good until I started reading this forum about a year ago. Very helpful. I tried different materials for making my own picks using anything from kitchen spatchula's to other flat metals. The wiper balde is the best material for picks and tension wrenches. I like the tapered wrench idea. I am going to make one RIGHT NOW!
John

[ldnlksmth]

I tried a tapered wrench once, and really didn't like it. I have big hands and I'm left-handed, so I tend to do things backwards.
There are a few (Sargent, notably) big keyways that I have most success with the tension at the top of the keyway. Tapered/Stepped wrenches don't seem to work in that area, contact the first pin before it gets wide enough.

[raimundo]

Started reading Laurens posts, and found this thread, although Ive already posted here, I had forgotten Spossums tensors, the ones with the L shape or angle iron shap tensor.
Having just seen a topic on JGOR's paper clip tensor accessory, I decide to bring this back to the top of the list and see what else people have to add, or to just share it again.

[Lauren]

I still would like to have a tension wrench that has an 'L' shaped insert on the blade. Just the other day, I was experimenting with a prototype wrench that inserts into a Master lock M1 keyway. For this example, I was able to pick various locks rather quickly. I attribute this to the premise that locks pick easier when there's more space between the pick and wrench. Moreover, the other reason may be because the wrench can be made smaller with better key like gripping power. Also, an 'L' shape means less slipping of the wrench. Less slipping translates into better feel and holding for single pin picking, especially if you can keep the plug concentric between the plug housing.

[raimundo]

did you just click on the recent post, theres a photo of spossoms L crosssection wrench on the first page here. wheres spossum these days and why isn't he making and selling those wrenches here

[raimundo]

If you look at JKtheCJ's site, you will see a pair of bogota picks that have a curved tensor, this gives a wider footprint to the blade as it goes deeper into the lock, I sometimes make them with this. the curve is in the wide plane and as this is inserted deeper, it widens the footprint of the three points of contact. the three points are the tip of the blade the top of the curve and the contact point at the end of the cylinder as it comes out of the hole.