different tension design

[pip]

so anyway
i was at a friends house while he was working
on his truck changing the oil
being the good " hand me the tools " assistant
i kept watch for girls going wild and alien invasions

as i was playing with the oil changer thingy
i got to thinking about using this " tightening " principle
to lockpicking as a tension tool

so here's what i came up with
A is between 1 and 1 1/4 inch
B is about four inchs



from the front


from an angle


from the top


this " prototype " is only made of paper
because the one i started with was a feeler gauge
BUT i was careless when i was cutting/shaping it

Good News
this design would leave
the whole keyway open for a pick

Bad News
whether one brings the ends together permanently ( as i have done )
or leave it flat and shape it into position every time it is used

this is a very delicate tool
i don't think it would take too much wear and tear

but hey, it's something different

[Octillion]

That's a pretty cool idea. It would leave the keyway 100% open, a significant benefit, although it would only work on locks with a certain amount of clearance around the plug.

The real disadvantage I see is that it would be difficult to have it grip securely around the plug, and quickly cause fatigue as a result. It would be a bit awkward to torque, especially if it needs to be squeezed to maintain enough compression on the plug. Furthermore, it would be likely to pop off, so one would need to press down on it in addition to torquing and squeezing it.

A good idea, but I can see my hand getting sore in about 30 seconds unless there is a way to securely fasten it to the plug.

[Dent]

I should really try this before posting, but I think obviously with paper feedback is going to be lessened...

Might be interesting if this could be done with something more rigid...


I just tried this(ignore above) and my lock tolerence is enough that I cant even fit thin paper inbetween the cynlinder/plug, not to mention I couldnt get enough tension on it to hold any pins back...

Might work on a kwikset or something with crappy tolerances, but mine is way too tight to put isomething in there...


and obviously feedback was non-existant(well I couldnt even get it in there to produce any tension)

[Octillion]

Dent, I had thought about the feedback being killed off, but the more I thought about it, I actually think feedback would still be there. Although you would have to actually try this out on a lock the method works on in order to verify this. Paper certainly wouldn't work, it's far too weak, although thin metal or plastic may work. Metal would likely give more feedback.

[alberty]

good idea, but very hard to have a good design.
for material, see about 0.1mm ep of inox (class 18/10) it's easy to work and adaptable as you want.

[pip]

obviously
i should have mentioned that this will not work on all lock types
but like in lockpicking, we take advantage of sloppy tolerances

i'm looking around different stores for long feeler gauges
it's hard to find anything over 3 1/2 inchs
i'm also checking hobby stores that might sell super-thin metal

alberty
the first one i tried to shape/cut was .002" - .051mm
which basicly fit into every lock i had
i think next time, instead of using scissors to cut it
i will try to use an exacto blade and try the next gauge up

for something with really crappy tolerances
i've also tried photo paper

[raimundo]

Your idea is very original, I think that you would have to redesign just a bit, so that the loop is closer to 360 degrees, like the loop at the end of a cotter pin, and you might want to put something grippy, like rubber on the inside of the thing, I think that you would need a different one for each diameter of lock, though, since the concept is to keep the keyway open, I would suggest that the tool would be specific to those locks where this is very necessary. I will keep this concept in mind when I find new locks that may need it. Thanks for sharing the idea

[sams choice]

well it tried making this design out of a monster can. It seems like it should have worked, but i didnt have enough room to do the last two pins. i felt blocked with the little bit ove aluminum sticking out. It seems it would have to make it slimmer in design, but then i risk ripping it off around the cylinder, Great design. Let me know what you come up with next. Sorry the picture is so bad. My batteries are dying and that is the picture it took. I picked this 5-pin tumbler a couple of times with a normal tension rod before trying the new one. Couldnt do it. maybe make some ridges around the part that goes in?

[sams choice]

oh it seemed to put enough tension on it. Just a bit akward to pick. I made the side parts that are suppose to match uneven to make is asymetrical. I did this so i could fold one piece down to make like a stopping point to make it adjustable.

[sams choice]

haha never mind!!! i spoke too soon. It worked nicely. The problem? i was doing it in my hand instead of in a door. i didnt use a bar to push down on, instead i used my two finger to turn it once it was picked. hahah nice! its harder to use but it is easier to find a aluminan can instead of finding something that could be used for a tension rod. awsome idea!!!

[dsdayl]

I also got this to work. I made a few little changes though. I don't have a camera so I drew a picture.
I folded all but the part that contacts the plug over a few times. This added strength and allowed me to sqeeze it onto the plug a little bettter.
I still had trouble with it slipping out every so often. Also feedback wasn't as good as a wregular wrench but hey it sure would work in a pinch.
Oh yeah, I roughed up the inside diameter of it with some sandpaper (150 grit) to thin it out a little and make it grip nicer. Rubber cement would prolly work better tho.



DoubleShot Dayl

[chrisjc33]

I am a lockie in the uk and i have never seen a plug that sticks out like that(migth be wrong) they are flush

[Shrub]

I thought the same when i saw the idea and also the fit of the plug seems to be closer on ours than others but on cheaper locks or looser fitting plugs rather it could still be used by just inserting the lip into the gap but i dont know how it would fair with feedback due to the drag on the tool, its rather like useing a oil filter spanner.

I do like thinking out of the normal box though so good work, did you get the other idea to work at all pip?

[pip]

i'm still having trouble with design # 2
when i try to turn it clockwise
the pull has to be perfect/even
or the whole thing just slips out

it doesn't help that i pick right handed
and trying to pull the tension tool with my left hand

it might be easier for left-handed pickers to use

[Shrub]

Maybe bring it around the bottom of the lock instead of the top, it may be better, im only guessing as i have to admit i havent tried either idea to be honest