Has anyone else tried this before?

[HomerBarron]

I was digging through my tool box looking for something I could pound into a decent pick, and I came across something else altogether.

If you take one of those Uniball pens (the kind with the partially transparent grip) and pry off the clip, they can make a decent little tension tool in a pinch. The metal isn't super strong, so it won't do for heavy duty work, but at the same time, it's very thin, allowing you a lot of room to work.

Just thought I'd share that and see if anyone else had done the same.

[HomerBarron]

Oh yeah...the model of the pen is Uniball, the make, Sanford.


As an aside, I've just gotten a filing cabinet open, and now I can't get it to relock. Do I do the same thing I did to unlock it, ie setting the pins, torque, etc?

[marso]

Yes you may need to pick the lock closed. Just think how you do it with a key.

The use of pen metal coat clips has been brought up before.

Welcome and enjoy, thanks for your suggestions.

[CitySpider]

I've been using Uniball clips for quite a while now. They've worked fine for me -- I've never thought of lockpicking as "heavy duty work." I've probably mentioned them before on forums -- if not, I'm glad you did.

And yes -- PROBABLY, you just pick it in the other direction. No guarantees; I'd have to see the lock.

[avarice]

Hello all.

I've uses the same type of clips in a couple of situations where I needed a wrench and didn't have one.

However, I would never sub one of these for the real thing. When picking using the unibal makeshift wrench, I found that the teeth on them cause strange and unidentifiable feed back whenever I would accidently touch it with my pick.

[Grudge]

The Pilot Precise V5 also makes a decent emergency tension tool.

[CitySpider]

I found that the teeth on them cause strange and unidentifiable feed back whenever I would accidently touch it with my pick.

Couldn't have been very unidentifiable, seeing as you identified it.

I have the same problem, but you learn to work around it. Not a big deal.

[Dukemurmur]

After he coulden't figure it out he probly though of what else it could have been and tryd that theory to find that it was correct so now he knows what it is and feels like.

[David_Parker]

Yeah, I agree with the MacGyver scenario. They make great improvised wrenches when you need them, but I would never substitute them for the real thing. I pretty much just carry my jacknife on me at all times.

...though rarely used, its there for situations like "in the event of"


-Dave.

[jason]

If you're picking the lock closed on a filing cabinet, you need more tension because you have to raise the metal rod which locks all the drawers - when picking open, gravity helps you unlock it . This is where being able to adapt to different tension helps

Hey Varjeal - this is my hundredth post - do I get a free beer or something?