The tension wrench topic (How much pressure does the trick?)

[foolish]

ive found that just gently resting your fingers on the tension wrench then softly pushing down like pushing a key on a piano works if any of you out there are musicians .

[dougfarre]

My first technique I try is to apply as much tension as possible without breaking the tension wrench, sometimes until the point where my delicate fingers are almost bleeding. Its a very gentle procedure, but if you pick a pin while applying this kind of tension, you sometimes hear a nice POP and any change in the degree of rotation of the plug will be quite noticeable. Of course, you will need a pick made of substantial materials so when applying SPP you don't bend your new SouthOrd pick.

[LeeNo]

My first technique I try is to apply as much tension as possible without breaking the tension wrench

This is the method I recommend as well. I used to keep ruining tension wrenches because they were just made out of too flimsy materials and they would totally bend until the wrench would just slip right out of the keyway. Then I got the idea to file down allen wrenches because they are made with much more brittle metal. Now I can torque down on the wrench so hard that my fingernails turn deathly white and it won't bend. But a few of them have suddenly snapped. One time the piece that was in the keyway zipped past my head and I could hear it it zzzzziiiiIIIIIIIIiiiiinnnnnnging through the air and it embedded itself in my wall. I'm glad it didn't hit my eye! Ever since then, I wear safety goggles when using my tension wrenches.

if you pick a pin while applying this kind of tension, you sometimes hear a nice POP and any change in the degree of rotation of the plug will be quite noticeable.

YES! This is one of the great rewards in picking! Wedging that pin against the plug so tightly that when you are finally able to bring enough force on the pin to lift it that the SNAP sound it makes when it sets is like John Henry pounding in a railroad spike. And the sudden shift in the cylinder position - even though the distance is so small - feels like a cell-phone on vibrate being clenched in your hand.

Of course, you will need a pick made of substantial materials so when applying SPP you don't bend your new SouthOrd pick.

This is a very important point. SouthOrd picks are just too soft. They tend to bend or gouge when attempting to lift pins being held in place with more than 10-20 pounds of force.