Troubles swapping to TOK.

[Deja vu]

Currently most of my lock picking was done with BoK. I always felt like I liked that better. But I now have some locks that required ToK tension. Is there some kind of trick I am missing? I am really have a hard time keeping the wrench in the key way as it always wants to fall out.

I know I just need to practice more with it. But beyond that any other advise?

[Shackle Jackal]

Progressive pinning. It feels like going backward, but really you are just "learning" new tools and techniques, and by progressive pinning you have a controlled environment in which you kinda know what to expect. Happy picking

[GWiens2001]

It just takes practice to get used to TOK tension. Once you are used to it, you will find it works so well that you will rarely use BOK.

Gordon

[Silverado]

I switched to TOK a while back and lately when I try BOK I cannot seem to get anything done! The only exception is raking, I have not yet mastered raking with TOK.

[Deja vu]

Yeah I haven't even thought about raking with a ToK. I can see why that is harder.

[WilsonTrucking]

raking with TOK tends to result mostly in my tensioner going flying. Out of curiosity, are you trying to use TOK while holding the lock in your hand, or with the lock in a vise? I find its nigh impossible to use TOK while holding the lock in ones hand.

[GWiens2001]

raking with TOK tends to result mostly in my tensioner going flying. Out of curiosity, are you trying to use TOK while holding the lock in your hand, or with the lock in a vise? I find its nigh impossible to use TOK while holding the lock in ones hand.

Using TOK in hand just takes a bit of practice. Any picking usually improves with the lock firmly mounted in a door, vise, crocodile’s mouth, etcetera. A vise is nice in that you can adjust the angle the lock is held at for comfortable picking, while crocodile jaws add excitement.

Gordon

[Ralph_Goodman]

I switched to TOK a while back and lately when I try BOK I cannot seem to get anything done! The only exception is raking, I have not yet mastered raking with TOK.

This is a common story. I don't know what it is, but if you don't use a specific lockpicking skill, you lose it.

Lockpicking is a perishable skill. If there is something you don't practice, you lose it.

[Silverado]

raking with TOK tends to result mostly in my tensioner going flying. Out of curiosity, are you trying to use TOK while holding the lock in your hand, or with the lock in a vise? I find its nigh impossible to use TOK while holding the lock in ones hand.

For the most part, I use TOK exclusively when single pin picking. I do not have any problem whether the lock be in my hand, a vise, crocodile's mouth, armed bear trap, or a bus that cannot go below 60MPH without exploding.
When the lock is in hand I position it so I can use the index finger of my lock-holding hand pointing pretty much between 12:00 and 1:00. Another method is to hold the lock so that the keyway is sideways, pins toward your palm, and use your thumb on the outside of the TOK tool with your index on the tool nearer the keyway to steady it. I might just have weird thumbs though

[AngryHatter]

For me, it is the only way to manipulate a lock.

I have a good collections Peterson wrenches in varying thickness. They are cheating, as far as I am concerned.
What they taught me is the feedback that matters, is from the wrench, not the pick.

[GWiens2001]

What they taught me is the feedback that matters, is from the wrench, not the pick.

Very true.

Gordon

[Jacob Morgan]

Is the wrench you are using thick like a Peterson or is it thin? The thin wrenches, I have some Sparrows that are thin, are kind of hard to keep in place under best of circumstances. For me at least, only thick wrenches are worth it.

Besides that, some keyways are difficult with TOK. Yale and some Ilco keyways require curved blades on a TOK wrench and don't really work well with off-the-shelf wrenches.

Personally, for raking I prefer to use a springy BOK wrench. Windshield wiper inserts make great wrenches and I have some ground to fit different keyways just right.

[GWiens2001]

Have a lot of wrenches I made from music wire for TOK, filed to different thicknesses to allow me to easily find one that fits the keyway without play.

Gordon

[Ralph_Goodman]

Have a lot of wrenches I made from music wire for TOK, filed to different thicknesses to allow me to easily find one that fits the keyway without play.

Gordon

What diameter of wire are you using for those? What's the thickest/thinnest you go for a TOK tension wrench?

[GWiens2001]

Have a lot of wrenches I made from music wire for TOK, filed to different thicknesses to allow me to easily find one that fits the keyway without play.

Gordon

What diameter of wire are you using for those? What's the thickest/thinnest you go for a TOK tension wrench?

Have them made from various diameter wires, as the tools can be dual purpose. Have TOK tension wrenches that are wide enough for Medeco, and that is pretty wide. Can go to any thinness by filing the wire to the thickness needed. Have used them on an EVVA and a Cisa with the very tight paracentric keyways.

Gordon