Tension Wrenches and Keyways

[normanarchre]

I'm new here, and I haven't seen this one discussed anywhere else. I have a SouthOrd Jackknife pick set which works wonderfully, but the tension wrench fills the entire keyway and I can't get any other tool in but the half diamond. Since I prefer using the short hook, I have started using an L-shaped warded pick from a different set, using it up at the top of the keyway where the pins are which lets me pick from below. One problem with that is if the keyway is wider than a "normal" it slips and doesn't work.

Does anyone have any suggestions on other kinds of tension wrenches that I can use that don't fill the keyway?[/quote]

[Rath]

bobby pins are what i use but you can literley make them out of almost anything i made one out of a nail (too much effort) you can try street sweeper brissles, winshield wipers. have some creativity and see what you have lying around and make due. some times the ones you make will end up working better then most of the retale stuff. but if you really want to you can buy fancy ones off the net

[tsteward]

Grab some old Allen Keys & grind to suite.

Regards
Tony Steward

[Mad Mick]

Grab a wiper blade strip, put a ninety degree twist in it, bend ninety degrees close to the twist then snip off the ends to length. Thirty seconds...if that.

Voila! Instant (almost) twist-flex. Will open even the most-sprung (is that a valid term?) padlock plug.