Homemade tension wrenches?

[Khan]

So I have to demo some lockpicking for some people tomorrow as part of a presentation, and my tension wrench just broke. I've tried making one from virtually every piece of metal around me, from forks to tweezers to key rings and it's all ended horribly. Does anyone have a good reliable blueprint for a homemade tension wrench? My materials list includes things around the house or things sold at walmart.

Alternatively, if anyone in the austin tx area is willing to lend me their tension wrench for the night/day you have no idea how much I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Khan

[nataz]

I'm about two hours away, but that seems extreme for a wrench. Just buy a set of windshield wipers at a store, take out the inserts, and cut to length. Bend with pilers, and poof, done. Alt you could look for those liquid gel pens thats have metal clips if you wanted to go ghetto.

If you have wallmart that you can go to your options should be huuuge as long as you are able to do some basic modifications.

you could also take a wire coat hanger, cut to size, bend, and then hammer one side flat.

bent paper clip - different sizes for different locks.

What will you be trying to open? Some of those ideas are terrible, but they will get the job done in a pinch.

[Solomon]

How did you manage to break a tension wrench?

I agree with nataz, wiper inserts are pretty much the best material you can use to make them with. Easy to get, quick to shape, and they come in various sizes too.

[Josh K]

On the go, grab some wiper insets.

If you have a bit more time visit some local hardware stores and try to pick up some feeler gauge stock that you can bend to length.