Tubular Lockpick

[Lucchese]

Hi, everyone i wanted to ask, can a tubular lockpick of 7.5mm technically open a 7.0mm one?

[GWiens2001]

If it can fit in the keyway, yes. Otherwise, no.

Gordon

[Kheops]

Has anyone tried the Sparrows Mantis tension tool?

[mseifert]

Kheops .. I was actually looking at buying one today .. I am interested if anyone has any luck with it ..

[UnlockingBoredom]

Please let me know how it works out if you do order one... I have tubular lock picks but on ACE II's I find it easier to pick and turn only 12 degrees, then use the tubular pick to make an impression on the pins so I can make a key real quick on the Scotsman.

I had made a tension wrench that I used a few times but it sucked and eventually broke LOL

[Kheops]

I finally got around to making my mantis clone. You can see I permitted myself a little artistic creativity. Now this is only the prototype, which I ground out of heavy duty band saw. It's really rough, but I wanted to see how useful it would be.. test out the principle.



Honestly I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed. I believe my steel was a little too thin (40 mil), the tension tool tends to move around a little too much. The looseness of it makes it hard to use, especially one-handed. If I can get my hands on some 50 to 55 mil I might give it another try.

In the meantime, I'm not too sure I want to spend for a tool, that might not be too great, when an Allen key does the trick better.

[Corvid]

Ha! I love that mantis tool!

Thanks for the measurement too, I was wondering about that before. I think I have some 50 thou sheet around here somewhere...

[GWiens2001]

My first thought was not "Mantis". It was "Batman after fighting the Joker".

Nice.

[Kheops]

I really just wanted to make a quick prototype to test the principle...

Trust me, a ground down allen key works much better. At least until I get my hands on some thicker steel plate.

[paces]

after seeing batman i wanted to try something. so i made one that works on the lock i have made from a oil dipstick. not really wide enough to make a true mantis but hey it worked