I am using a bent wire to tension it, however I wish i could have a half decent fuctional one to go off of.
Look at the tallest part of the key biting, and you'll find the part that throws the bolt mechanism. Usually you will that it is that last biting before the end of the key. Take your bicycle spoke and make the bend so that the part that will engage the bolt is the same height as the above mentioned part of the key; although I might add that sometimes you may want to make it just a bit bigger to stop it slipping.
As for the wire pick, make it a few mm smaller that the tension wire and you're set to go.
Add Fancy handles to them, or just make a loop, but you'll find that a handle will help you keep a hold on the pick.
Once you've done that, read my lever lock guide if you already haven't, and then start attacking your padlock.
<feeling sheepish> The lock is around $5 (I put $7 in the other thread, but after reading the receipt I was wrong), for the poster who revived this thread. There are a few more pictures and comments in the following thread 