"Wishbone" Tension wrench?

[mcm757207]

I just purchased the Southord MPXS-32 set and I can't figure out the point of the "Wishbone" Tension wrench.... can someone help me?

[Chucklz]

THe wishbone tension wrench is useful for a wide variety of wafer locks. Especially good for double sided wafer locks with a dust cover.

[CitySpider]

That's the intention, anyway. In my experience, they're useless.

[mcm757207]

oooooh ok thank you

[Asher]

mcm151201 i hope you bought the kit from there "outlet" part of the store, they are selling it real cheap cause the metal they used has some "blemish's" i tell you what, i bought the same kit from the outlet store and just received it today, the kit is in perfect condition and i see nothing wrong with it. so far the only practice lock i have is a master padlock No5 which i can do in about 10 seconds =)

[Dark Angel]

The wishbone tension wrench is a invaluble tool when opening all double waifer car locks,and garage door locks as well as some filling cabinets.

[Greg]

Maybe I misunderstand the use of the wishbone wrench.
Do you place the one end in the top of the keyway, and the other on the bottom of the keyway?
Or do both ends go in the top or bottom of the keyway?

The first idea there seems like it would be effective, but everyone seems to think it doesnt
And when I ask why they say 'try it and find out'
Thats not all that helpful in my opinion since I have to bloody make it first

[CitySpider]

It doesn't work because it doesn't want to stay in the keyway, and if you put tension on anything EXCEPT the very end, it wants to compress on you. It's an attempt to recreate the effect of Falle's wrenches, and it doesn't work for the aforementioned reasons, as well as because it isn't an exact fit like they are.

If you elongated the prongs slightly, it might fit more securely, but why bother? It sitll won't offer any advantages over a normal wrench.

[jason]

I use my wishbone on double sided wafers with either a ball or snowman pick - works for me, might not for others.

Lockpicking is a bit of a subjective activity (apart from whether the lock opens or not - thought I'd better put that in before someone else does!)

[Dark Angel]

Using a wishbone is easy,simply insert it into a double waifer lock with one wrench at the top of the lock and the other at the bottom.
Hold the wrench between your thumb and the finger next to your little finger,then place your finger that is closest to your thumb between the wishbone to stop it closing up.
Simple and easy.
How else are you going to open a double waifer,trying to open one with a single wrench is a nightmare.
I am really surprised how many people here do not use them,they are a simple effective piece of kit that every lockpicker should own.
Granted if all you are going to ever pick is pin cylinder locks then you probably will not need one,but there are a great deal of double waifer locks about in the uk.

[marso]

Dark Angel, I think you hit it on the head. Most of us practice on locks we own and try to avoid cars, and hence do not have much of a need for wishbone wrench. Like you I have found locks that I could not imagine trying to pick with a normal wrench. I find if I put some pressure on the wrench it wants to pop out sometimes and when this is the case I normally put a little bit of pressure on the wrench pushing it towards the lock. It is normally a juggling act. I could not imagine packing a kit without a wishbone in it, you never know when you are going to need it. Like the 60 degree angled wrench, its a bugger to pick a resessed door knob without it. Different tools for different jobs. And of course it is a personal choice.

[CitySpider]

Most of us practice on locks we own and try to avoid cars, and hence do not have much of a need for wishbone wrench.

Alternate perspective:

At least half, probably more, of my practice locks are car locks, and I've had significantly more success with a regular (stubby) wrench.

[marso]

CitySpider - you still have the dust covers on them ? Using like the TR-4 or something? (sorry for not working it out myself late for school)

[CitySpider]

Yes, I do, and yes, I have. Depending on the lock, I'd rather have a wrench with either a very long, uh, "short end," or a very stubby one, but I've found that just about anything will work. Haven't found a need for a specialized wrench yet. I believe that someone else suggested that a regular wrench would be fine -- maybe near the end of one of the h2k videos?

[RedMcSwede]

CitySpider...excellent idea about having a stubby added to the kit...I made one and it works awsome on some shorter keyways...in reguard to the wishbone...it's the only wrench that i've found that gives me hope on my American from the 1970's which is extremely loose...I spread it before I put it right at the very top of the keyway so it has enough spring in it to not just jump out on me...if anyone has any other ideas of what I can used on the old American please let me know.