How do i pick a padlock with keyhole is too small for picks?

[darksidedsam2]

I use a snake and a tension wrench on almost all padlocks.. but i cant undo this padlock that has a 1 and a half width of an avrage padlock but has only a very small key hole..

i jsut cant fit my tension wrench and snake pick in at once..

is there a way (without padlock shims) to open it?

[illusion]

As a general tip, you may want to make a thinner tension wrench. I have a super thin one that comes out when playing with tricky keyways.

Aside from this, use a slimmer hook pick, or try and apply tension elsewhere.

[Raccoon]

Southern Ordinence and Peterson both make a slimline set of picks. You may find these useful.

Also, try putting your tension wrench at the top of the keyway, the same side the pins are on. This may require modifying the length of the wrench which enters the keyway, so it is shorter and less likely to pop out of the keyway when turning.

[SFGOON]

The most important aspect of any pick set is versatility. You're going to need both wrenches and picks in a variety of sizes.

[lockedin]

Yeah, but I think Illusion is right about making your own smaller tension wrench. Southord for one sells slimline picks but no slimline tension wrench! I haven't found one on other sites either. This is about as smart as hot dogs coming in packs of 10 and hot dog buns in packs of 8. Genius.

[raimundo]

commercial picks do not cover all possibilities, you cannot even buy picks small enough for the smallest keyways, so you have to make your own. The good news is that its not hard and is rewarding to do. If you learn a bit about making picks, you can make a specialpick for every difficult location or lock whenever you need one.

[p1ckf1sh]

Yeah, but I think Illusion is right about making your own smaller tension wrench. Southord for one sells slimline picks but no slimline tension wrench! I haven't found one on other sites either. This is about as smart as hot dogs coming in packs of 10 and hot dog buns in packs of 8. Genius.

You just buy 8 packs of hot dogs and 10 packs of buns. Where is the problem? Not that hungry? Well, go for just 4 and 5 then.

As I am trying to reduce the amount of irrelevant drivel posted, I'd like to share an unfinished idea regarding tension wrenches.

Does anyone know these "adjust-to-the-screw" tools? I have not seen them for a long time, in fact I have only seen them on TV commercials years ago, but the system was something like this:
(Excuse the crude and crappy sketch, I am in a hurry)

It was basically a big ratchet nut filled with little needle-like things that formed kind of a solid surface. As opposed the crappy sketch, these were aligned to touch each other, if I remember correctly there were even multiple sizes if these needles, so smaller ones would fill the gaps between the larger ones. Now, when pushing this on a screwhead, of say an allen screw, a bunch of these needles would be pushed back by the screw and a few of those would be going into the screw like the regular allenwrench would. Then you could turn the screw. If you were using it on a M6 screwhead it would be different, the middle ones would be pushed in and only on the rim of the toos pins would stay, securely gripping the screw.

I wonder if this system could somehow be transferred to tension wrenches. The problem I see is the fact that the end of the wrench has to be bent 90°. If one could use a straight tension tool, all you'd need to make this tool is a short piece of 3mm tube and a bunch of piano wires cut to length to fill this tool. Then you'd align all the wires to form a surface and push it on the keyway, top or bottom as you prefer, that should form a nice tension tool...

Any thoughts?

[lockedin]

You just buy 8 packs of hot dogs and 10 packs of buns. Where is the problem? Not that hungry? Well, go for just 4 and 5 then.

As I am trying to reduce the amount of irrelevant drivel posted

First, this is an analogy. Yes, it is an unusual one, but it is far from "irrelevant drivel." I'm sure other members have wondered about why Southord sells slimline picks but no slimline tension wrench. Second, work on your math.

[lockedin]

Oh, and the invention your are talking about is called the Gator Grip. And I think a tension wrench with that concept would help to manipulate a lot of tough keyways.

Click here

[p1ckf1sh]

As I am trying to reduce the amount of irrelevant drivel posted

First, this is an analogy. Yes, it is an unusual one, but it is far from "irrelevant drivel." I'm sure other members have wondered about why Southord sells slimline picks but no slimline tension wrench. Second, work on your math. [/quote]
Dude, you misunderstood me, and it is my fault because I expressed myself weirdly...

I was initially just posting my comment on hot dogs, and then thought better of it and just rolled out that little idea of mine. So, that is what I meant with "As I am trying to reduce the amount of irrelevant drivel posted". Or said differently it would read "And because I am feeling bad about just posting irrelevant comments and remarks lately, I'd just like to drop off an idea for discussion that I had in relation to tension wrenches...".

Again, take my apologies, I was not accusing you of posting garbage or criticizing your posts in any way. Sorry for the confusion, I hope this is settled now.

[p1ckf1sh]

Sorry, screwed up the quote tags a bit. You'll get it sorted though. And, returning to irrelevant stuff, what is wrong with my math? 8packs + 10 packs turn out to 80 of each, and 4packs/5packs to 40.

I know, I was a loser in math, I really was, but I don't see what is wrong with THAT.

[Krypos]

Yeah, but I think Illusion is right about making your own smaller tension wrench. Southord for one sells slimline picks but no slimline tension wrench! I haven't found one on other sites either. This is about as smart as hot dogs coming in packs of 10 and hot dog buns in packs of 8. Genius.

10 hot dogs per pack
8 buns per pack

10 hot dogs times 8 = 80 hot dogs.
8 buns times 10 = 80 buns.

10 hot dogs times 4 = 40 hot dogs.
8 buns times 5 = 40 buns.

whats wrong with the math? i think he did it right there. i was a bloody genius in algebra and i was good in alegbra II, albeit lazy, but still good.

[mh]

i was a bloody genius in algebra and i was good in alegbra II, albeit lazy, but still good.

Good to know

Maybe you can help the EVVA folks with their MCS key variant calculations...

mh

[lockedin]

p1ckf1sh, sorry if I came out aggressively. I definitely misinterpreted what you said. We should focus back on the gator grip idea.

[scampdog]

if you cant get a normal tension wrench in the keyway,try one of the spring loaded "Y"shaped wrenches,these tend to free up quite a bit of space, allowing you to get a slimline pick in.