Tapered Tension Tool? (picture)

[REparsed]

I read a post by Romstar about a stepped tension wrench and I was going to make one then I thought 'What about a wedge shaped tension tool?' I had some doubts about how effective it would be. It might not engage the key way well enough.

I made one from some wiper blade metal and it seems to work pretty good in some key ways. I want to experiment with different angles and try one with the wedge on the opposite face of the tension wrench. Any suggestions?

[Lauren]

I like your idea. Anything the works for you and helps minimize slipping is a plus in my book. I'm going to have to try making a wrench like yours. It would be cool if you could fold the edge, making an L-shape tooth on the tip. Or, how about taking some wider wipper blade materiial and grinding out just the middle section and slightly bending the tip?

Lauren

[iNtago]

steps are better the wedge is harder to get to stay and not slip ... theres a tread on it but i cant find it... my search-foo is't strong enugh

[iNtago]

woot I found it!!

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=15486&highlight=tension+wrench+slope

Ihave increast my skill

Honing his pick-foo,
iNtago

[REparsed]

Thanks for the link! Went and read that thread, interesting.

Seems like a shallow angle should work the best. I'd like to put some serrations on the angled face, maybe when I get some jewelers files, for now I'll live with the micro serrations (file marks).

[iNtago]

you're welcome

That is a good looking tool, nice and shiny
im no good at making tension tools i cant bent strate
what if you made like 10 steps? that would fit alot of keyways

i cant use tools like that when they stick out they get in the way

smileys all around ,
iNtago

[Romstar]

Ten steps is too many. Its hard enough to make four.

Thats one of the reasons I have so many tension tools. I have a size for most locks.

The stepped versions are to decrease that number.

Romstar

[FiapFiak]

Well, like others have said,
Stepped is probably better.

In my experiementation with tension wrenches, the wedge easily shifts or pops out. And when varing the tension, it often does this.

I did not have this problem with the stepped wrenches, and the steps have this nice-fit feeling to them with the corners.

As romstar said, 3-4 steps max.
The narrowest step (bottom most) step should be the longest, because it needs to have enough of it to go down the keyway. The others higher steps can be shorter.

[Spossum]

I have been watching Lauren's other thread regarding L shaped tension wrenches. I have some big wiper inserts from a 18 wheeler. They are 21" long and 3/16" wide. I simply held the end in a vice grip and gently tapped on it to bend it over. I did each end opposite so I could turn a lock either direction. I have played with it some today and it works great. I suppose if you don't happen to drive a semi you could get some of these from a truck stop. Our trash can in the shop at work always has several pair in it. I make make a duplicate post on your thread Lauren.

[Lauren]

Nice work!

Lauren

[rohi]

What i've done with some of my wrenches, is put a small bend in the piece that goes in the plug.
This way the wrench secures it self in the plug, no matter the size of the keyway.
Something like this,

____________
. . . . . . . . . . . .l
. . . . . . . . . . . .l
. . . . . . . . . . . . \

If you smoothen the tip,it will not damage the inside of the plug.

Ronald

[FiapFiak]

rohi,
i'm interested more about this bending of the tip, tho i'm not completely sure what you mean by it. could u explain a bit more?

[rohi]

If you bend the tip slightly, the wrench will go in the plug like a wedge, thus jamming itself tight in the keyway.

When the wrench is fixed like this, you'll have a perfect feedback.

At the moment i have no pictures available, will post some later.

Make sure there is not to much force used when putting wrench in, to avoid damging the inside of the plug.

Off to take some pictures, be back shortly.

Ronald

[rohi]

Here's a pic of some wrenches with a bend in them, i have several different wrenches to suit different keyways.

Quality is poor, but i think you'll get the idea.

Ronald

[FiapFiak]

OOO! I get it now.
thanks rohi!

I'll try that out, i can reason that working out in my head...
now... time to try it out.