Tubular Tension Wrench

by **skeeve** » 14 Mar 2007 13:28

Hey I was wondering if anybody'd ever used a tubular pick like this one, http://www.idealcreations.net/ls03.htm. It's basically a tubular tension wrench and you then use a pick to set all the pins. It seems like the way a tubular lock works would make the "picking" very easy. The picture doesn't really show what it looks like very well but if you click on it it will load a video that has a good shots of it.

Thanks and sorry if this is a repost.

by **UWSDWF** » 14 Mar 2007 13:32

it's even easier with a tubular lockpick

by **skeeve** » 14 Mar 2007 13:48

I'm sure it is, but this seems really cheep/easy to make. You could probably improvise something like this if you needed to. I was wondering more specifically if anybody had experience with this type of tool.

by **UWSDWF** » 14 Mar 2007 14:25

it's doable but really sucks.... you have to pick the lock multiple times as it resets every move it makes...

by **skeeve** » 14 Mar 2007 14:37

sorry maybe I don't quite understand how tubulars work but what did you mean by

ou have to pick the lock multiple times as it resets every move it makes.

I mean I suppose in a worst case scenario you'd have to manipulate pins n! times where n is the number of pins but that shouldn't take too long i would think

by **UWSDWF** » 14 Mar 2007 14:50

if you're gonna do it that way... i highly reccomend marking down the picking order somewhere

by **Wolfe** » 14 Mar 2007 15:17

There are quite a few threads about tubular picks on this forum.

there are a few ways to pick them.here are the most common.
1.Using a standard tension wrench and a half diamond pick. its very easy to pick these locks this way but its a major pain in the arse. its easy because you can see the pins very clearly, Its a pain because every 1/8 of a turn or so the pins reset and you have to pick it again and again and again until you open it.

2.Using tubular picks
http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-TPXS-78.html
the best way to pick most of your 7-8 pin tubular locks the only con is the price.

3.Using a ballpoint pen cap.
by far the cheapest way to go. It takes a little practice but its relatively easy to learn.

by **Kaotik** » 14 Mar 2007 18:14

I made one of those quite awhile back.

The prefference to use that tool or a 7-8 pin tubular pick is strictly up to what you want to use it for. The 7-8 pin tubular pick has it's purpose, it's purpose is to open a tubular lock several times when the key is unavailable and to decode the pins so a key can be made.

The IC tension tool is to open the lock, not to decode for key making. If that is what you want to do to pick a tubular locks and advance your skills and getting more familiar with them then go for it.

If you choose to invest in becoming a lockie and make keys or even have the extra cash to buy one just to say you have one, then buying a good quality 7-8 pin tubular lockpick is well worth it. As I said it's up to you on what you want to use it for.

*On a personal note, i've opened tubular locks faster than it takes some guys to adjust the feelers on a tubular pick with a tension tool that looks similar to IC's.

by **skeeve** » 14 Mar 2007 19:50

@Kaotik: Thank you. it's good to know that these "picks" work.
I do realize the different applications of the two approaches and it's encouraging to know that you've been able to use IC's version faster. I hope to develop proficiency in both styles.

by **Eyes_Only** » 15 Mar 2007 0:24

I just thought of something. Is it possible to use the tension tool like the one from Ideal Creations and pick the lock and move it only a few millimeters and not all the way so that the lock resets, then get a bic pen or whatever, stick it in the lock and tap down on it to impression the lock so you can use the impressioned pen body like a key? I'm sure holding the plug of the lock in place while you tap down on the pen would pose a challange but i think its worth a try.

by **Jow** » 15 Mar 2007 0:27

Thats a good idea Eyes_only! I'm sure it would work and as the pins would be held in position the impressioning would be very simple and fast as you are not dealing with sprung pins but stationary ones.

by **Eyes_Only** » 15 Mar 2007 0:34

My tool box at work uses tubular locks to secure it and if I accidently forget to bring it's key to work I want a effective method on being able to open it so I can work, so I guess have an incentive to try this out.

by **skeeve** » 15 Mar 2007 9:19

That is a good idea. However, I don't think a bic pen is necessarily the best plan. I don't see it receiving an impression very well. It does seem like an interesting cheap alternative to traditional tubular picks though. Please let us know how it works out for you though.

by **UWSDWF** » 15 Mar 2007 9:25

toilet paper tube rolled up works

by **Eyes_Only** » 15 Mar 2007 11:42

What I found that fits pretty well and soft enough for this kind of method is the plastic cap of the thin Crayola markers. Next day I have off from work I'm gonna stop by CVS and pick up a small pack of these markers to try it out.

Tubular Tension Wrench

Tubular Tension Wrench

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