new tension tool?

[bawlls]

hey guys, just a little idea of mine.
its a tension tool that would be made specifically for these types of locks

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/b/bj/bjn/40625_ ... r_lock.jpg

excuse my vocabulary. but I am still new to this, but notice how there are 1 groove down each side? i have noticed while picking with a normal tension tool that they both get in the way a lot, so i was thinking a bent up tension tool like im my crappy drawing!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e355/ ... aahahh.jpg

hard to draw it, but its square shaped, but missing one side, or maybe an S- shaped tension tool would work well

[TOWCH]

I've done similar things. You cut the metal to shape like one of those geometry cutouts, and fold the metal in a vice.

A nice set of golf clubs won't make you tiger woods. That lock shouldn't be hard with a ground down allen key. Not much reason to make a custom wrench for it, but that's half the fun of being new in this sport so I'm not going to discourage you. Go for it. You'll enjoy your creation and learn from the process.

[maintenanceguy]

If your drawing is of a tension tool with a groove on the end to fit around a ward that's in the way...then you have a great idea.

However, like most great ideas somebody's already done it.

I've got one just like it.

I have no idea who makes mine or where I got it but it's similar (maybe identical) to a tension tool VV-6 made by HPC.

You can see a picture here

http://www.hpcworld.com/Picks/p_standt.htm

One of the most useful picking tools I've ever used.

[freakparade3]

A nice set of golf clubs won't make you tiger woods.

I'm gonna use that little gem in the future.

[bawlls]

wo maintenance guy, that was exactly what i was thinking about, thank you very much, helped me decide more wether i wanted to make it.looks like a killer tool, so im defs gonna make one, and perhaps write a guide on how to make them?

[jhl]

Why make a fancy tool?

That there Lockwood C4 keyway is very easy to get regular wrenches into. Either above the pins or down in the bulk, why go to the stunning extra effort?

It won't make picking it easier. It still just applies torque.

[jhl]

Actually - have you tried an above-the-pins tension tool?

Cut it shortish, so when you push it all the way in it doesn't quite touch the pins.

I've had great success over the pins with many locks. Easy to make, too.

[Exodus5000]

I've made a similar tool. I used a ground down SC1 keyblank that was silver soldered onto a standard tension wrench. It works ok, probably not worth the time though.

[bawlls]

the sounds like a good idea exodus,
and for all the guys that say "ohh waste of time blah blah"
I LOVE MAKING THINGS. i pride myself if what i can make.
wether it makes it easyer or not, doesnt bother me, isnt that the definition of a hobbie?

[TOWCH]

but that's half the fun of being new in this sport so I'm not going to discourage you. Go for it. You'll enjoy your creation and learn from the process.

[mercurial]

bawlls - do you see this lock/keyway in Vancouver often? I'd be surprised if they are even available on the retail market there, but of course I could be wrong.

As jhl said, this is a C4 keyway, and could be a 5 pin (LW4 blank) or 6 pin (LW5 blank) lock.

Given you are interested in a specific tension wrench for this keyway, I guess they aren't uncommon on your side of the world? I would have immediately assumed the pic you posted was from Australia, had I not seen your location on your profile.

I was not aware that these are often seen outside of Australia. (Although Lockwood is now owned by Assa-Abloy, so it is no longer an Australian company). There are Lockwood branded locks in the USA, that were made by a completely different and unrelated company - but this is definately not what you have pictured.

This keyway is EXTREMELY common here in Australia. You will find high quality and cheap low-tolerance cylinders(as bad as kwickset) all with this keyway.

I learned to pick them using very 'normal' style tension wrench, that engages the bottom of the keyway - such as the standard and twist-flex wrenches from SouthOrd as well as similar wrenches made from street sweeper bristle/windscreen wiper inserts.

Since I have developed a preference for often applying tension at the top of the keyway, and this keyway suits top-tensioning very well, you can get a good grip with an appropriately shaped wrench, and it affords a great deal more freedom to move your pick.

You can pick these locks with a standard tension wrench at the bottom of the keyway, but tension at the top really helps to deal with nasty high-low bittings.

I'd say there is no need to go to the effort of making the wrench you've described just to tackle this keyway. People certainly will encounter keyways where making a wrench specifically for it is appropriate, but surely not with this keyway.

If you think this keyway is nasty, look for some pictures of the highly warded + paracentric keyways common in many Euro cylinders. Pictures would be harder to find, but there are some restricted Lockwood profiles that are very nasty, too. The Medeco Keymark deserves a mention here too!

You will encounter keyways where a tailor made wrench is appropriate, I really don't think that is the case with the this keyway (C4).

...mercurial

[mercurial]

bawlls - do you see this lock/keyway in Vancouver often? I'd be surprised if they are even available on the retail market there, but of course I could be wrong.

As jhl said, this is a C4 keyway, and could be a 5 pin (LW4 blank) or 6 pin (LW5 blank) lock.

Given you are interested in a specific tension wrench for this keyway, I guess they aren't uncommon on your side of the world? I would have immediately assumed the pic you posted was from Australia, had I not seen your location on your profile.

I was not aware that these are often seen outside of Australia. (Although Lockwood is now owned by Assa-Abloy, so it is no longer an Australian company). There are Lockwood branded locks in the USA, that were made by a completely different and unrelated company - but this is definately not what you have pictured.

This keyway is EXTREMELY common here in Australia. You will find high quality and cheap low-tolerance cylinders(as bad as kwickset) all with this keyway.

I learned to pick them using very 'normal' style tension wrench, that engages the bottom of the keyway - such as the standard and twist-flex wrenches from SouthOrd as well as similar wrenches made from street sweeper bristle/windscreen wiper inserts.

Since I have developed a preference for often applying tension at the top of the keyway, and this keyway suits top-tensioning very well, you can get a good grip with an appropriately shaped wrench, and it affords a great deal more freedom to move your pick.

You can pick these locks with a standard tension wrench at the bottom of the keyway, but tension at the top really helps to deal with nasty high-low bittings.

I'd say there is no need to go to the effort of making the wrench you've described just to tackle this keyway. People certainly will encounter keyways where making a wrench specifically for it is appropriate, but surely not with this keyway.

If you think this keyway is nasty, look for some pictures of the highly warded + paracentric keyways common in many Euro cylinders. Pictures would be harder to find, but there are some restricted Lockwood profiles that are very nasty, too. The Medeco Keymark deserves a mention here too!

You will encounter keyways where a tailor made wrench is appropriate, I really don't think that is the case with the this keyway (C4).

...mercurial

[Kaotik]

but that's half the fun of being new in this sport so I'm not going to discourage you. Go for it. You'll enjoy your creation and learn from the process.

I second that!

bawlls, if the tool you make works for you then it was well worth the time taken to make it. Doesn't matter if anyone else /\ thinks it would be a waste of time or is useless.

[bawlls]

thanks mercurial,
this lock is pretty uncommon from what i have seen, but the key way is not. i have had a hard time getting some tension wrenches in the keyway. but i have recently used a top tension, and it works magnificently. I no longer see the reason for the modified tension tool. thank all you guys for your input

[kspec]

my suggestion is to make a few small top tension tools, after i seen 'the key' use them when i first started picking ( i think its 2+ years now) I made a bunch. and theyre my favorite.

my suggestion if you make your own is to keep quenching it frequently since its a small piece it will heat up very fast. also if you have a few friends that are learning and they seem kinda rough....dont let them use the small ones yet, till they have more finess...ive had 2 of my fav ones break

also, if you have an idea, thats great! it shows that you do have interest in this hobby, and are coming up with new ideas(new to you if anything) and thats a good thing. keep it up.