Different tension wrenches

[Budmaster11]

So I've read around on these forums for a while and have been picking on and off for a while too. I've noticed that everybody always talks about the amount of tension needed on a tension wrench, the type of pick, the feedback ect... but I have not come across anybody talking about the type of tension wrench that should be used. Recently I lost my favorite tension wrench (A thick single sided one) and so was testing out my other three. I had a double sided thick one, a thin single sided one and a single sided one that had a 90 degree twist in the handle.

I was practicing on a lock that had a low pin (a long driver pin) in the front and the rest were high pins (small pins) I had never been able to easily open this lock with my old tension wrench and tried the same thickness double headed one and had the same luck. When I tried the thin single headed one however I noticed that I was able to pick the lock much easier. After comparing the two tension wrenches I also noticed that besides the metal being thiner in the second wrench the width of it was also just a little bit thinner.

Although in hindsight this seems quite obvious I never knew that the width of my picks were any different, I thought that they were all the same. So I wanted to just put out the word (if it hasn't already) that a thinner can help a lot if you are struggling with a low high pin combo.

[Trip Doctor]

Did you notice because your tension wrench was thinner it locked at a different place in the keyway, perhaps giving more room for the pick, or just getting a better grip? Sometimes trying different widths of tension wrenches can be useful for this reason.

[le.nutzman]

I have often found that having as many tension tools as I can helps alot. The variable thick or thin of the tool also attributes to what technique I will use when attacking the lock.

Of recent, i'm finding it easier, regardless of the thickness of the tension wrench, to place the tension wrench at the top of the keyway just in front of the keypin. Then it's really just a matter of deciding how much flex I want in the tension wrench that determines which wrench i actually use.

On a slightly different note, I have been working for a while with a feather touch tension wrench that I modified. Because of the difference in the mechanics on how it works vs. a standard tension wrench, i'm finding that picking security pins takes a bit more practice. The drawback from what I have noticed, is substantially less feedback. However, on the positive side, I have noticed that because it can automatically adjust tension, when dealing with security pins, I don't have to manually bounce the tension. Overall though, I won't consider it a primary tension tool because of how flimsy it's made. I would most likely use a higher quality homebrew if anything else.

[Eyes_Only]

Your taste in tension wrenches will probably change as you progress in your picking ability and as you try out different types of locks.

I used to love the wrenches with the flex in it because it worked like a feather touch tensioner but after I got a better feel for how to apply light tension I started to rely more and more on a solid and stiffer wrench.

All I use now is my Peterson Pry Bar for almost any lock it will fit into and will only resort to a thinner and more flexible wrench when my Pry Bar wont fit in the keyway.

[g1842]

Eh, I have a different take on the matter. I use my one tension wrench that came with my 14-piece Southord set. While I do agree with saying that there's a certain amount of pressure you need to apply, I don't really think the tension tool you use matters *greatly*. I always use just enough tension to where I can't turn it any further. Then I use my pick from there. So far it's worked out for every lock I've encountered.

[Budmaster11]

Did you notice because your tension wrench was thinner it locked at a different place in the key way, perhaps giving more room for the pick, or just getting a better grip? Sometimes trying different widths of tension wrenches can be useful for this reason.

Ya that was the main point I was getting at, I guess I just forgot to mention it. but I had repined the lock so it had the low front pin and all the other ones behind it were high. With the 1 maybe 2 mm more room in the key way that this tension wrench gave me it made it very easy to pick.

Also I have tried the technique of putting the tension wrench in front of the pins at the top of the key way and have found it useful sometimes for getting the very back pin in a normal deadbolt with the low high pin combination. But another problem is that I have to hold and apply tension at the bend in the tension wrench otherwise it will fall out. This makes it very difficult to pick and feel feedback. Do you use a modified tension wrench, maybe one with a very small end (head)?

[le.nutzman]

I've modified almost every tension wrench i have, but to my personal preferences. So when i'm working on any given lock, almost any one of my tension tools can be used. But that's me.

If you have the money, time and resources available, trim down the head of your tension wrench. Lowering the profile will give you more control and less awkward positions (tension wrench tilting out of the keyway). The problem with this, is if you take off too much, suddenly your favorite tension wrench doesn't work in a key way now your stuck using a tension wrench that you've barely worked with and have to adapt on the fly to the difference in wrenches. Could be a set back, or depending on your level of experience, it could really make no difference.

It's alot like your picks, you're going to use certain ones almost all the time, the rest you just kinda work with to get familiar enough to be able to if you ever needed to.

[apb]

I have found that using the top of the keyway technique has given me more success than the bottom of the keyway. Mainly because the tension wrench does not pull the plug down toward the wrench and keeps equal force 360 degrees around the plug. This also allows more room for the pick. You sacrifice sever raking or "ripping" techniques but I think its worth it. This works especially well for security pins. Out of all the tension wrenches I have in my collection I find I end up using a bent,cut bobby pin 90% of the time(probably more), placed in the top of the keyway. I have opened several American series 5200 locks using this wrench as well as several other brands. Having several bobby pins with the ends clipped to different lengths (so as to be applied to different keyway styles and sizes) is very useful. The bobby pin is made of a rigid metal and you can apply very, very light tension and still set pins even in high tolerance locks. Plus they're cheap, last forever, and are highly available.

[freakparade3]

I don't really think the tension tool you use matters *greatly*. I always use just enough tension to where I can't turn it any further.

I totally disagree with you here. The right tension tool is very important. If you ask the users who have been picking a long time I will bet that most will say that a large variety of tension tools is far more important than a large variety of picks.