Picks or Tension Tools, What's More Important?

by **freakparade3** » 23 Jul 2007 14:45

It seems to be an ongoing debate with newer pickers as to what is the best pick for what lock. They give no thought to trying a different tension tool. I made this poll to ask the more experienced pickers their opinion. Mabye the new users will gain something from it, then again so may I... My opinion is the a large selection of tension tools will get you farther than a large selection of picks. What is yours?

by **GutterClown** » 23 Jul 2007 16:08

which came first, the chicken or the egg.

both equally perspective-biased arguments.

by **dmux** » 23 Jul 2007 16:17

tension tool all the way

by **Rodfather23** » 23 Jul 2007 16:33

interesting............I do have a few different tension tools, but I still mainly
just use one........but also I'm still a big noob

I have one made of the same width wiper blade as people use to make bogotas, ( with the tips width thinned to fit a wider variety of locks)...that one is my primary one. (the handle is about 4 inches with a twist in the handle)

I have one short one for those times just incase I actually have to pick a lock cause the keys are lost and the door frame doesn't allow enough room for my long one. (this one is made from a very thin width wiper blade insert)

Finally I have one with a very short head ...for gripping the top of the key ways.

Are there any other ones I should add to my collection?

by **cjames73** » 23 Jul 2007 16:40

tension wrenches definately.
my 4 favorite picks will open most locks i come across yet i have about 8 favorite wrenches as each lock has different size/shape keyways.

by **Tygart** » 23 Jul 2007 16:46

I would say Tension Wrenches. You can get into a lot of locks with only a hook or a slim line hook.

by **freakparade3** » 23 Jul 2007 17:53

Rodfather23 wrote:
Are there any other ones I should add to my collection?

It's not just the way they are bent. I have some very flexible ones that work great in some locks but won't do a thing in others. Different materials and thicknesses will greatly affect picking from lock to lock.

by **JackNco** » 23 Jul 2007 18:17

Interesting one this. although if you have a basic tension wrench you will open most locks. the thing is you may strugel with less picks, but if you cant apply decent tension you wont get the lock open.

John

by **JackNco** » 23 Jul 2007 18:17

Interesting one this. although if you have a basic tension wrench you will open most locks. the thing is you may strugel with less picks, but if you cant apply decent tension you wont get the lock open.

John

by **Eyes_Only** » 23 Jul 2007 19:06

I use a variety of different hook picks but they are all pretty much the same thing, some just thinner than the other or have a longer reach. If I was willing to put the effort into learning I could probably open most of my locks with a basic hook pick but then it gets too hard.

As far as tension wrenches go I usually use only three, a Peterson Pry Bar, a flat wrench from HPC and the smallest wrench that came with my MTL Souber pick set. If I didn't have these three wrenches I would not feel very comfortable picking any of my locks.

So basically I have a larger selection the picks than wrenches but I am more picky when it comes to the wrenches I use. So I vote for the tension wrench.

by **Kaotik** » 23 Jul 2007 20:03

Tension tools!

by **freakparade3** » 23 Jul 2007 22:48

So far it's tension tools winning out. I would like to ask the most experienced pickers here (you know who you are) to not only vote, but to post your reason why.

by **acestor** » 24 Jul 2007 0:44

When I address a new lock, I spend a lot of time chosing the correct wrench (tension tool, torque wrench - we really ought to settle on a uniform terminology!!! - a topic that forums can address- and have in the past without conclusion - I prefer "wrench" as it is a single word compared to "tension tool", "torque wrench" - an etymology application of Occam's razor). I am partial to the Peterson serrated tension wrenches (AKA tension tools) as I like a firm wrench that transmits the feel of the pins to my hand and the serrations help to hold the wrench in place. Some like a less firmer wrench. Look to see that the wrench and your hand positioning turns the cylinder and does not bind it. I sometimes spend several minutes picking out the best wrench for the cylinder (I have about a dozen in my pick set from various manufacturers).
Only after I have gotten a wrench that fits correctly, is secure, doesn't interfere with access to the pins, and is comfortable to my hand, do I select a pick. For picks, I prefer single hooks then half diamonds. For me, I almost never use rakes or raking technique. So in a sense, the wrench is more important; if you can't get control of the cylinder with a suitable wrench then you can't move on to using a pick.

by **bluestar** » 24 Jul 2007 3:30

Depends... One good tension wrench fits most cylinders, but multiple picks my be required (different rakes and hooks, for example thin hooks for tight keyways, steep hooks, shallow hooks, strong hooks if you need force, etc.). So I'd say for most of the locks o big selection of picks is more important, but if your tension wrench does't fit your cylinder, all your picks don't help.

by **Raccoon** » 24 Jul 2007 3:36

I have a larger variety of picks, BUT, I *use* a larger variety of tension tools.

Half the time I use a short hook, the other half a large/small diamond... yet 5 of my 9 or so tensioners get equal use. The pile of rakes -- I wonder when I'll ever use.

Picks or Tension Tools, What's More Important?

Tension Tools or Picks?

Picks or Tension Tools, What's More Important?

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