Tension wrench questions.

[cirictech]

Hello everybody,

Well its been some time since i pulled out my homemade picks and well seems i lost my ultra shity tension wrench, I'm not sad at all, however I now need to make some new ones. The materials I have access to are just the Jr. hacksaw blades and my tools. Just was wondering what the diffrent types of tension wrenches are what they are used for and if anyone has plans with pics of the ones they have made if the wouldn't mind sharing them with me.

P.S. this was brought on my a brinks max security padlock someone bought me so thats the target lock.


Thanks, Ciric

[Rodfather23]

Go to an auto shop such as autozone on a rainy day and look in the trash cans for used windshield wipers. Take the metal strips out and use them instead.

[jgencinc]

THIS is a link to the tension tools I have made using mostly wiper inserts, and the Peterson flat 5.

[Dragunov-21]

If the auto place doesn't have any go to your council depot and ask for some old streetsweeper blades, they're excellent for picks and tension tools both.

[poor paperclip picker]

Also if I need a tension wrench just for a little bit, I unfold a paperclip once or twice, then bend it into a L shape. And for the part you put in the keyway bend the clip over itself so the part you put in the keyway is thicker.
If you cant understand what i was saying, reply and i will make one and put a picture of it up.

[Rodfather23]

THIS is a link to the tension tools I have made using mostly wiper inserts, and the Peterson flat 5.

Did you make that best tool?

[jgencinc]

yes i did. I tried using the dimensions found with search-fu on the forums. It's hard to do, I couldn't get it cut right. I took apart an SFIC and cut the wrench a little at a time until it fit exactly. It works nicely.

After struggling unsuccessfully to pick a lock, it is very satisfying to finally pick a lock that you made specials tools for. I find that I like making the tools more than using them.

[Eyes_Only]

That means you are an artist.

[cryptonic]

THIS is a link to the tension tools I have made using mostly wiper inserts, and the Peterson flat 5.

Did you make that best tool?

that thing is nice... going to have to steal the idea!

[FFVison]

I have seen a few wrenches that actually have a twist by the bend, but on the side of the bend that has the part that would be stuck in the keyway. The twist isn't on the handle part that you hold. Anyway, this looks like it could be useful for some door locks, depending on how they are mounted and if you need to turn the plug and the doorjamb gets in the way or something. The end result is that the handle for the wrench itself sticks down below the keyway. I have thought about how this could be useful on more than one occasion.

[rontgens]

Noob Question! I've just made a tension wrench like this one http://www.lockpickshop.com/TW-02.html from a wiper blade insert.
However I've made mine double ended, with a twist and wrench at each end...One end being slightly longer than the other for different keyways...
Am I right in thinking that these twists slightly reduce the tension being used?

[Gordon Airporte]

Noob Question! I've just made a tension wrench like this one http://www.lockpickshop.com/TW-02.html from a wiper blade insert.
However I've made mine double ended, with a twist and wrench at each end...One end being slightly longer than the other for different keyways...
Am I right in thinking that these twists slightly reduce the tension being used?

Yes, they make it harder to apply too much torque. The downside is that you lose some feel for how the cylinder reacts to pins setting.

[raimundo]

When you use the twist close to the tensor blade, you will lose some sensitivity and some torque, on the flexible handle, but if you put the twist an inch back from the bend, you will get the flat of the handle to put your finger on, and thats better than the edge, but you wil have a very stiff tensor.
Do this to convince yourself how much force the lever puts on that tensor blade: pinch the tensor blade between thumb and forfinger, then use a feather or a piece of paper on edge to apply force to the end of the lever, see if you can prevent the blade from twisting in your fingers.
when you understand the leverage that is applied in tension, It will become obvious that a tensor never needs to be longer than three inches, and the longer you make it the harder it is to pick sucessfully.

the problems with tensor are principally jamming and grounding the torque in an unnecessary and counter productive way.

[Emrys]

here's some picures of a tension wrench I made from an allen wrench. It doesn't have any spring at all, so you have to be very careful with the tension. But, I've learned how to use it without applying too much tension. The advantage to this tensioner is that I cut it to fit just right into American locks and it seems to fit just right into the Brinks shrouded too. I can have complete control of the plug with no play from the tensioner. I like this because it's a very common occurance to get caught on security pins w/these locks, so this allows me to move the plug back and forth just enough to set false set pins without letting others drop.

-Rob

[splister]

If this helps here are some templates. If you have access to a printer that takes toner, you can use the toner transfer method. http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p251 ... Set-v2.jpg