Tension Tool Advice

[Eagerpicker]

What would you guys say is the main difference between SouthOrd and HPC tools? They seem very similar, almost identical in design -- on screen, that is.

[Varjeal]

I've never used the tools from South, but honestly, none of our opinions matter. It matters only what best suits YOUR hands, temperment and skills. You may want to start with the least expensive ones, and as your skill grows try some others and see what you like.

[Eagerpicker]

Varjeal, thx for the reply. I agree with you the main thing is personal preference, and I have some SouthOrd picks that have worked fine for me so far. I haven't been picking for that long, though, so I am curious as to all the different designs the various manufacturers offer. In Europe, where I live, keyways tend to be pretty small and the wards do their utmost to prevent picks being inserted. Hence my interest in e.g. the Rytan 'blue' series -- which seems to be unavailable to my humble unprofessional self...

[Varjeal]

Rytan are excellent picks when working in small, tight, or complex keyways. I have an assortment of Rytan, HPC, and Majestic. Over the past while, though, I have begun limiting my selection of picks, and increasing my selection of tension tools, which I think is much more important than the type of pick being used.

[Eagerpicker]

That's certainly an interesting remark. People on this forum discuss various brands and makes of picks, but I have not found any input on tension tools. Would you, a professional locksmith, like to share your preferences in this area?

[Varjeal]

Tension tools are often overlooked when it comes to picking locks, but the fact is that if you don't have the "right" amount of tension on the plug, you can individually pick each pin to the shear line all day long and it won't do you a bit of good.

The problem with recommending tension tools, like picks, is the individuals skill, sense of touch, and preference, condition of the lock being picked.

Personally, for most residential locks I prefer a medium to heavy tension wrench as I can "feel" the movement and binding of the pins better. I know some locksmiths prefer really light tension wrenches which transmit that movement better for them.

I would recommend for beginner's in the trade to use light tension wrenches as most beginner's (including myself when I started) have a tendency to put too much tension on a plug when picking, and this can really cause havok when your dealing with mushroom, spool, or serrated pins.

Just my opinion. Hope it helps.

[Eagerpicker]

You make a good point there. Of course it's a matter of taste, but could you list a few tension tools and mention whether they're 'heavy' or not? For instance, the SouthOrd tools, they only have four or five different tools, which are really mostly the same, except for the one they call 'slim line', which is narrower than the others. So would you describe these as 'heavy'? The twist-flex is less sturdy, I would say. And what about the length of the handle? What about other brands, such as Rytan, HPC, LAB?

I've bought the feather-touch tool (and had to squeeze the tip into a narrower shape to fit the European keyways...), but after trying it a couple of times, I feel I'm perhaps not using it the right way, feeling rather awkward. The idea is that it is spring-controlled, I gather, but it remains vital to vary the amount of pressure. Also, I wonder if it works better clock-wise or ccw; is there any difference at all?

Eagerpicker - amazed by the complexity of simple tools.

[Varjeal]

The easiest way to tell how much tension a particular pick has is by looking at it's thickness.

If it is rigid and does not bend or flex at all it is considered "heavy".

If you can bend it almost in half and it springs back, this would be "light".

Flexibility of an inch or two would be considered "medium" I guess. It's kind of relative.

I gotta run now, but when I return I'll comment on the rest of your post.

Later.

[Eagerpicker]

Okidoki.

Eagerpicker - bending tension tools like mad.

[Varjeal]

Depending on where the lock is located on the door, there may not be room for a long tension wrench. I personally prefer a tension wrench about the width of three of my fingers for normal doors.

Depending on the type of lock, a dual pronged tension wrench may be necessary for wide keyways.

As far as brands, most companies make their tension wrenches from the same or similar type of material, so "brand name" tension wrenches are really no different, 'cept perhaps in price.

My best advice would be to find a brand that makes the thickness you like and stick with 'em.

Hope this helps all who reads.