Tubular Tension Wrench...

[zsoutendijk]

there have been so many posts about tubular tension wrenches... so heres another

i dont like the fact that i cant open tubular locks, i dont have 120 bucks to spend on regular tubular lock picks... plus i would like to learn with the real tensioner.

heres what im talking about

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h106/ ... tensio.jpg

or this one



ive tried making the first one about three times so far, with no luck... could somebody tell me how to make it or what tools to use...
then again where can you buy them? does LPshop have them?

dont bother telling me how you have to pick the lock 6 times or w/e with the manual tension... i know!

Thanks

-Zack

Kaotik Edit - Changed Oversized Photo To Link

[Safety0ff]

Try grinding down small allen/hex key to the right shape. You can usually find them in the fastener section of a hardware store, in the little individual fastener bins.

[zsoutendijk]

Thanks,

Are you talking about the bottom picture?

Do those work well? or would i have better luck with the top one?

-Zack

[josh0094]

stainless steel allen wrenches take a LONG time to grind down. so make sure you start with the smallist one you can if you try it.

[zsoutendijk]

allen wrenches dont take that long, maybey i have different ones then you... i grinded one into a makeshift tension to get into my house once.

does anyone know if the allen wrench looking one works?

[jimb]

ive tried making the first one about three times so far, with no luck... could somebody tell me how to make it or what tools to use...
then again where can you buy them? does LPshop have them?

http://www.idealcreations.net/ls03.htm

By the way that is my scan you posted. If you want to make one the gap on one side is 1/4 of an inch and the other side is 3/16. The outer ends could be optional as they are warded picks.

[zsoutendijk]

By the way that is my scan you posted. If you want to make one the gap on one side is 1/4 of an inch and the other side is 3/16. The outer ends could be optional as they are warded picks.

Did you make that one or did you buy it from idealcreations? Is that site trustworthy?

[jimb]

[Did you make that one or did you buy it from idealcreations? Is that site trustworthy?

I bought it. I've bought from them twice and not had a problem.

[ax0n]

I've picked tubulars with a homebrew tension wrench used the same way as the second (bottom) picture depicts. It's not as easy as using purpose-made tubular picks, but it can work. I don't have the cash for real tubular picks either, so I feel your pain.

[Ofnir1]

Hello all, I'm new here and have yet to pick a tubular lock. I'm selling some stuff soon on eBay and will have enough to purchase a set from idealcreations.com. I'm also going to buy tube locks either from Home Depot or online, whichever.

Anyway, I was looking around my room to improvise on picking a tubular lock, and saw my mini Sharpie pen. I don't know the diameter of a tube lock, rather I don't remember, but the cap seems to be rounded enough. The clip on it looks as if it could fit in the notch to provice tension, might have to file it down a little, but it seems like it could work. I saw the inside illustration of a tube lock, the pins are exposed. Now that I think about it, a Sharpie cap is not straight the whole way, but perhaps it could fit in just enough? Egh, I gotta get a tube lock and practice. My old PC had a tube lock on it, but that was years ago and if only I was into lockpicking then!

[illusion]

Urmmh...

I opened an ACE1 using a pair of needle nose pliers to apply tension. It was awkward to get the right amount of force and the pliers got in the way of the feeler pick, but it worked.

It's not a great reply, but you've been given all the ideas that I could have given myself. Wait, I'm updating this in real-time since I just remembered something. I think Raimundo suggested it, but I also recall Shrub elaborating on it as well... I dunno who gets the credit hehe.

The best way I've found is to get a tubular key for the lock and file away at each cut so it goes all the way to the bow of the key. This way you can use the key to turn the cylinder, and slide feeler picks down the grooves to press the pins. If you can find a way to hold the feeler picks in the right position in the grooves, you could pretty much end up with a tubular pick, but with the bonus that it'll decode the lock as well once picked.

I don't know if this is what you were after, but I hope it helps.

[freakparade3]

Try grinding down small allen/hex key to the right shape. You can usually find them in the fastener section of a hardware store, in the little individual fastener bins.

If you go to wal-mart and buy a small set of allen wrenches for about $1, they are in a clear bag. One of them fits tubular locks perfectly, no grinding is needed. I just don't remember what one it is.

[Ofnir1]

@ illusion

Actually, that is great info! I was looking around the house again today and found some small drill bits that look thin enough to pick a tube lock. I think if I combine the ideas you posted, and the small drill bits, I could probably make a tube pick

Here's a pic of the drill bit and a different pen cap:


I don't think the pen cap will work though, but I'm gonna find out soon enough lol

@ freakparade3

I'll have to look for those next time I'm in Wally World hehe