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HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby ToolyMcgee » 20 Oct 2008 20:09

I'm glad you found the tutorial useful. Good job on the even bending of the spiral loop on the large wrench, unfortunately the sharp bend you have put in it kills alot of the function of a loop wrench. Any time you have a sharp bend like that it creates a stress point that will further bend under higher tension. Normally this wouldn't matter as your not exactly white knuckling locks for tension purposes, but the other function of the loop wrench is as a plug spinner. If you have an American quarter sized loop wrench that sits in the keyway with the arm at 1'oclock, you usually pick the lock with tension at around 2 o'clock, but if you pick the lock in the wrong direction then you can load it to 8 or even 9 o'clock in the coiled direction and let it fly without deforming the wrench at all if it is well bent. It works in every KIK and to my surprise even alot of deadbolt's with some practice.

Another reason all the ones I have posted have the twist as close to the loop as possible is that it's a more direct application of force to the plug. The more circular the loop, the better it applies tension to the plug. Once you put that sharp bend in the wrench it becomes a place for energy to collect, and like a kink in a hose reduces water flow, then bend reduces the amount of tension that is acting directly on the plug. That's not based on text book theory so much as first hand experience. I have a mountain of trial and error tension wrenches in a drawer in my work area to prove it and some look very similar to what you have spun.

The final reason for the closed loop is that it fits on belt clip with my keyring, so it's portable and accessable. It's the first bottom of the keyway wrench I reach for not only because it's one of my favourite, but also because it's right there on my belt.

One thing I forgot to mention in the tutorial is that if you choose to bend one, make sure you coil it backwards. That is to say if you want the arm of the wrench to point to the right in a keyway with the pins at the top, bend it as though you wanted it pointing left. Then bend the wrench tip under the arm so you have a tight coil with no gaps. Does that make sense? You want the wrench tip next to the plug face, but bend it as though you wanted the loop in the way of the wrench tip, then reverse it.

I have a U wrench myself, as well as a double ended loop wrench. Great job again on forming the curve so smooth. I don't find much use for either because they simply won't fit in a tool case. I suppose you could patent the designs and start production, but that's not exactly in the spirit of DIY and I can think of better ways to go bankrupt. :mrgreen: Mine involves supplementing a young girls college tuition with dollar bills. Incidentally I also have a dual sided tensioner that works as a money clip. If I ever had any bills to put in it, then I wouldn't have so much free time to bend tension wrenches.

-Tooly
*blank*
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby femurat » 21 Oct 2008 7:49

Hi ToolyMcgee, you're right about the sharp bend in the spiral. I hadn't thought about it as a stress point. Thank you for the detailed explanation. Anyway it was fun to experiment a little.

I'll try to follow the steps of your last bending process. Yes, it make sense, I think I can do that...
I also want to try the spring version. I hope I find soon a spring lying around.

Just joking about the patent: free time is our most precious thing ;)
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby peejay52 » 12 Jul 2009 16:10

incredible post and just the thing for us newbies that always, and I mean always, use too much tension when we first try this hobby.
thanks
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby r0b0t1 » 26 Jul 2009 2:31

I honestly don't believe you use all of those... Do you?

I mean, variety is good and the tutorial is good (I had never thought about the groved method you did :)), but seeing all those shiny looped tensioners makes me think of some abstract art yard :P.
I can hax your door!
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby ToolyMcgee » 20 Aug 2009 22:03

r0b0t1 wrote:I honestly don't believe you use all of those... Do you?

I mean, variety is good and the tutorial is good (I had never thought about the groved method you did :)), but seeing all those shiny looped tensioners makes me think of some abstract art yard :P.

Used them? :lol: I made them :wink: I spent time to do so, and to not use one would be ludicrous. I don't carry but one at a time, and now I only use one, if I have it. For discus padlocks. It was a project I made into a write up.

peejay52 wrote:incredible post and just the thing for us newbies that always, and I mean always, use too much tension when we first try this hobby.
thanks

Thank you. I used some for several months when I started, just because of my frustration with difficult cylinders. I recommend making one from a good strong mouse trap spring. They are still my favorite kind.

-Toolymcgee
*blank*
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby huxleypig » 29 Sep 2009 6:47

I just got a long spring and superglued a snipped split pin inside the loop at the end! It works a treat!
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Re: HOW TO: No solder feather touch tensioner

Postby alfabravo » 11 Aug 2010 19:08

this thread is just so innovative to me. very nice job guys! i'm definetely going to try some of these! again, thanks a lot!
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