Universal Tension Wrench

[CptedIV]

I found this diagram for a universal tension wrench I like, also with a brief description of how to make it. The only problem I have is resizing the picture in I have to the correct size so I can actually cut the steel to the correct shape. Anyone know any free picture editing software that will let you size an image down to real life measurements...? I don't know if I'm explaining this right or not, but I'll try to put a picture in this thread also.

Thanks,
Ed

[CptedIV]

It says to cut it from .035 stainless steel stock, and should measure aprox 3.5 inches long and 1.25 tall...

Could anyone tell me a way to resize this to make a template? thanks.

Ed

[LocksmithArmy]

If you owned the book "Modern High Security Locks How To Open Them By Steven Hampton" you would have a template right there...
Its probably twice the size of the pdf

[NanoDuke]

Get PhotoShop or GIMP (free).

You can change the rulers to physical units (mm, cm, inches, feet etc).
There's a tool within the program that lets you measure point-to-point distances.

[CptedIV]

K, thanks, I'll download and see how it goes tomorrow, already picked up the stainless steel stock. What gauge do you guys use? I picked up 20 ga, which seems about right. I've only made homemade picks and wrenches from a broken rake, the fingers on the metal end so I'm fairly new to this. Would I sand the stainless steel after cutting? It should already be smooth and the correct thickness, right?

Thanks,
Ed

[LocksmithArmy]

I use 0.02 inches. Im not sure what gauge that is.

As for sanding, it depends of what you want each part to do. for bottom tension I would sand it but for top tension I would not.

for top tension I like the corners to dig into the lock. for bottom tension I like it smoothe so the pick wont get caught on a burr or anything.

good luck. please post pictures when you are done. I have never actually seen one, only read about them.

[MacGyver101]

To save you some of the trouble, I've converted your graphic into a PDF file as best I could, using the scaling information you provided. (At exactly 3.5" long, however, the drawing is actually 1.5" tall?) Unfortunately, the forum software won't let me upload a PDF file directly, so I had to zip it first.

If you unzip the attached file, load the PDF into Adobe Acrobat Reader and then print it out you should have a properly-scaled copy. (Just be sure to set the "Page Scaling" option to "None" in the Print dialog before printing.)

Hope that helps!

[MacGyver101]

(At exactly 3.5" long, however, the drawing is actually 1.5" tall?)

Ah, okay. I had a second look at this, and figured out my misunderstanding.

The proper scale is not that the tool is 3.5" long... it's that the outline of the tool when rotated into that position should be 3.5" long (at which point it's almost exactly 1.25" tall). I've re-scaled the image and created a fixed PDF. If you print it as I described in the previous post (and assuming that you're trimming off the lines) you should have it at the right scale.

[NanoDuke]

Not my work, but something I found while googling Dragon Tension Wrench
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2571 ... 823189.jpg

[dmux]

if only i had a hydro cutting machine, i would make a bunch

[CptedIV]

Awesome, thanks a Mac I'll have the pictures up as soon as its finished.

I'm planning on using a cutting wheel to start, then a dremel and bench vise to finish. Should work, right?

Thanks,
Ed

[ElAbogado]

It says to cut it from .035 stainless steel stock, and should measure aprox 3.5 inches long and 1.25 tall...

Could anyone tell me a way to resize this to make a template? thanks.

Ed

Ha ha! did you ever eat with a "spork", that weird thing that is half spoon and half fork? If so, then your pictured cross between a dolphin and an anteater is about the same thing. Some people have way too much time on their hands to come up with stuff like this.

A good set of standard tension tools is all you need.

[NanoDuke]

A good set of standard tension tools is all you need.

I think that's what this is aiming at. Instead of having one for tubular locks, one for dimple locks, one for double sided wafers etc etc.
This is meant to be the Swiss Army Knife equivalent.

[cuttinedge1]

Could somebody explain what each part does? I think the two pronged one is for tubular and the two ends are for normal pin tumbler but what are the three prongs for?

[critmass235]

its in the book it came from