Custom Torque Wrenches.

[IndigoChild]

Whether its a Peterson Pry Bar or Something you bent out of a piece of spring steel All custom wrenches are welcome here. I want to see what you guys use and how excluding all tensors that you find in a standard pick set.

Personally the Pry Bar works amazingly well for me on Schlage key ways. The bottom of the key way is just large enough to fit the small end of the pry bar snugly. Sometimes it eats the material a bit but thats ok because it rarely is visible and doest affect the lock in any way. I wedge into that gap and gently lift on the piece extruding out in one direction. The idea behind it is it gives rather even torque to the top and bottom.

When I bend my own I usually like to pick a skinny thick piece of spring steel to make a good ridged tensor with lots of feed back. I make the bend about an inch long to reach the back of the lock. this way I dont get much twisting, just torque. Then an inch back from the bend on the handle I twist it to make my flat surface. It is a rather basic tensor. But if you put teeth on it and polish it up I pretty much guarantee it works better than a factory made one.

I will get you guys some picks later. Right now I am on my phone and I dont know how to upload photos on it.

What do you guys use for tensors and why.

[ARF-GEF]

Good question indigochild!

I use s few custom made wind-shield wiper tension tools with serrated end for higher traction. I also use some standard HPC tension tools, they work very well for me. Most locks have very similar keyways here, in fact 80% of locks I see is one specific type all over.
So that's the why, it's easy for me since keyways are very similar here, 3 tension wrenches cover my needs ( I'm more of a beginner picker so I tend to pick simpler locks)

If I may supplement you question:
Do you use the standard Peterson Pry Bar or the slimmer "Euro" version?

[Mikeh727]

It's interesting that you posted this today because I just made my first custom wrench! I bought the Peterson Pry bar and also their bending tool (because it looked cool) and had to try it out. I'm still new enough at this that I sometimes have trouble finding the right tension in a lock, but have determined that correct tension is probably the MOST important part of picking once you have developed a feel for what is going on in the keyway.

At any rate, here's one I made today to try and get my fingers in a more comfortable position while picking padlocks in my hand. It's a little goofy looking because I was playing with my new tool, but I'm impressed at how well it worked...I picked a couple of locks right off the bat and I 'think' that I was getting better feedback than I normally get through my wrench.



Like I mentioned, I also bought the Pry Bar (.050 version) and haven't quite gotten the hang of using it yet. I know...practice

Great thread!

[phrygianradar]

I also have the Peterson pry bars and like them a lot. Took a little while to get the hang of them for me as I was so used to bottom of the keyway wrenches, but they come in handy for sure.

[Wizer]

Inspired by a Kokomolocks video, I´ve been making TOK tensioners from music wire.
Its really helpful to have a tight fit in the keyway.

[IndigoChild]

Good question indigochild!

I use s few custom made wind-shield wiper tension tools with serrated end for higher traction. I also use some standard HPC tension tools, they work very well for me. Most locks have very similar keyways here, in fact 80% of locks I see is one specific type all over.
So that's the why, it's easy for me since keyways are very similar here, 3 tension wrenches cover my needs ( I'm more of a beginner picker so I tend to pick simpler locks)

If I may supplement you question:
Do you use the standard Peterson Pry Bar or the slimmer "Euro" version?

No I have the Original fat version I am surprised how rugged it is. I dont even have the euro version. Is that what you have? how do you use yours.
Everyone asks about picks but I am sure about 80% of the people who do ask about picks arent even aware of top of the keyway tension haha.

It's interesting that you posted this today because I just made my first custom wrench! I bought the Peterson Pry bar and also their bending tool (because it looked cool) and had to try it out. I'm still new enough at this that I sometimes have trouble finding the right tension in a lock, but have determined that correct tension is probably the MOST important part of picking once you have developed a feel for what is going on in the keyway.

At any rate, here's one I made today to try and get my fingers in a more comfortable position while picking padlocks in my hand. It's a little goofy looking because I was playing with my new tool, but I'm impressed at how well it worked...I picked a couple of locks right off the bat and I 'think' that I was getting better feedback than I normally get through my wrench.

Like I mentioned, I also bought the Pry Bar (.050 version) and haven't quite gotten the hang of using it yet. I know...practice

Great thread!

Thats a good idea for making a padlock tensor. I see a lot of people holding the padlock the same way. This may be an improvement and help a lot of people.

Inspired by a Kokomolocks video, I´ve been making TOK tensioners from music wire.
Its really helpful to have a tight fit in the keyway.

Thats interesting how you demonstrated the music wire to the peterson. I like I said put the peterson in the bottom of the plug and snug it into place. I get the same effect in that I have full controll

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I did come across this custom tensor recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o0J04nTurc

I dont know if you have any relation to the Wiz he mentions but still a pretty interesting tensor none the less.