SouthOrd TOK Tension Tool

[parkourer]

Hey guys this will be a real quick post (hopefully w/ an easy answer).

I was recently recommended to get a Top of Keyway Tension wrench. My preferred brand is Southord, however, i do not know what this type of tension wrench I'm looking for actually looks like, nor does the website say.

I would deeply appreciate it if you guys could quickly eyeball over this link, http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-Tools/Tension-Tools.html and tell me if you see a TOK tension wrench, and what the model name is!

Thank you!
Parkourer

[billdeserthills]

I don't like any of those, try http://www.thinkpeterson.com
go to their tension wrench page and you'll see Top of Keyway tension wrenches near the bottom
I like the Peterson Pry Bar, that def works

[nite0wl]

Nothing on that page is specifically a ToK tool. You can sometimes use a standard tension tool as a Top of Keyway tool but it is a bit tricky. The most common ToK tools are Peterson's PryBar tools and their Flat Five set which can be purchased direct from Peterson or from most lockpick retailers, other manufacturers make similar tools. The main difference between a Top of Keyway tool versus a Bottom of Keyway tool is that ToK tools are usually designed to not reach deeply into the keyway so that they don't impact the frontmost pin. You can use a standard tension tool and just try to make sure you don't insert it too deeply but this often does not provide a good grip on the plug so be careful to keep the tool wedged in or it will fall out.

[deolslyfox]

Peterson's makes several versions of the top of the keyway tension tools. I make my own out of .078" music wire filed down to the size I want / need and bent to the angle that suits me for the lock I'm picking.

As you progress thru the hobby you may wind up with dozens of picks, but you'll have hundreds of tension wrenchs.

Tension is as, if not more-so important than picking. Too much tension on a high security lock and you're dead in the water before you start. Too little on a loose lock and you'll never set a pin. You'll find that "one size don't fit all", even in the same family of locks.

Bosnian Bill has a good video on tension tools .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_77po2iXY

Hope this is helpful.