Normal hacksaw blades and juniour..

[Hyperion]

Has anyone in the UK found that Normal sized hacksaw blades when ground down to picks are still too big for locks like Yales??

I find that the only way to get a decent sized pick for a Yale is to go with the smaller junior hacksaw blades, and ground right down to almost sawing needle thickness, in order to get a pick that will get passed all the protrusions in the Yale locks face..

The metal is just too thick and bulky on the normal sized hacksaw blades...

However with it being thicker and a bit tougher, it makes a better torque tool metal than the junior hacksaw blades do.

You try putting a shaped end of a junior hacksaw blade into a key whole as a torque tool and watch it bend and be useless lol..

Personally for torque tools what I have done if get some sturdy eating forks out of the kitchen heated two of the prongs up and bent them into torque tools, while cutting away the 3rd prong

Nice stiff metal that doesn't bend

Regards Hyperion

[MrB]

I don't think you should be putting enough force on a torque tool to bend it out of shape...

If you have picked the lock and need force to retract the bolt, use something strong like a screwdriver blade.

Instead of hacksaw blades, you could try something thinner like feeler gauges? The advantage there is you can get them in whatever thickness you like best.

Nice thought on the forks, but I hope someone doesn't mind you removing them from the kitchen?

[Hyperion]

My kitchen so the forks are mine

As for the force on the torque tool, I found that with this new padlock I have been practicing on, you need it just to get it to move slightly and bind the 1st pin....

The second you let up on the torque tool the plug/key whole springs back into place almost like it's spring loaded as well. The machine tolerances look really well done on this one...

However I have picked it 4 times now, so the tolerances are not that good

I think I have my torque pressure ratios set right, I am beginning to be successful with the picking any ways

As far as the junior hacksaw blades being torque tools and bending when used, if you shape the end of a junior hacksaw blade, then sand it down for smoothness, it only takes the slightest of weight/pressure on it to bend it... I definitely don't rate them as good for torque tools..

But I guess it's all personal preference in this game, everyone has different hands and muscles after all don't they

Regards Hyperion

[Johnny P]

For torque or turning tools or tension wrenches - whatever you to call them - go to your local auto parts store and search their outside waste cans.

You will probably find some OEM windshield wiper blades. Backing the rubber blades you will find a length of steel from which you can easily make around 3 turning tools. If you can find something to use for a handle, they may even make decent picks and are also good for replacement blades for plug spinners.

[99atlantic]

All my tools are made out of junior hack saw blades; I've found them easier to build and work with, as compared to the regular blades.

My torque wrenches (both regular and twist-flex) are junior hacksaw blades too, and i've never broken a tool yet. I have no idea how the heck you're building them/using them if you're breaking them in a lock

[99atlantic]

I don't think you should be putting enough force on a torque tool to bend it out of shape...

agreed; either he's buying some shitty ass junior hack saw blades (And i'm using the basic carbon steel, nothing fancy) or his technique sucks; i've built 9 tension wrenches of different sizes/builds out of junior hack saw blades, use them daily, and never broke/bent 1.