Stupid Pick Terminology

[omelet]

This was mentioned off topic in another thread, so I thought it should deserve its own special one. Here are just a few commonly used names of picks (not even mentioning other lock terms) that are not very good and could stand to be changed. It would definitely make it easier for a newbie if we were to use terms that were intuitive.

"Torque/torsion/tension wrench"

This is the most common one which is blatantly wrong. Tension and any variation of that word (e.g. tensor) does not apply to rotation. Tension describes a axial force directed away from an object, i.e. as opposed to compression. There is more compression involved, really...
Torque or torsion are accurate descriptors of the action, but combined with wrench are redundant. A wrench implies torquing, so you are adding nothing by an extra word.
Wrench by itself is misleading, since we already have a common tool by that very name.

So, I propose some variation of torque, such as torquer, or torque bar.

"hook/feeler"

This doesn't really resemble a hook, so why do we call it one? You catch fish with a hook.
You feel with all picks, why does this deserve that name?

Let's just call it a bend/curve/arc pick, wouldn't that be more descriptive?

"half diamond"

A half diamond is a triangle, we gots a name for that shape. Afaik, nobody really likes the diamond pick, so why is the name still around?

"ball/half ball"

A ball is three dimensional, this is two, so it doesn't really give an accurate idea of what this thing is. Besides, a ball is a sphere and a half ball is called a hemisphere. How silly would it be to call this a sphere pick? That is equivalent after all..

They should be called circle and semicircle picks.

"Snake rake"

This one isn't too bad. It does kinda look like a snake shape.

"Sawtooth rake"

Right on! It IS a sawtooth shape, and though I am skeptical about its use other than vector40's proposed backscratching applications, this one is aptly named. Which makes me wonder if they made it after thinking up a name...

[WhiteHat]

the sawtooth rake is also sometimes called an L rake I think - the L being "long" the snake is also sometimes called a 3/4 rake (I think).

I use the sawtooth rake with quite a bit of success in older locks - it's for actual raking as opposed to the snake, which is more of a profile pick.
Raimundo's bogota rakes are similar and work very well.

The hook picks are also known as lifter picks which is what they're designed for - individually lifting each pin up

the wrench is often reffered to as a turning tool - which is probably the clearest description I've ever heard

"half diamond" sounds cooler than "triangle pick" imho same goes for "half ball" and "semicircle".

don't forget all the others - like the circular turning tools, feather touch tools, wishbone wrenches etc. and the profile, deep curve and .....

if I go on too much about picks, then I'll give away some of the answers to the newbie quiz and we can't have that

[omelet]

broken key extractor: now that's a name! No chance that anybody would ask you what that was for, though they might not know what it looks like. Plus that's a triangle shape too, so it would get confused with the other, more familiar "triangle pick".

[Romstar]

This was mentioned off topic in another thread, so I thought it should deserve its own special one. Here are just a few commonly used names of picks (not even mentioning other lock terms) that are not very good and could stand to be changed. It would definitely make it easier for a newbie if we were to use terms that were intuitive.

"Torque/torsion/tension wrench"

This is the most common one which is blatantly wrong. Tension and any variation of that word (e.g. tensor) does not apply to rotation. Tension describes a axial force directed away from an object, i.e. as opposed to compression. There is more compression involved, really...
Torque or torsion are accurate descriptors of the action, but combined with wrench are redundant. A wrench implies torquing, so you are adding nothing by an extra word.
Wrench by itself is misleading, since we already have a common tool by that very name.

So, I propose some variation of torque, such as torquer, or torque bar.

Heh, well it IS a tension wrench, because we aren't concerned about the amount of torque on the plug. We are concerned about the tension on the pins in the plug and shell.

You are right about the wrench indicating a turning, but the extra word isn't redundant. It was thought that by telling you that it was a wrench used for imparting tension on a secondary object that we might avoid this idiotic silliness from people who thought they knew better.

"hook/feeler"

This doesn't really resemble a hook, so why do we call it one? You catch fish with a hook.
You feel with all picks, why does this deserve that name?

Let's just call it a bend/curve/arc pick, wouldn't that be more descriptive?

No, you catch a fish with a barbed hook.

It's called a hook because the first variations of them were designed for use in England where lever locks are the norm. As a consequence, earlier hooks were closer to the 90 degree.

"half diamond"

A half diamond is a triangle, we gots a name for that shape. Afaik, nobody really likes the diamond pick, so why is the name still around?

Because that was what they named the thing. Simply because it was based on the old full diamond.

"ball/half ball"

A ball is three dimensional, this is two, so it doesn't really give an accurate idea of what this thing is. Besides, a ball is a sphere and a half ball is called a hemisphere. How silly would it be to call this a sphere pick? That is equivalent after all..

They should be called circle and semicircle picks.

Once more, because thats what they called the silly thing. Its representative.

"Snake rake"

This one isn't too bad. It does kinda look like a snake shape.

"Sawtooth rake"

Right on! It IS a sawtooth shape, and though I am skeptical about its use other than vector40's proposed backscratching applications, this one is aptly named. Which makes me wonder if they made it after thinking up a name...

The simple fact of the matter is that these picks have names to differentiate them from each other and their purposes. With the exception of the tension wrench, and I can understand yuor confusion on that one, the names of the picks are pretty much setled upon for ease of identification when discussing the topic.

Romstar

[omelet]

I have no confusion about any of the names. I know that many are derived from historic names and uses, but was just pointing out how dumb they seem nowadays. I think you and whitehat are taking my post a little too seriously, it was meant to be silly.

Heh, well it IS a tension wrench, because we aren't concerned about the amount of torque on the plug. We are concerned about the tension on the pins in the plug and shell.

You can say that till you're blue in the face, and its still not technically the correct term. As I said before, it is called shear in any Mechanics context, and I do believe this situation applies. Your argument of what tension and shear mean are solely based on a layman's definition, mine are based on the accepted scientific terms. It is up to you to decide which one you prefer, i suppose.

But really, it isn't that important. The point of naming these things is communication, and by using "tension wrench", I know what you're talking about, except I'll be forced to correct you every time you use it

[Romstar]

I know the terms, I took enough courses about it, and if you apply shear force to a pin, you aren't picking anything. That's waaayyy too much pressure.

You have to tension the pin so it doesn't fall, and the stack shears.

This isn't a laymans definition, and we aren't talking about stressing a steel bar.

It was for communication that these names were decided on, but......

The tension wrench isn't supposed to be used to open the lock. It is meant to pick it, and THEN you are supposed to use a torque wrench to open the lock. If you did it that way all the time. Of course, only some locks need that much torque to get them to turn.

Romstar

P.S. "smartass"

[raimundo]

"Can't we all just get along" quote rodneyking

[omelet]

Actually we ARE talking about stressing a bar, because that's pretty much what pins are: small bars.
This has a direct parallel with keyed shafts in machine design, a subject I am quite familiar with.

It doesn't matter how much shearing force you put on something, it induces a shear stress on the pins all the same. There is also a small amount of bending stress due to the space between plug and shell, but that creates a normal stress, never tension. With such a significant width to length ratio as pins have, they act slightly different, but only in the respect that greater transverse shear stresses are incurred due to the bending compared to longer bars.

Tension refers to an axial force on such an object as a string or membrane. None here.

[Romstar]

Yes, that would be a classical example of tension loading such as a cable or other similar thing.

However, tension also means pressure.

In any case, I am finished with this one until I have more coffee.

Romstar

[NDE Manipulation]

I think "Turning Tool" is a very good term but at the end of the day, I know what people mean if they say "Tension Wrench" or "Torque Wrench" so it doesn't really matter to me what people call them.

A "Feeler" pick actually does exist and it's not a hook! If you look in HPC catalogs the order code should be FEE or FEE-1, I cannot remember which. You can get the same effect by using a half diamond upside down. Very good for the Finch upside down picking to get by spools and mushrooms. I have had some great success with that but not on American serrated pins.

[CaptHook]

the snake is also sometimes called a 3/4 rake (I think).

The 3/4 is a snake pick with ....... about a 1/4 of it missing...... Look through HPCs website, youll see what I mean.
Chuck

[vector40]

Just to stir the mud, "turning tool" seems slightly wrong, too. The purpose isn't really to turn the plug; I mean, you're turning it minisculely to bind the pins, but if it's really TURNING, the thing's open already.

Once you've picked it, of course, you do use it to turn, but you could use a screwdriver for that, or anything; the job's done.

[WhiteHat]

oooohh, thems fighting words....

Rotational Force Applicator

[vector40]

How about "The Thing Wot Makes Da Stuff Do"

[PYRO1234321]

Phillips Head Screwdrivers are not used to remove British royalty are they?


Every New Zealander would have a tool box in that case.....


Perhaps that is his pet name for his willy.


Or perhaps a British royalty fancy vodka and OJ?


Someone stop me, please...


Terminology is funny.