Tip on finding windshield wiper inserts: wait until it has just rained, go to an auto parts store, and look around outside. Sometimes they have a trash can outside, or just look around the parking lot ...
Great tip. If you're a reasonably charming person the folks at the store could probably just be talked into giving you a handful of them out of the trash too.
That's actually something that many of us don't think about but in reality when I go fly fishing I use a smelly old fly itself or a maggot because fish love them but to be honest with you a piece of rolled up bread moving enough will catch a fish its all about movement you can put any old lure in the water but not moving its not going to attract much.
Just came across these videos by accident. Always had a mild interest in lock picking. Now I'm addicted to your Videos Bill, wish I was a bit younger I would give it a go. You must spend an absolute fortune on the gear, far more than my meager pension will stretch to!. Very entertaining, and, somewhat unusual for these type of videos, very Eloquent.
Procrastinated my journey beyond hairpins and bent needles for 10 years, since i knew i would go darkside back then. Got a cheapo set some months ago, they paid themselves in a week, someone had a broken key that needed extraction. I'm starting to make some crappy but serviceable stuff on my own too. I'm currently confident against any standard keyway/pin, i can defeat spools -sometimes- and plan on going for butterfly door locks and motorcycles next year. Should i have started earlier? Maybe. But i'm still enjoying it. Making/researching the gear is a nice source of entertainment. The main problem is getting enough things to pick legally and without spending much. On the bright side, most of my friends got better locks and doors after they realized it can be learned on the interwebs. On the other side, the only guy who allows for unlimited attempts on his front door has bought a medeco and it's way beyond my current level. One day...
I haven't read any other comments about your comment but I will tell you this... I'm 33 years old and 2 months ago I bought a $20 cheap ass lock pick set off Amazon.. I just picked my Jeep door and my Jeep ignition in under a minute in the dark drunk 5 minutes ago. It's easier than you think it is and raking a kwikset lock will make you fall in love with this sport! Kwikset deadbolt.... I give you 5 minutes with any pic and you will get it!
I'm 64 and I just bought my first set of picks. I practiced a little and picked the lock I needed to pick on my first day. It's never too late to start.
Bill, thank you for sharing your gift with us. It was your videos and entertainment value that started me on my journey with Locksport. It's a healthy hobby that has been useful to me and others in my life. Family is everything to me so, while I will miss the uploads and your comedic timing, I couldn't imagine a better reason to redirect one's focus. Enjoy yourself.
bosnianbill the double prong tension tool( F series storm) i believe they are meant for wafer locks with pins on both sides(or any lock with pins on both sides) so it saves having to switch tension tools so its acting like top of the key way and bottom of the key way tension
TNC TRINUMERIC That is exactly what the double pronged tension wrench is for. I have used it on many wafer locks, bike locks, luggage carriers, campers, and a few Mack trucks. It is designed to allow you to tension the top, and bottom of the keyway, while leaving room in the center to manipulate the pins on both sides of the plug. Another one that is useful for double sided keyways, is a tension wrench available from HPC, is one that is split from the handle, and spring loaded. I wish I could remember what it's called, but it is adjustable and has a ring to keep it adjusted correctly.
J Staff I have one of those spring ones, shaped like a "Y". It's made by majestic however the two prongs are too thick to fit in most keyways. Idk why they would do this. I took a dremell tool and thinned them out but I feel like it compromised the strength of the wrench.
If you want to serrate the torsion wrenches you use regularly, buy a fine cut gunsmith's checkering file. They're a bit pricey, but useful for stuff like adding jimping to knife blade spines.
Man... I work at a car accessory shop, and I've been throwing wind shield wipers to the garbage every day without even thinking. I feel like a moron now.
Nah, don't. How could you, in your wildest imagiantion consider this? As far as I know, windshield wipers are pretty much a legal product. It's not your fault. Let it go.
Thank you for all passing your knowledge to all of us aspiring pickers. I hope you enjoy life after youtube and Thank you for leaving a legacy for us all to follow.
Hi Bill, regarding the other day when you asked me to post a link to my video, I just haven't learned how to do that yet but I will very soon. You are the person I watch on UA-cam video to learn about how to lock pick sport however I'm a repair man and I repair refrigeration equipment, HVAC, electrical and plumbing. I have had many customers ask me to repair locks and instead of drilling them out or taking the Lock to the hardware store to be rekeyed I want to do all that like a professional locksmith and I'm learning how to by watching you Bill. You have mentioned that you have seen others that are way better but I have not bothered to look for them because I am able to understand what you are saying and doing and I get it and it works for me to watch you. I am crowning you as the Lock picking God and I mean it seriously, not humorously, I have that much respect for your work. Seeing Sparrows in your video's is why I'm going to order my very first lock picking tools set from Sparrows and I'm going to order them tomorrow morning if I can and I pray that it shows up fast. From what I've seen on UA-cam video so far about lock picking you are the best Bill. From Ryan Clay
Yeah, me again. After watching your Falle-Safe pick video, I learned about this one. Of the Falle-Safe tension wrenches in the kit I have, the adjustable ones are the best. I have had the best luck with these adjustable ones out of all of them. The fixed ones are of limited use, unfortunately. Others out there are better, as you point out here, absolutely when you don't have a "flat surface." Thanks!!!
The two prong tension wrenches are for double sided wafer locks. You use the snowman rake inbetween the two prongs. Great for changing the heat/ac settings at the work place.
Great subject, 👍 good info, thanks, I'm novice yet to open any lock with my southord 2010 set. Which does not include TOK wrenches, Keep the video coming
I know very little about this subject but i've read that those are for automotive door locks and similar locks that have annoying shield/doors covering the keyway.
Yep, ones i like are the Sparrows, .050 to .025 I got 7 tools for 13.50 USD!? Ya, that was the best deal I had seen and came with lots of versatility! Got them from Sparrows website. Thanks for the informative video!
12:30. Can you make something useful like that DINO tool? It looked like a good concept with bad implementation. It may make a great teaching tool for tensioning and false sets videos. Thanks Bill
I was hoping this would show and explain this one tensioner I have. It is part of the 24 piece Goso kit. It has 2 tension heads on each side. I thought it was called a double tensioner, but apparently it is called a GOSO Lever Tool.
Thanks, this is really helpful. I have noticed that in your videos you have difficulty with the focus. I don't know names, but there are a lot of good cameras where you can set 2 focuses and quickly swap between them with the press of a button. I don't know what cameras have this, but you could also get a cheaper one with manual lenses.
I found a use for the forked two prong tension wrenches...cut the legs down way shorter so it can actually lay flat against the face of the lock so it doesn't flip over and pop out of the keyway. I made a couple and modified another that I got in a set or something once. I actually use them occasionally on certain locks.
The prong tension wrench. Arnt they for the shutters on car doors? I didn't think they were even used on door locks and pad locks? Am I wrong? Or right?
Great review. It has helped me out. I have bought picks solely from your reviews. I am trying to make a set for home and work. Love your channel and what you do. Next to LPL, your my go to. I
I know one that you forgot is a tubular tension wrench when you manually want to pick the pins. Great video though, love the passion and dedication to the trade.
The circular and double pronged tensioning tools are made for picking car door locks otherwise known as wafer locks. The picks with circles instead of a hook or rake shape are also meant for car door or wafer locks.
Great video once again. I learned a lot. I'll buy the circular "dino" wrench if you still have it. Lol. Five years after you made the video. And i have a question. Just bought a person top of keyway pick and noticed teeth on the end of one side where it does not even go anywhere near the lock. What are teeth used for?
Thanks- Great video. I usually just do BOK though everyone seems to have a hard-on for TOK. Frankly, I find it hard to keep a wrench in when using TOK and the teeth don't seem to help much. I plan on trying to bend mine like you did but need to find a torch first. I'm usually picking in-situ so TOK is hard when your lock is attached to a door. I love the Peterson B. It's my most used wrench. You did a great job breaking down the different types. Thanks dude.
The unsung heros of lockpicking. - I'm just learning and teaching myself how to do it = so far I can only pic cheap and crappy master locks. - soon I'm going to move on to a crappy door knob that I replaced with a good one when I bought my house.
Dual Prong is Automotive (Wafer) only. The best 'double prong' ones for pin tumbler locks are the Falle adjustable ones. Used correctly with a Peterson pick they are killer! ;) (My humble two cents) Good educational vids btw. Keep it up!
The only thing I can think of for the double prongs are 2 track automotive locks. I doubt the fixed width versions would be very helpful but the adjustable ones work well.
A lot of those "top & bottom" type of tension wrenches I believe are for specific types of car locks maybe? Or at least cars used to use them, now that they have those center-cut laser-cut things like on a relatively newer BMW for example that to my knowledge only LISHI has addressed and made a handy series of picks, some 2-in-1 like the HU92. I could be wrong though, and would be glad to know of any more types of picks I can use on my Z4 for when I lose my key or lock it inside (or let's face it, mostly just for fun.)
There's a lot of computer security cabinets made by Tripp Lite as well as locks with spring loaded seals like Comp-x and National Drawer and Cabinet that the spread tensioners work with. USPS box cam locks in outdoor settings [don't steal mail. The Inspection Service will come for you] and auto door locks are other places they are useful to avoid damaging the spring loaded door.
The dual prong would work good on old car locks, had to pick open my sister's trunk. I had to work with a bottom of the keyway wedged in the center and had to rake the top and bottom of the lock. The prong would have been perfect to keep the shutter out of the way and be out of the way to deal with top and bottom pins/wafers
Darn it... I need to watch *ALL* your videos before buying anything else, you could have saved me some money... Oh well, at least it will be a fun video marathon. You make great videos, I'm a huge fan.
Made a feather touch when i started out many years ago when i made all my tools out of street sweeper blades and other junk i found. It's super easy just take a large stiff safety pin, bend the needle into the key way shape you want by twisting it with a pair of pliers and snip off the tip then unfold and flatten the sheath into a finger pad. Not super useful unless you have a super tension finicky lock or you simply have to macgyver ghetto tools on the fly. On the plus side safety pins can also be easily bent into half diamond, hook and snake tho a bit too soft and short but it's fun to practice with improvised tools for an extra challenge.
Does anyone know if there are any templates out there for the specialist pry-bars/tension tools? I don't think it would be too difficult to make them. A tensioning tool for a recessed core for example could be made from 1/8th - 3/16th in. steel bar, a part of which could be bent into a curve and then hammered flat.
thats a sexy collection bill...lol ....been wanting a Peterson pry bar bad but like u said not cheap but i learned from you i just make mine from wiper inserts so far so good...only few issues!!!!
I have found the double pronged tension wrench helpful when the first pin is exposed. I can lift the first pin at an angle and then the wrench will fit like most any tension wrench.
I've never used top of the key way but it seems like it would be better for picking, giving you more play room for your picks... I think i'll check em out.
Would that "two pronged" tension wrench work better if the prong that goes into the top of the keyway were shorter so you would have more grip (from depth of insertion) with the lower one?
good review , I just use wind shield blade inserts like you've said before . but I make mine @ 6 '' long , I have 3 junk yards around here that don't charge nothing ... hehehehe
around the 10.30 mark, the tensioners you are unsure about their use are used for curtained plugs that have the springloaded slot that barriers the keyway from being otherwise accessible by non-key-shaped tools and instruments...
On those double prong ones, I would file the top down so the bottom fits inside the lock more and the top just goes inside the top of the keyway.. But I have not tried them so I could be way off base.
The forked tension wrench is for automotive. It's easier to hold the dust flat back, plus allows you to get to the staggered wafers on both sides of the keyway
i recently discovered a piece of flat stainless steel band, and made 8 twisted wrenches out of it, its pretty easy dirt cheap and als fun to grind them ( i have now widths from 4.0mm to 2.0mm , thickness is 0.8 and 0.6mm), man that diy kit has an insane price 40$ for some pieces of steel? o got that amount ot stainless steel for ~2$ .
For reasons I can't understand, Y-shaped tension tools seem to have faded away from the market in favor of TOK tension tools. I still have those old carbon spring steel sets from HPC that had those Y-shaped tension wrenches. I like the Y wrenches because they provide a lot of clearance both top and bottom and are not too rigid. They are reasonably springy and give good feedback.
Great review. What are the long Z shaped tension wrenches used for, and how? seems awkward for top of keyway. I saw them in your pile, but you don't mention them.
Oh, and as far as I know= the 2 pronged wrench is for Wafer locks- but more specifically- for car doors that have a covered keyway. The prongs keep the cover open and allow you to pick unobstructed. I didn't read- but I'm sure someone already answered it further down.
Congrats on your 500th, great video Wild Bill. Why spring steel ? How does spring steel rank against stainless steel or carbon steel ?? Pros v. Cons ? Cost ? Whats your favorite tension wrench/material ? Thanks again Brother.
Hi Bill, have you had a chance to try Sparrow's new Mantis tension wrench for tubular locks? I picked one up but I don't know how it compares to the I guess traditional tubular lock picking tool as I have never used one. Be interested in hearing your thoughts and review on it.
I think those double pronged tension wrenches would help out in those smiley key ways. It might help because it would be putting even pressure in 2 different spots instead of 1
I bought the set of double pronged wrenches because I just wanted the full spectrum of tools in my kit and yeah I can't find a use for them either. I was hoping they would be spaced like how a Y-bar usually is without adjustment capabilities, but instead I've found they're wider than most keyways so they're essentially useless and a waste of $15.
I was practicing with the locks in my own home (i was bored AF) and i noticed that even if you pick the core, the mechanism inside won't engage if the point of the key isn't pushing against a piece in the end of the way. Is there a tool to push that part (or maybe a very long wrench?) (also, sorry for the lack of technical terms, all my jargon is in spanish)
Not sure if i am being stupid but with a Takit LCK set I got I cant seem to pick any of the locks and I feel this may be because of the tension wrench. Anyone got experience with that kit and would be willing to give some advice as the wrenches dont seem to stay in place but are too thin and rotate then slip out
The Gaming Guy I would recommend getting some wiper blades and using those instead. My unbranded sets I've bought the wrenches are crap but picks are decent. The tensioners are cheap metal and either break or bend.
what about tweezer tension wrenches? those wich keep the rain shield open (it was supposed to be in my southord 2010 pickset, but instead I got 1 of those prongs you showed) bummer
Hey Bill, so I ended up buying Sparrows Wizwazzle set and expected to get those odly bent top keyway tension wrenches but found out that now they actually just give you a very long wrench in each size with a twist and tell you to bend it yourself. kinda disappointed cause I'm scared to try and bend mine incase I screw up and break one! Awesome review btw.
I just took the rear windshield wiper from my dad's car and built my own tension wrench, don't tell him though! I guess I'll be making tension wrenches and selling them to Bill! ;-)
Where else can I get the Peterson pry bar and pry bar lite? I'm gonna refuse to pay 9 dollars in shipping costs for two 8 dollar tools that could fit in a small envelope.
my understanding was the double prongs were for wafer locks (I'm guessing double wafer locks), but that's something I heard a long time ago and I'm not that good at picking (and haven't tried wafer locks)
It's funny I sub to your channel and watch your videos often, I have a tension wrench I've been hesitant to use simply because I have no idea what it's for. So I Google tension wrenches and of course what hits in the top 3 links? Bosnian Bill. Love you man. After watching the video however, you didn't have the tension wrench. It's kind of like the dual prong, but it's not as wide as the ones u show here. I'd say those are as thick as a popcicle stick. This one. Is single and splits into a "Y" shape, at the end of each prong it curves into a tension shape. But they are a little to wide for most locks. Well... All the locks I've tried it on. So idk. The wrench comes in any, "Majestic" pick set and honestly I really have no clue what good it is. I've tried inserting it into just the top, bottom, split like the prongs... Idk. If you respond to this comment I'll send you an email of the wrench... Hell I'll prolly do it anyway. Thanks in advance.
Wow, just found your channel. Well done! I run a small business opening cars, homes, commercial buildings, rekeying, changes, small repairs, etc. Everything I learned through a few books and youtube. I respect the trade enough that I wouldn't really consider myself a locksmith because there is so much I can't do. Mainly auto locksmithing in terms of ignition and door rekeying, lazer cutting, programming etc. I am desperately trying to learn the auto locksmith trade. I have looked at schools but none seem to only offer auto schooling. Did you attend a school? If so, which one? Any advice on learning the auto locksmith trade? With the Israeli locksmith scam running rampant I really see value in learning this trade. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
I can tell you that he is not a locksmith and has learnt all he knows by finding locks and picking them. Having said that, he is great, I will never gave his skill.
Great video Bill ~ exactly the information I've been looking for. Thanks!
Tip on finding windshield wiper inserts: wait until it has just rained, go to an auto parts store, and look around outside. Sometimes they have a trash can outside, or just look around the parking lot ...
Chaplain Dave Sparks Auto Zone here I cpme
Great tip. If you're a reasonably charming person the folks at the store could probably just be talked into giving you a handful of them out of the trash too.
Picking tools are like fishing lures, which are made to attract fisherman first, not the fish
Both work well on the inexperienced
That's actually something that many of us don't think about but in reality when I go fly fishing I use a smelly old fly itself or a maggot because fish love them but to be honest with you a piece of rolled up bread moving enough will catch a fish its all about movement you can put any old lure in the water but not moving its not going to attract much.
Just came across these videos by accident. Always had a mild interest in lock picking. Now I'm addicted to your Videos Bill, wish I was a bit younger I would give it a go. You must spend an absolute fortune on the gear, far more than my meager pension will stretch to!. Very entertaining, and, somewhat unusual for these type of videos, very Eloquent.
Thank you Sir!
Procrastinated my journey beyond hairpins and bent needles for 10 years, since i knew i would go darkside back then.
Got a cheapo set some months ago, they paid themselves in a week, someone had a broken key that needed extraction.
I'm starting to make some crappy but serviceable stuff on my own too.
I'm currently confident against any standard keyway/pin, i can defeat spools -sometimes- and plan on going for butterfly door locks and motorcycles next year.
Should i have started earlier? Maybe. But i'm still enjoying it. Making/researching the gear is a nice source of entertainment. The main problem is getting enough things to pick legally and without spending much.
On the bright side, most of my friends got better locks and doors after they realized it can be learned on the interwebs.
On the other side, the only guy who allows for unlimited attempts on his front door has bought a medeco and it's way beyond my current level.
One day...
Expensive tools don't make a good lockpick. I started with the metal brushes on a street sweeper, and ground them to shape.
I haven't read any other comments about your comment but I will tell you this... I'm 33 years old and 2 months ago I bought a $20 cheap ass lock pick set off Amazon.. I just picked my Jeep door and my Jeep ignition in under a minute in the dark drunk 5 minutes ago. It's easier than you think it is and raking a kwikset lock will make you fall in love with this sport! Kwikset deadbolt.... I give you 5 minutes with any pic and you will get it!
I'm 64 and I just bought my first set of picks. I practiced a little and picked the lock I needed to pick on my first day. It's never too late to start.
Bill, thank you for sharing your gift with us. It was your videos and entertainment value that started me on my journey with Locksport. It's a healthy hobby that has been useful to me and others in my life. Family is everything to me so, while I will miss the uploads and your comedic timing, I couldn't imagine a better reason to redirect one's focus. Enjoy yourself.
Dual Prong tension wrenches are great for car lock entryways. They push back and hold open the gate allowing entry!
Beat me to it.. Five years ago. Dang.
Bill, the double sided tension are for car locks or other double sided wafer locks
Just came here for the first time. I started to dabble in lock sport and I'm glad I found your video. Thanks for the info
I make serrated wrenches by heating up the threaded end of a bike spoke, hammering it flat and bending it 90 degrees.
bosnianbill the double prong tension tool( F series storm) i believe they are meant for wafer locks with pins on both sides(or any lock with pins on both sides) so it saves having to switch tension tools so its acting like top of the key way and bottom of the key way tension
Jason M Jason, great tip, I just tried it, seems to work great. Love it.
TNC TRINUMERIC
That is exactly what the double pronged tension wrench is for. I have used it on many wafer locks, bike locks, luggage carriers, campers, and a few Mack trucks. It is designed to allow you to tension the top, and bottom of the keyway, while leaving room in the center to manipulate the pins on both sides of the plug.
Another one that is useful for double sided keyways, is a tension wrench available from HPC, is one that is split from the handle, and spring loaded. I wish I could remember what it's called, but it is adjustable and has a ring to keep it adjusted correctly.
J Staff I have one of those spring ones, shaped like a "Y". It's made by majestic however the two prongs are too thick to fit in most keyways. Idk why they would do this. I took a dremell tool and thinned them out but I feel like it compromised the strength of the wrench.
If you want to serrate the torsion wrenches you use regularly, buy a fine cut gunsmith's checkering file.
They're a bit pricey, but useful for stuff like adding jimping to knife blade spines.
Man... I work at a car accessory shop, and I've been throwing wind shield wipers to the garbage every day without even thinking. I feel like a moron now.
Nah, don't. How could you, in your wildest imagiantion consider this? As far as I know, windshield wipers are pretty much a legal product. It's not your fault. Let it go.
Even Berg
It's not really a big deal. Since then I've gotten dozens of wipers.
Lmao they came back with them xD nah, just kidding. ;)
I just threw away 2 wiper blades today. Damn
Not all of them have the strips
Thank you for all passing your knowledge to all of us aspiring pickers. I hope you enjoy life after youtube and Thank you for leaving a legacy for us all to follow.
Thank You for sharing your videos, I always get great information and I enjoy your sense of humor.
Hi Bill, regarding the other day when you asked me to post a link to my video, I just haven't learned how to do that yet but I will very soon. You are the person I watch on UA-cam video to learn about how to lock pick sport however I'm a repair man and I repair refrigeration equipment, HVAC, electrical and plumbing. I have had many customers ask me to repair locks and instead of drilling them out or taking the Lock to the hardware store to be rekeyed I want to do all that like a professional locksmith and I'm learning how to by watching you Bill. You have mentioned that you have seen others that are way better but I have not bothered to look for them because I am able to understand what you are saying and doing and I get it and it works for me to watch you. I am crowning you as the Lock picking God and I mean it seriously, not humorously, I have that much respect for your work. Seeing Sparrows in your video's is why I'm going to order my very first lock picking tools set from Sparrows and I'm going to order them tomorrow morning if I can and I pray that it shows up fast. From what I've seen on UA-cam video so far about lock picking you are the best Bill. From Ryan Clay
This is one of those key videos that really helped me think more carefully about what I was doing and pick my first lock. Thank you!
Yeah, me again. After watching your Falle-Safe pick video, I learned about this one. Of the Falle-Safe tension wrenches in the kit I have, the adjustable ones are the best. I have had the best luck with these adjustable ones out of all of them. The fixed ones are of limited use, unfortunately. Others out there are better, as you point out here, absolutely when you don't have a "flat surface." Thanks!!!
Hey Bill, thank you for the great videos and endless education all these years. Wishing you a happy retirement!!
Bill, those dual prongs are very useful on double sided wafer locks and smiley locks!
The two prong tension wrenches are for double sided wafer locks. You use the snowman rake inbetween the two prongs. Great for changing the heat/ac settings at the work place.
Hey bill, i improvised a tension wrench with a hammered flat bike radius. Really works.
Great subject, 👍 good info, thanks, I'm novice yet to open any lock with my southord 2010 set. Which does not include TOK wrenches,
Keep the video coming
THANK YOU BILL ...PEOPLE LIKE U .....ARE AWESOME....AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
The prong wrenches are mainly used for wafer locks.
I know very little about this subject but i've read that those are for automotive door locks and similar locks that have annoying shield/doors covering the keyway.
Yep exactly
I thought they was for vehicles to hold open the weather flap and tension
Yep, ones i like are the Sparrows, .050 to .025 I got 7 tools for 13.50 USD!? Ya, that was the best deal I had seen and came with lots of versatility!
Got them from Sparrows website. Thanks for the informative video!
12:30. Can you make something useful like that DINO tool? It looked like a good concept with bad implementation. It may make a great teaching tool for tensioning and false sets videos. Thanks Bill
I was hoping this would show and explain this one tensioner I have. It is part of the 24 piece Goso kit. It has 2 tension heads on each side. I thought it was called a double tensioner, but apparently it is called a GOSO Lever Tool.
Seems like I need to upgrade my tension tools. Your insights are appreciated as always!
Thanks, this is really helpful. I have noticed that in your videos you have difficulty with the focus. I don't know names, but there are a lot of good cameras where you can set 2 focuses and quickly swap between them with the press of a button. I don't know what cameras have this, but you could also get a cheaper one with manual lenses.
I found a use for the forked two prong tension wrenches...cut the legs down way shorter so it can actually lay flat against the face of the lock so it doesn't flip over and pop out of the keyway. I made a couple and modified another that I got in a set or something once. I actually use them occasionally on certain locks.
The prong tension wrench. Arnt they for the shutters on car doors? I didn't think they were even used on door locks and pad locks? Am I wrong? Or right?
Great review. It has helped me out. I have bought picks solely from your reviews. I am trying to make a set for home and work. Love your channel and what you do. Next to LPL, your my go to. I
Master lock,choice of pros and real hard core contractors.
I know one that you forgot is a tubular tension wrench when you manually want to pick the pins. Great video though, love the passion and dedication to the trade.
The circular and double pronged tensioning tools are made for picking car door locks otherwise known as wafer locks. The picks with circles instead of a hook or rake shape are also meant for car door or wafer locks.
Great video once again. I learned a lot. I'll buy the circular "dino" wrench if you still have it. Lol. Five years after you made the video. And i have a question. Just bought a person top of keyway pick and noticed teeth on the end of one side where it does not even go anywhere near the lock. What are teeth used for?
Thanks- Great video. I usually just do BOK though everyone seems to have a hard-on for TOK. Frankly, I find it hard to keep a wrench in when using TOK and the teeth don't seem to help much. I plan on trying to bend mine like you did but need to find a torch first. I'm usually picking in-situ so TOK is hard when your lock is attached to a door. I love the Peterson B. It's my most used wrench. You did a great job breaking down the different types. Thanks dude.
0:30 The flat ones to the bottom left that looks lika Z almost, when do you use them?
Greta video how always...only One questione..name tool 3:33? I d'ont underatand very food i live in Italy so..
*good..automatic corrector thanks...
Bending found It thanks alot 😁
I've found the double prong useful for trying to pick car door locks
The best info i have seen on tension wrenches ever. Good video Mr.Bill Thanks
THANKS...HAPPY FOR 500
The unsung heros of lockpicking. - I'm just learning and teaching myself how to do it = so far I can only pic cheap and crappy master locks. - soon I'm going to move on to a crappy door knob that I replaced with a good one when I bought my house.
Dual Prong is Automotive (Wafer) only. The best 'double prong' ones for pin tumbler locks are the Falle adjustable ones. Used correctly with a Peterson pick they are killer! ;) (My humble two cents)
Good educational vids btw. Keep it up!
The only thing I can think of for the double prongs are 2 track automotive locks.
I doubt the fixed width versions would be very helpful but the adjustable ones work well.
Whiped93 n
Whiped93 5 37
A lot of those "top & bottom" type of tension wrenches I believe are for specific types of car locks maybe? Or at least cars used to use them, now that they have those center-cut laser-cut things like on a relatively newer BMW for example that to my knowledge only LISHI has addressed and made a handy series of picks, some 2-in-1 like the HU92. I could be wrong though, and would be glad to know of any more types of picks I can use on my Z4 for when I lose my key or lock it inside (or let's face it, mostly just for fun.)
I always found the double prong wrenches for the old Chrysler single sided locks.
There's a lot of computer security cabinets made by Tripp Lite as well as locks with spring loaded seals like Comp-x and National Drawer and Cabinet that the spread tensioners work with. USPS box cam locks in outdoor settings [don't steal mail. The Inspection Service will come for you] and auto door locks are other places they are useful to avoid damaging the spring loaded door.
The dual prong would work good on old car locks, had to pick open my sister's trunk. I had to work with a bottom of the keyway wedged in the center and had to rake the top and bottom of the lock. The prong would have been perfect to keep the shutter out of the way and be out of the way to deal with top and bottom pins/wafers
Darn it... I need to watch *ALL* your videos before buying anything else, you could have saved me some money... Oh well, at least it will be a fun video marathon. You make great videos, I'm a huge fan.
is the double prong possibly for double sided wafer locks and/ or vehicle locks?
I think the prongs are useful for car-locks.
grate video. i live in the U.K and cant seem to find a top of the keyway tension wrench
could you tell me the dimensions of the tension tool so i could make my own???
Made a feather touch when i started out many years ago when i made all my tools out of street sweeper blades and other junk i found. It's super easy just take a large stiff safety pin, bend the needle into the key way shape you want by twisting it with a pair of pliers and snip off the tip then unfold and flatten the sheath into a finger pad. Not super useful unless you have a super tension finicky lock or you simply have to macgyver ghetto tools on the fly. On the plus side safety pins can also be easily bent into half diamond, hook and snake tho a bit too soft and short but it's fun to practice with improvised tools for an extra challenge.
Does anyone know if there are any templates out there for the specialist pry-bars/tension tools? I don't think it would be too difficult to make them. A tensioning tool for a recessed core for example could be made from 1/8th - 3/16th in. steel bar, a part of which could be bent into a curve and then hammered flat.
thats a sexy collection bill...lol ....been wanting a Peterson pry bar bad but like u said not cheap but i learned from you i just make mine from wiper inserts so far so good...only few issues!!!!
A very great review of tension wrench, the mythic " Bill's lock magazine" !
We used dual prong for vehicle locks when I was in the Biz I think.
I have found the double pronged tension wrench helpful when the first pin is exposed. I can lift the first pin at an angle and then the wrench will fit like most any tension wrench.
I've never used top of the key way but it seems like it would be better for picking, giving you more play room for your picks... I think i'll check em out.
Brilliant, insightful and honest review. Well done, enjoyed that.
Would that "two pronged" tension wrench work better if the prong that goes into the top of the keyway were shorter so you would have more grip (from depth of insertion) with the lower one?
good review , I just use wind shield blade inserts like you've said before .
but I make mine @ 6 '' long , I have 3 junk yards around here that don't charge nothing ... hehehehe
around the 10.30 mark, the tensioners you are unsure about their use are used for curtained plugs that have the springloaded slot that barriers the keyway from being otherwise accessible by non-key-shaped tools and instruments...
On those double prong ones, I would file the top down so the bottom fits inside the lock more and the top just goes inside the top of the keyway.. But I have not tried them so I could be way off base.
The forked tension wrench is for automotive. It's easier to hold the dust flat back, plus allows you to get to the staggered wafers on both sides of the keyway
Another really useful video, many thanks.
You have SO MANY nice intro videos... Who makes them all?
I don’t see why you can’t just use a top of the key way pry bar in place for the serrated tension wrench
i recently discovered a piece of flat stainless steel band, and made 8 twisted wrenches out of it, its pretty easy dirt cheap and als fun to grind them ( i have now widths from 4.0mm to 2.0mm , thickness is 0.8 and 0.6mm), man that diy kit has an insane price 40$ for some pieces of steel? o got that amount ot stainless steel for ~2$ .
For reasons I can't understand, Y-shaped tension tools seem to have faded away from the market in favor of TOK tension tools. I still have those old carbon spring steel sets from HPC that had those Y-shaped tension wrenches. I like the Y wrenches because they provide a lot of clearance both top and bottom and are not too rigid. They are reasonably springy and give good feedback.
Great review. What are the long Z shaped tension wrenches used for, and how? seems awkward for top of keyway. I saw them in your pile, but you don't mention them.
+bosnianbill Thanks! I see them in all of the cheap sets, buy never see them getting used.
husseni
So, which ones to buy (or make) if you could only have two of these tension tools in your kit? - In Europe.
Oh, and as far as I know= the 2 pronged wrench is for Wafer locks- but more specifically- for car doors that have a covered keyway. The prongs keep the cover open and allow you to pick unobstructed. I didn't read- but I'm sure someone already answered it further down.
Can you use the dual prong on a cylinder type lock???
Congrats on your 500th, great video Wild Bill. Why spring steel ? How does spring steel rank against stainless steel or carbon steel ?? Pros v. Cons ? Cost ?
Whats your favorite tension wrench/material ?
Thanks again Brother.
Hi Bill, have you had a chance to try Sparrow's new Mantis tension wrench for tubular locks? I picked one up but I don't know how it compares to the I guess traditional tubular lock picking tool as I have never used one. Be interested in hearing your thoughts and review on it.
Good review. Love the Peterson pry bars. Would have to agree Whiped93 about the dual prongs. Never used them but looks like it would fit it.
The two prong tension tools can be used for automotive door locks. I've had to use them to open customers vehicles for lockouts
I think those double pronged tension wrenches would help out in those smiley key ways. It might help because it would be putting even pressure in 2 different spots instead of 1
I bought the set of double pronged wrenches because I just wanted the full spectrum of tools in my kit and yeah I can't find a use for them either. I was hoping they would be spaced like how a Y-bar usually is without adjustment capabilities, but instead I've found they're wider than most keyways so they're essentially useless and a waste of $15.
I was practicing with the locks in my own home (i was bored AF) and i noticed that even if you pick the core, the mechanism inside won't engage if the point of the key isn't pushing against a piece in the end of the way. Is there a tool to push that part (or maybe a very long wrench?) (also, sorry for the lack of technical terms, all my jargon is in spanish)
Flat 9's.
Not sure if i am being stupid but with a Takit LCK set I got I cant seem to pick any of the locks and I feel this may be because of the tension wrench. Anyone got experience with that kit and would be willing to give some advice as the wrenches dont seem to stay in place but are too thin and rotate then slip out
The Gaming Guy I would recommend getting some wiper blades and using those instead. My unbranded sets I've bought the wrenches are crap but picks are decent. The tensioners are cheap metal and either break or bend.
I was waiting for Ace lock tension wrenches. Not talking about those fancy pants ace picks. Im still trying to open my American ace padlock.
what about tweezer tension wrenches? those wich keep the rain shield open (it was supposed to be in my southord 2010 pickset, but instead I got 1 of those prongs you showed) bummer
I have this lockpick tha looks like pincets? What is that used for?
What is a "pincets"?
@@bosnianbill Tweezers.
What about those tweezers looking ones??
I need top of the keyway tension tools so bad all I have is windshield wiper type tension wrenches
Hey Bill, so I ended up buying Sparrows Wizwazzle set and expected to get those odly bent top keyway tension wrenches but found out that now they actually just give you a very long wrench in each size with a twist and tell you to bend it yourself. kinda disappointed cause I'm scared to try and bend mine incase I screw up and break one! Awesome review btw.
Superb Bill, everything I needed to know and more from the TTSME (Tension Tool Subject Matter Expert !!), thanks for your efforts much appreciated ;-)
Those dual prong tension wrenches are used for smiley dimple locks. Mainly a UK thing
I've had decent luck picking SFICs with a Peterson prybar. I don't have the IC tension tools so I can't comment on how they actually work.
I just took the rear windshield wiper from my dad's car and built my own tension wrench, don't tell him though! I guess I'll be making tension wrenches and selling them to Bill! ;-)
Where else can I get the Peterson pry bar and pry bar lite? I'm gonna refuse to pay 9 dollars in shipping costs for two 8 dollar tools that could fit in a small envelope.
+JAYRODD C www.sparrowslockpicks.com/product_p/ft-4.htm ?
the dual prongs are useful for double sided locks
my understanding was the double prongs were for wafer locks (I'm guessing double wafer locks), but that's something I heard a long time ago and I'm not that good at picking (and haven't tried wafer locks)
The dual prong work great for RV wafer locks
I have this tweeser tension tool. What about those? Can you someone tell me how they work?
With those ones you have to adjust them to fit the lock but I wouldn't use them because they take up space for the pick
It's funny I sub to your channel and watch your videos often, I have a tension wrench I've been hesitant to use simply because I have no idea what it's for. So I Google tension wrenches and of course what hits in the top 3 links? Bosnian Bill. Love you man.
After watching the video however, you didn't have the tension wrench. It's kind of like the dual prong, but it's not as wide as the ones u show here. I'd say those are as thick as a popcicle stick. This one. Is single and splits into a "Y" shape, at the end of each prong it curves into a tension shape. But they are a little to wide for most locks. Well... All the locks I've tried it on. So idk. The wrench comes in any, "Majestic" pick set and honestly I really have no clue what good it is. I've tried inserting it into just the top, bottom, split like the prongs... Idk. If you respond to this comment I'll send you an email of the wrench... Hell I'll prolly do it anyway. Thanks in advance.
Master lock,tough under preassure,tough under fire.
Would the dual prong be useful for tubular locks?
Daniel Armstrong no
Wow, just found your channel. Well done! I run a small business opening cars, homes, commercial buildings, rekeying, changes, small repairs, etc. Everything I learned through a few books and youtube. I respect the trade enough that I wouldn't really consider myself a locksmith because there is so much I can't do. Mainly auto locksmithing in terms of ignition and door rekeying, lazer cutting, programming etc. I am desperately trying to learn the auto locksmith trade. I have looked at schools but none seem to only offer auto schooling. Did you attend a school? If so, which one? Any advice on learning the auto locksmith trade? With the Israeli locksmith scam running rampant I really see value in learning this trade. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
I can tell you that he is not a locksmith and has learnt all he knows by finding locks and picking them. Having said that, he is great, I will never gave his skill.