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Jc2intelligent wrote:I noticed how wiz has all those different wrenches that he tought of. the double-flex,multi-flex,and AM TOK wrench. but i'm wondering...how do they preform? what are the benefits to these wrenches. i'm gunna make a big wrench set soon, and i'm DEFINATELY gunna add them, but i'm just wondering how they work.

HallisChalmers wrote:

Jc2intelligent wrote:I noticed how wiz has all those different wrenches that he tought of. the double-flex,multi-flex,and AM TOK wrench. but i'm wondering...how do they preform? what are the benefits to these wrenches. i'm gunna make a big wrench set soon, and i'm DEFINATELY gunna add them, but i'm just wondering how they work.

Just as there are a vast variety of locks - tension wrenches cut or bent for a specific type of keyway will become a necessary part of your picking arsenal.

For example, American locks like the 1105 and Brinks Shielded are best tensioned from the TOK. However, the distance from the top of the dustguard to the 1st pin varies from different lock models and manufacturers.

For me, when I tension TOK, I like for the flat side of the wrench to lay on the dustguard - and the nib of the tension wrench to drop down into the keyway and barely touch the first pin. That way you can put tension on the TOK only - and not bind the 1st pin.

It's that depth from the top lip of dustguard to the 1st pin that will vary from, say a Schlage ...to a Master...to an American. Hence the need for various tools and wrenches.

Think of it this way: a mechanic uses different size wrenches for different sized nuts and bolt. Sure he could use an adjustable monkey wrench...but his working time will be more efficiently spent if he uses the correct wrenches to begin with.

Efficiency is the name of the game.

ToolyMcgee wrote:Standard is totally rigid, twist has some give to it, double twist has even more give, but personally I go for twist with the loop most often for even more sensitivity, and haven't yet made a double loop. It would be even more soft touch.

Top of the keyway tensioners you get the benefit of more evenly distributed tension on the plug and also more room to work in the keyway. The downside is they can be easy to knock out if you are raking which is why I like I like the flat pry bar lite ripp off I made because it has the teeth for grip, even though I still use the regular rigid short tipped tensioner for spp'ing.

Does that help?

ToolyMcgee wrote:Wow, that was fast. You gotta cut a lp101 dude a break. I'm used to having 3 days to answer a post.

One standard wrench I forgot to mention is the tapered tip wrench. It is as the name implies tapered to allow for a use in a greater number of keyways. Sometimes it is stepped, but I prefer tapered.

ToolyMcgee wrote:It would maybe make a little extra room in your tool case to carry one instead of the tin snips.