Tension Tools

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What are the best tension tools for lock picking? The best tension tool is the one that fits the keyway and lets you hold light, steady pressure. Most pickers end up with two kinds. Bottom of keyway (BOK) wrenches are the classic L-shape that sits low in the keyway, and they're the easiest to learn on. Top of keyway (TOK) wrenches are flat bars that sit at the top, grip the plug more firmly and leave the keyway open for your pick. Once your tension hand settles down, TOK is usually where finer feedback comes from. More on that in our guide to top of keyway tension . If you want to add a different feel to any set, try the Dangerfield ZedWrench ($9.71). Its angled ends work well when a straight wrench feels too flat in your hand. If you'd rather get tension tools and picks together, the Dangerfield PRAXIS comes with a Z-Wrench, a long twist wrench, a short standard wrench and top of keyway wrenches, so you can tension from either side of the keyway. The Lokko Beginners Box comes with 6 tensioners and 2 clear practice locks to learn on. Lock Pick Tension Wrenches & Tools You'll hear it said time and time again, "Lock picking is 99% tension!", and while that's probably a slight exaggeration, you can't avoid the fact that unless you know how to use lock pick tension tools, you probably won't pick any locks. The tension wrench is the first item to go into the lock, and you use it to apply a light amount of pressure. Doing so creates a very tiny ledge along what we in the trade call “the shearline”, meaning whether you're picking, raking, or bumping, the pins have somewhere to “sit'” while the other pins are being worked. Get all 5 pins to sit on the shearline and the lock opens. Tension is very important, and so are your lock pick tension wrenches and tension tools. Whether you're picking lever locks, pin-cylinders, wafer locks or others, the chances are you'll require a tension tool. We have an excellent range of many types here at LockPickWorld, and I would advise y