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here are some of my picks ive made. I know they aren't super fancy but they have picked many o locks lol. I also added in my tubular lock tension wrench. I added it because I havnt really seen ppl use ones like that they are usually using the tubular lock picks that are so damn expensive, even though im sure they are lots like it. This one works really well for the tubular locks I have. Let me know what you think.
Some of the pics are in the wrong order. But ive had so much trouble with having to keep re uploading everything imam just leave them like they are.

Really cool tools deph.

Great Job on the tools Deph. You have a nice variety there. I remember making my first few tools from hacksaw blades also! Have you considered handles for any of them? Or Do you like the raw metal feel? If you want to keep with the theme of home made tools... well a you could always find an electronics supplier near you or even some hardware stores and pick up a few sizes of heat shink tubing. You can add as many layers as you want unitl it feels right. you could even get creative and go for a multi color look... layered.

I am going to have to make myself a home made tensioner for my tubular locks now

Dido on that home made tensioner! I don't think I've seen one like it, I'm excited to make one. Thanks for sharing!

Perfect timing as I need to make a tensioner for a tubular lock on a cheapo safe. Well done!

thanks guys it feels good to get some love on the tools. GDeadBolt that's a good idea on the heat shrink. I think ill try it out on one to see how it feels. If any of you try making a tensioner like that let me know how it works for you, I think yall will like it. Or if you think of another idea to add or change to make it better fill me in so I can try it out as well

Question, On your tensioner I can see that the larger notch fits in the `cut out` of the inner circular part of the lock, now from your picture the space between the two notches appears to equal the width of the central circular part of the lock would this not allow the tensioner to rotate from the point of the larger notch.

Excuse my questioning this as you are obviously getting success from it, I am just trying to get my head around it before I try and make similar.

yea it does look that way but it is slightly shorter than the diameter of the keyhole. on the pictures of it inside the lock you can see from the angle of the tensioner were it actually lines up. Nah I don't mind you asking at all if you got any more questions ask away ill answer if I can

You asked for how the rest of us tension tubular locks, so...

Here are the tubular lock tensioners I use most often. Yes, have a couple of the specific tubular lock picks, but prefer using these hand-tools.



The first one is similar to the one you made.



It is used the same way as yours, except having two handles, you can apply more even tension to the lock. The reason for the pointed prong is to fit into the keyway and not interfere with the pins.



The other type I use a lot (and it fits easily into the smallest pick kit) is made from music wire.



Slide the angled part into the slots in the lock.



And turn it to apply tension.



Made the music wire tool to have two ends. One is the end you saw in the above pictures, and is used in tubular locks that have a groove in the center post. The other end is identical, except that the bent part is shorter, so it can be used in tubular locks without the groove in the center post.

The final tool, at the top, is not a tensioner - it is a straight pick used to manipulate the pins.

Gordon

nice tools Gordon thanks for sharing. Im actually kinda stoked to try to make the one like you showed that went into the top of the keyway since I got a close up view of one now. I saw a video on youtube of some one using one like that but I couldn't get a good look at it. I tried to make one but I couldn't get it to catch to get tension.

i figured i would post my newer picks i have made. I quit using hacksaw blades for obvious reasons. I still have the old ones i made but rarely if ever use them. Sawzall (sp?) blades are great to use, they come in different thicknesses, and are a lot sturdier than hacksaw blades. I havnt had one bend or break on me yet. I even used one to make a few pry bars, and used a thinner one to make a springy pry bar. Sorry about the pic quality, i tried laying the picks down on several different surfaces and most didn't turn out right. Either it was too dark or the glare from the light on the picks would mess it up. I Sanded the ends a lot better than i did the handles. They look like they are scuffed and roughed up but they are actually really smooth. I only had up to 220 or so sandpaper but still pretty smooth.. Im curious to how long some of you spend sanding your pics down to get that mirror finish. Im guessing quite a while. I would like to get mine looking like that, but damn. My hands was wore out just to get the scuffed look lol

I tried different handle designs. I think i like the way the half diamond pick handle turned out. Once i get better material to make more quality picks ill prob stick to one design. I tried putting a handle on one, it looked allright but i think im kinda partial to the metal feel. sorry this post turned out to be a little longer than i meant but since no one around me gives much shit about this hobby, yall end up being victims of my rambling lol.

Those are looking great! I really like the curves. I think most people that get that mirror finish normally use multiple levels of sandpaper. I normally use 220 to 320 to 500 to 600. Then I polish it with a polishing wheel. You'll get that mirror look, but honestly I don't think it does much after 600.

Those handles are INSANE! I'd love to see those handle profiles, on a nice fixed-blade knife!

I was just thinking the same thing

that's funny I actually thought that on 1 or 2 of those. Well mainly the one on the left side 2nd one down. Which gave me the idea to make some picks to kind of resemble a knife, like have the pick go straight kinda the same with the handle, but I never got around to it. One of the reasons was that I couldn't get the picture right in my head without there being a hilt kinda. And I couldn't see that being much confortable. Maybe ill draw it out one day and make something work. If I do ill share it with yall. jimylongs thanks for the info. All I had laying around I think was 50,120,180,220. But now I have a idea of what to get next time I go to town.