What is a tension wrench used for?

The tension wrench is designed and intended to be used at the bottom of the keyway (BOK) and is the ideal tool for picking a lock in your hand. It is by far the most common turning tool found today and is the bread and butter of any good lock picking set!

What is a tension tool?

Tension tools are standard tools of the trade when picking locks. Tension wrenches are needed for lock picking as they apply torque to the lock plug. By applying torque you will be able to separate the top pins (driver pins) from the bottom pins The bottom pins are the ones that come in contact with the keys.

Is a torque wrench necessary?

If you plan to do any major work on your engine or on some major powertrain components, you absolutely need a torque wrench. Overtightening cylinder-head bolts, for instance, can easily cause expensive damage and catastrophic coolant loss. Too-tight exhaust manifold bolts can cause the manifold to crack.

Are torque wrenches accurate?

As stated above, most torque wrenches have an accuracy between 3-5%. Let’s talk about 100 FT LB torque wrench at 4% accuracy. That would be an accuracy of 4 FT Lb.

What is the best tension wrench?

Comparison of the best torque wrench for cars

Torque Wrench Price
Best digital torque wrench Gearwrench 1/2-inch drive $172
Best beam-style torque wrench Tooluxe 1/2-inch drive $24
Best overall torque wrench Tekton 1/2-inch drive $38
Best digital torque adapter ACDelco 1/2-inch drive $60

What can replace a tension wrench?

What Can I Use Instead of a Tension Wrench. Any small piece of flat metal can act as a tension wrench. A common substitute for tension wrenches is piece of wire from an underwire bra. Even a windshield wiper insert can be used as a tension wrench.

What does a tension wrench look like?

Tension wrenches are used to apply torque to the lock plug to keep pins from being pushed back down by springs after they are correctly set at the shear line. They are typically shaped like elongated L’s.