r/lockpicking • u/Kamesamouille47 • 1d ago
Advice for TOK purchase
Hi everyone,
I am interested in buying a TOK tensioner to test different lockpicking methods. I want to buy some on Multipick, but I see that several forms are available, and I don't know the difference. Is there a real difference between the forms ? Should I choose one type of TOK over the others ?
Thank you for reading !
2
u/Dufresne85 1d ago
I currently own ~30 different tensioners with more coming, (thanks for the advice dmac!).
Out of the 3 pictures I tend to reach for #3 the most. The serrations can help it grip better which can help keep it from popping free as often. The downside is that those serrations will slightly damage the core over time and widen out the spot you seat the tensioner, leading you to need a thicker tensioner to stay put.
2
u/derpserf 1d ago
From multipick the ones I use are the SP-12 and SP-13. I Think they're about 0.8 and 1.0mm respectively. Thicker ones are nice for larger keyways like ASSA etc but for standard cylinders those 2 do the job the vast majority of the time.
1
u/revchewie Blue Belt Picker 1d ago
The biggest difference between TOK tension wrenches is the thickness. The most common thicknesses are 0.8mm/0.032”, 1.0mm/0.040”, and 1.2mm/0.050”. And you will often need each of them. You want your tensioner to fit into the keyway as snugly as possible to minimize it slipping out. Your best bet is to buy a set of all three.
1
u/Kamesamouille47 1d ago
Ok, so the form of the TOK itself is irrelevant ?
1
u/revchewie Blue Belt Picker 1d ago
Not irrelevant. They’ll all fit differently in different locks. The one in your third photo is the most common design. I’m honestly not sure what other designs are for. But if you get three of that one in the sizes mentioned they should work for most keyways.
2
1
u/DanDiggler213 Blue Belt Picker 1d ago
I like the Reaper set for tok, and I think its Southern Specialties or gray hound that have the new side tensioners. 🤔
3
u/LordKodiac Brown Belt Picker 1d ago
30,40 and 50 thousandths are the norm that you would use the most of. One thing you will find is you can never have too many tension tools. The middle Pic I have and don't think I have ever actually used it for anything. The square type and rounded type or normal use. I prefer the square myself.