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If you're learning lock picking, improving your locksmithing skills, or tackling DIY projects, making your own tension tools is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. A tension tool, also known as a tension wrench, is essential for applying torque while picking. Creating your own lets you customize the size, bend, and feel to match your style.
In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to bend, shape, twist, and modify tension tools using simple methods like a vise or precision tools like the Peterson U-Bend-It. You’ll also find out where to get high-quality spring steel and tool kits from clksupplies.com, a trusted locksmith supply source since 1949.
Making your own tension tools offers several benefits that many locksmiths develop strong preferences for over time. Store-bought tools are great, but nothing compares to shaping a tool that perfectly matches your picking style. Whether you pick daily or occasionally, customizing tension tools gives you control over every detail.
Perfect customization: Adjust the length, width, bend angle, and torque.
Performance enhancement: Tailor stiffness or flex for specific locks.
Budget-friendly: One pack of spring steel can create dozens of tools.
Skill development: You learn more about lock mechanics and torque feedback.
Fun and creative: Great for experimentation and teaching beginners or kids.
While making tension tools is simple, choosing the right materials is crucial. Below are the materials commonly used by professionals, including options available at clksupplies.com.
The Peterson U-Bend-It is a dedicated tension-tool bending system designed specifically for locksmiths. It allows you to create consistent bends without guesswork, making it perfect for both new and experienced users.
What makes it valuable:
Produces uniform, professional-grade bends
Offers easy twist creation
Simple to operate, even a child can use it
Eliminates uneven or sloppy angles often caused by makeshift methods
A vise is a budget-friendly, readily available method for bending your flat stock into tension tools. While it lacks the precision of the U-Bend-It, it’s perfectly capable of producing usable wrenches.
Pros:
Accessible and affordable
Good for one-off bends
Works for simple 90-degree and custom angles
Limitations:
Not ideal for consistent bends
Harder to create twists without warping the steel
Requires more hand strength and control
Still, if you’re just getting started or experimenting, a vise is a reliable option.
Quality steel is everything. HPC’s variety pack includes multiple thicknesses and widths so you can experiment with different configurations. It’s one of the most popular choices among locksmiths.
Included steel sizes often work perfectly for:
Residential & commercial pin tumbler locks
Automotive locks
Small narrow keyways (TOK)
Larger bottom-of-keyway tensioning
Below is a balanced and expanded step-by-step guide to make your own tools:
Start by choosing the correct width and thickness based on your needs:
Common thicknesses:
0.03" – 0.04" for standard residential locks
0.05" – 0.06" for automotive or high-torque locks
Narrow widths for TOK (Top of Keyway) tensioning
Wider strips for flexible BOK (Bottom of Keyway) tensioning
Before bending, mark the point where you'd like the 90-degree angle. Most tension tools range from ¼ inch to ½ inch at the tip, depending on the lock type.
This is where your tension tool begins to take shape.
Insert your steel strip into the bending slot. With your fingers placed on each side, slowly press downward to form the clean bend. This method provides:
A highly consistent and clean 90° angle
Better alignment than pliers or hand-bending
Faster operation when making multiple tools
Place your strip into the vise and tighten it securely. Push the steel by hand or with pliers until you achieve the desired angle. It may take more effort, but it still produces functional tension tools.
After bending, visually inspect for straightness. Small corrections can be made by gently adjusting the steel by hand.
Adding a twist is one of the best upgrades you can make to a tension tool. Many locksmiths prefer twisted handles for improved:
Finger placement
Torque feedback
Control during delicate picking
Comfort during long sessions
Insert the tension tool into the twist slot.
Grip the opposite end using the second tool or pliers.
Apply a gentle, slow rotational force.
Stop once your twist reaches approximately 20–40 degrees, depending on preference.
This creates a professional-grade twisted tension wrench without risking breakage.
If you have older tension tools that are too long or not shaped ideally, they can easily be upgraded:
Cut off excess length with bolt cutters
Smooth edges with a file to remove sharp burrs
Re-bend the tip for a new torque profile
Add a twist for improved handling
Convert a flat tool into a TOK-style wrench
Many locksmiths love taking older Pro-Lok, Peterson, or generic wrenches and giving them a completely new life.
Every locksmith has different preferences, and each lock may respond differently to torque. Experimenting with various designs helps you understand what feels best in your hands.
Here are the most common styles:
Reliable and straightforward. Great for beginners and general lock picking.
Provide improved grip and stability. Ideal for precise feedback.
Useful for switching between widths or thicknesses quickly.
Offer more control over pin stacks and reduce interference in the keyway. Popular among professional pickers.
Traditional and versatile. Great for older locks and wider keyways.
If you’re looking for high-quality materials to craft your own tension tools, clksupplies.com is one of the best places to buy everything you need. They offer durable spring steel, flat stock, and specialty metals that are perfect for shaping customized tension wrenches.
Their inventory includes multiple thicknesses and widths, allowing you to choose the exact steel that matches the lock profiles you work with. Additionally, their fast U.S. shipping and reliable customer support make ordering tension-tool material simple, convenient, and stress-free.
Making your own tension tools is not only cost-effective, but it’s also a skill that gives you complete control over your lock-picking technique. Whether you use a vise or upgrade to the Peterson U-Bend-It, shaping your own tools allows you to craft designs tailored perfectly to your needs.
If you're ready to start creating your own custom tension tools, now is the perfect time to pick up quality materials and precision bending tools from clksupplies.com, your Ultimate Source for locksmith tools.
Yes, beginners can safely create tension tools as long as they work slowly, use protective eyewear, and handle steel edges carefully. Starting with softer, thinner spring steel helps new users practice bending and shaping without risking injury or damaging tools.
High-quality spring steel is the best material for making tension tools. It provides the ideal combination of strength, flexibility, and torque feedback.
Most DIY tension tools can be made within five to ten minutes once you understand the process. Beginners may take slightly longer to learn how to measure, bend, and twist the steel accurately, but overall, it’s a fast and simple skill to practice.
DIY tension tools can perform just as well as commercial versions when shaped correctly. Because you can customize the geometry and length, many locksmiths actually prefer DIY tools for certain locks that require unique angles or torque characteristics.
