023 How to make the best tension wrench for lock picking using wiper blade inserts

In this episode, I'll be taking you step by step through how to can make the best tension wrench for lock picking, using wiper blade inserts and some simple tools you'll find in the garage. The 'Universal Tension Wrench', designed by Chris Capune, is recognised by the locksport community as one of the most versatile and effective tensioners around.
Some people have said, though, that even with Chris' tutoirals, they've struggled to replicate his design. I was one of those people (!) so I set about trying to come up with the definitive guide to making this tool in an effort to complement Chris' excellent work on the subject - and this is the result.
If you'd like to go back to Chris' channel and see the original material on the subject, you can find them using the links below:
1319: Tension Wrench Bending -
• #1319 Tension wrench b...
147: How to make a universal tension wrench - • #147 How to make a Uni...

[@1970pizza]

Chris kindly made me 2 of his " Universal Tension Wrenches " , but to be fair , if everyone followed your and Chris video's on how to make them , they are easy enough to make , Great video my Fish my friend

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure mate - have a great weekend 🙌

[@christianfritz6333]

If you use smooth jaw locking pliers you will get less breakage, the serrations or nurls in the Jaws create deformations in the stainless causing weakness. Also instead of your first bend being at the very end you should leave extra then trim. Steel has a grain similar to wood, in stainless wiper incerts it runs the length of metal. So leaving an end to trim off means less stress and fatigue on the metal at the bends, that's why it's so easy to twist in the center but twisting the ends feels difficult in comparison.

[@trailman20]

Ok this has sparked my curiosity..see I have a semi decent knowledge of steel not good not great and also not none ! ..and knowing what I at least think I know there are no grains in steel like there are wood especially giving that the vast majority of all steel used in modern times and still in the past was cast into a shape and then beaten into shape so to my knowledge there is no grain of steel ..I mean zero disrespect but if im somehow wrong id love to hear how and why ( we all keep learning daily) heat treating is what I think makes all the difference I've never heard of direction in grains of seel

[@christianfritz6333]

@@trailman20 OK, so a little background both my father an I worked in a steel mill, specifically in the rolling department. Anytime you have rods of steel, Ex. Rebar, springs, wiper inserts, really anything that is solid and has a diameter say 2" or less but has length. (wiper inserts start out as round bar and are flattened) This material is extruded it starts off life as a billet and is gradually compressed and stretched thinner and thinner over miles of length. (I'm sure you've seen coils of steel traveling down the road on the back of a semi) because the steel billet was made by casting the steel has a structure that is for all intents and purposes random. However stretching the steel forces that structure to stretch along with it, and gives steel it's elasticity. So, that grain though invisible still exists if you break the strands (grain) it's prone to failure. This grain is also what gives springs thier memory. And a wiper insert is literally nothing more then a really long thin leaf spring. The science of steel is mind-boggling and takes a far bigger brain then mine, I tried to make this explanation as basic as possible, but in turn might have made it more confusing.

[@roysammons2445]

A tutorial very well executed. I had asked Chris about his tension tool and he sent me here. 😁👍

[@chriscapune7873]

Wonderful video!!!! So much better then my attempts at showing and explaining how to go about this!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this!!!! Happy tensioning !!!!! 🐈‍⬛🐾🐈😷🇬🇧👏👏👏👏

[@derrickhogue1868]

Chris you inspired me early on to try your design. I tip my hat to you. It does work surprisingly good. And I agree on subscribing to Chris 😊 and your channel.

[@chriscapune7873]

@@derrickhogue1868 I am glad!!!! Happy is works for you. 🐈🐾🐈‍⬛🐾😷

[@fishpicks4531]

Chris - without your videos I wouldn’t have been known where to start! This just complements what you have already shared with the community. BTW your letter arrived this morning so thanks so much 🙌🙏🐟

[@chriscapune7873]

@@fishpicks4531 thank you! Glad the letter has arrived!! Stay safe my friend. 🐈‍⬛🐾🐈🐾😷🇬🇧

[@jackfoxlock]

Chris’s invention of the Universal Tensioner is the best thing in Locksport since Mad Bob’s sets. Thank you for your clear and excellent tutorial. I have been making them incorrectly all this time. Now I am going to remake them right. Thank you and Chris Capune for an excellent video.👍👍👍🦊

[@fishpicks4531]

Thanks Jack - I completely agree - it’s such a great design - thanks for the comment 🙌

[@fishpicks4531]

So pleased this contribution has been useful Jack - do let me know how you get on 🙌

[@derrickhogue1868]

Cheers Andy! Cheers Chris! Good video. I would like to add that these modifications can be done to existing manufactured tensioners that you already have in one’s purchased kit. So aside from making these up from scratch, you can modify what you may have. The heat gun is also good for softening the metal a little bit for bending. Insulated Gloves are a must! You can get a burn. Granted it won’t do a proper job of softening the metal and you will lose a little metal rigidity-tempering. But it helps on the 90 degree bends along with the slow gradually bending. Take care gents 😁.

[@fishpicks4531]

Absolutely Derrick - all good tips - thanks mate 🙌

[@fishpicks4531]

Really helpful comments - thanks for taking the time to post these 🙌

[@drewfaulkner2967]

Love the respect, and will be checking Chris’s channel after your video concludes. 👍

[@BandEAtoZ]

Inspiring. Headed down to the workbench now.

[@fishpicks4531]

Good luck - let me know how you get on. 🙌

[@wisebid]

Fish picks

[@justintuesday8483]

Great tutorial, favoriting this to attempt my own down the road.

[@fishpicks4531]

Give it a go Justin - takes a few attempts to dial in the technique but then it’s pretty straight forward 😉

[@RobVanElven]

Tnx for sharing. Now I need to source these wiper blades! I also like the idea that I saw in the comments to modify existing ones. I have a few that are pretty useless at the moment. Keep up the great work on this channel. Good to see that besides doing all the work for these videos, you still have time to pick locks.

[@fishpicks4531]

Haha it can be hit and miss some weeks if work gets heavy too but I try to keep a balance between picking and uploading new content! Thanks 🙌

[@RobVanElven]

Update. Just went to my local service station and asked if they had any old wiper blades. He said sure as they change these daily and just chuck these out. He gave me a few and will keep them separate for me, so no bin fishing required next time I fill up the car. 💪 Time to start making these!

[@fishpicks4531]

@@RobVanElven excellent news - thanks for the update 🙌

[@cmarano]

A brilliant design by Chris. Thanks for bringing light to this design. I'll certainly make a few to try out.

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - hope you find the tutorial helps 🙌

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - let me know how you get on 🙌

[@hadler999]

Well done , step by step. Thanks for taking Chris's work to a different level.

[@fishpicks4531]

Glad you feel it added to the material Chris has already shared - I really did want it to be a complement to his videos on the subject 🙌

[@petew9087]

Marvelous- I love this type of 'How To' presentation! Watched whist trying to paint a ceiling😁 I thoroughly enjoyed that and I know exactly what I'll be making tonight. Thank you👍

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure Pete - hope the ceiling worked out - I never find those easy!

[@brianmclaren279]

Great video, thank you! I second the notion for heating. It's pretty much essential to do get these contorted twists. Cheers.

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

Fantastic video Fish! Chris is a heck of a guy and he came up with a real game changer with his universal tension tool. Glad you did a video on it and pointed out it’s more nuanced features.

[@fishpicks4531]

Agreed mate - Chris is a real inspiration and a credit to the community. Glad you feel I did the topic justice - cheers 🙌

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - I really wanted to do this great design justice 🙌

[@GiovanniXS]

Great video, I'm sure lots of pickers will be starting to use these twisted tensioners now. And congrats on conquering that 1100. Welcome to the club 👍

[@fishpicks4531]

Cheers mate - much appreciated.

[@daveb6722]

I may have to have a go at one of those, but without the middle twist, I've never had much luck with springy tensioners.

[@fishpicks4531]

Yep, I’ve made a few of those too and they work fine Dave.

[@fishpicks4531]

I’m sure a stiffer variation will work just fine too and will be quicker to make too 😉

[@iyeetsecurity922]

Cool design! To make bends better, I highly recommend heating it up first til it glows. I use a butane torch. The kind people use for cooking/baking. After heating it and bending it, dip it in cold water. I've gotten some pretty thick tension wrench metal bent easily that way. Even bent wiper blades to look just like flat bars/TOK wrenches.

[@brianmclaren279]

Completely agree. Cheers.

[@Chirael]

Great video Fish, I really appreciate the How To on this and congratulations on opening that 1100 😊👏

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - thank YOU for taking the time to watch and comment 🙏

[@mattfleming86]

PROPANE TORCH! Bend while hot. Afterwards, heat to a pale glow and dunk in oil or water. To anneal just a little use a heat gun on HIGH and get it nice and toasty, hold for just a bit, and cool by air. These are not structural parts, so you can go by color and seat-of-pants. I had some "brittle" spring stock. Wasnt really brittle, it was just a different composition or left less annealed from the factory. Either way propane was the solution to my problems and it allows you to make some fanciful bends without killing a pile of stock.

[@fishpicks4531]

Good tips thanks 🙌

[@jeffandthings77]

These plus two tension wrenches I made from allen keys-one for TOK and one for BOK-cover most of my needs.....so far! Food for thought-those allen keys can make some decent "heavy bar" type tensioners!

[@fishpicks4531]

Yep - I suspect they would - if you give it a try, let me know how they turn out 🙌

[@jeffandthings77]

@@fishpicks4531 I guess I should clarify-I have made them, and they are my go-to tensioners! I just grabbed some more to make tensioners for another pick set....because I love them. I do use one of these also for the skinnier stuff.

[@fishpicks4531]

@@jeffandthings77 ah ok got it - apologies for the confusion.

[@fishpicks4531]

Cheers Jeff - having seen them in the pic you sent, they look great 🙌

[@EdocDab]

Great video on the details of his tensioner👍It's very rare that a normal wiper insert 90 degrees tensioner fails me when picking, but I might still make one just to try the difference 🙂 Congrats on the 1100 👌

[@fishpicks4531]

Thanks mate - I think the versatility of Chris’ design in such a wide range of different kinds of keyway is what appeals to me most and it just feels very comfortable - but as with all tools, it really comes down to personal preference. If you do make one up, let me know how you find it 😉

[@EdocDab]

Will do and thanks for sharing the detailed how-to 👍

[@firepicker5174]

Great explanation!, nice tensioners!

[@fishpicks4531]

Cheers - thanks for checking the video out 🙌

[@mikehooper3392]

Thanks again another great video,I know exactly what I will be making today you can never have enough tensioners

[@fishpicks4531]

I completely agree Mike! 🙌

[@justinh7099]

I recommend wearing some sort of PPE mask when grinding with Aluminum Oxide. Thank you for the excellent video!

[@jpmcpinning4255]

I got all the answers right except abus question... id like the yale push lock since i havnt had one.

[@fishpicks4531]

Will add your name to the hat JP 🙌

[@robertbates3737]

Another excellent and concise video, thanks for sharing 👍 Also, congrats on popping the 1100! They're a rite of passage for pickers and I know you've been battling them for a while now, nice work

[@fishpicks4531]

Thanks mate - next week I’ll be sharing what it was that got me to the open - feeling quite proud of myself!

[@fishpicks4531]

I certainly have! Much appreciated mate 🙌

[@deanbrand3638]

this is a great video! I just striped down a wiperblade and the strips measure 2.5mm x 0.8 as you measured yours at the start, but in the video they look bigger material and on Chris's, what are the measurments of the material on the ones that chris seems to use all the time and will try get the same, maybe need bigger wiper blades?

[@brianh870]

Gotta say, I love your use of stock videos and images!

[@fishpicks4531]

That’s good to hear Brian because it’s become clear that it’s not everyone’s preference! I guess I will keep making videos that I am proud of and hope that they resonate with others, but I also appreciate that my choice of music/aesthetics etc will not suit everyone’s taste! 😉

[@siskospaceman]

Another Brian chiming in, and I also gotta say, I enjoy and get a chuckle out of the stock footage. Please don’t stop making videos! All of your content is great and, dare I say, more informative for the novice picker than BB, LPL or even LockNoob. You have a very easy, and approachable way of explaining things. And your video on the 1100 is brilliant.

[@fishpicks4531]

@@siskospaceman that’s great to hear and I plan to keep sharing content so thanks for your support 🙏

[@killiansred40]

thanks i just subbed with Chris recommendation today shout out to you, your channel looks great i'm glad i joined

[@Mur-lock68]

Brilliant Video mate Thanks for sharing Stay well

[@fishpicks4531]

Pleasure buddy - have a great weekend 🙌

[@leejohnson5539]

I found the single wiper at the rear of the car (mine was a Renault hathback) I found the inserts was almost 3x the width so could make picks if wanted nd also great video m8 well handy ive made a few to fit my hands nd style perfect 4me

[@MrCocolitos]

Very clear and limpide !!

[@fishpicks4531]

Limpide? Great word! Thanks 🙌

[@Hugebach]

Wonderful video, thank you fish

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - thank YOU for taking the time to watch it 🙌

[@danareed1656]

another awesome video! and chris is also awesome!

[@fishpicks4531]

Cheers Dana - hope all is well with you 🙌

[@jeffyates2295]

Nice one Andy. Didn't know about Chris's channel. Will be subbing shortly. 😎

[@fishpicks4531]

Cheers Jeff - he’s prolific and the channel is full of good content

[@peterdaniellabrado703]

If you heat up any of your bending it won't brake and will not be weaker it will be stronger then if you bend with out just a tip since I have got a lot from your work thanks again

[@dhuyghebaert1422]

Thanks for the video. It was quite timely for me as I was having trouble with the TOK tensioners I have. I’ve been getting quite frustrated with them slipping out all the time and maybe some homemade ones with different thicknesses will help.

[@fishpicks4531]

That’s definitely something I’ve found is happening less since I started using Chris’ design - hope it works for you as well. 🙌

[@N0B0DY_SP3C14L]

It's interesting that you prefer the twist in the middle, as it actually reduces your sensitivity. Later, you may decide upon a design without the twist in the middle, especially if you start messing with higher security locks, like Medecos.

[@cyberhagen]

I'm curious if the fact that it's a double twist, reorienting the blade back to it's original direction, resolves that issue at all somehow. Probably not. Imagine a corkscrew design, that'd be an experiment. The alternative for a wider finger surface is to solder another piece of blade in the middle of the tool, parallel but at a right angle along the edge of the main blade to provide a wider finger surface. Actually that would probably stiffen the tool even more, but would be a lot of work.

[@N0B0DY_SP3C14L]

A corkscrew would be horrible as it would bend in every direction. The advantage of a twist in the tension wrench is that it allows for instantly setting pins as they reach the sheer line, but they reduce sensitivity and if you're needing to feel for counter-rotation, you just might not be able to effectively read and control that. In a nutshell, makes easy easier, but harder much harder. Regarding the double twist, it is irrelevant as you are tensioning after a single twist. Baaisically a twist allows you to use a heavier,sloppier tension which is lightened by the twist. This has been my experience so far.

[@captmidnite8142]

thanks Andy , top post ,,

[@fishpicks4531]

My pleasure - glad you liked it 😉

[@rix077]

Great vid!

[@fishpicks4531]

Appreciate that 🙌

[@Kane-5263]

That was a really interesting guide, thank you! I will not try it because I do not have any of the tools needed, but that is good knowledge for later eventually :) But you made me wonder, since you already have the heat gun at hand, why not using it to help soften the material and make the metal bend more easily without breaking? With the steel melting at ~1500°C and the heat gun probably not hitting more than 450°C at best, and the force already applied by the pliers, I do not think that you risk to damage the integrity of the tension wrench and make it weaker for it's usage.

[@fishpicks4531]

Fair point Kane - I guess I didn’t think the kinds of temperatures I would achieve before I couldn’t safely handle the materials would make much of a difference to it’s malleability. I don’t have heat resistant gloves so I just did what I could with the tools I have on hand.

[@SnakePicks]

I should start working right now but a new Fish video is out, so I think that work can wait a few minutes. Cheers!

[@fishpicks4531]

haha good call - let me know what you think!

[@SnakePicks]

@@fishpicks4531 Excellent walkthrough. I’ll have to give this a shot.

[@fishpicks4531]

@@SnakePicks good stuff - let me know how you get on Andrew 🙌

[@danstotland6386]

What alloy of steel are quality wiper blades made from? (alloy number would be particularly invaluable). Given that information, it is easy to get the details for heat treatment. Heat treating is not difficult. It would lead to less breakage when twisting the metal. You would then treat the metal to a desired flexibility and/or hardness,

[@IsaacHashman]

Very cool guide buddy! I'm gonna have to make one of these :D Also just a small tip with the more brittle metal... If you soften the metal first with heat, then bend, it's more likely to avoid snapping. You just need to harden the metal again afterwards by heating it up again and then cooling it quickly. Also, awesome work with that 1100 buddy, your progress on that guy was nuts!!

[@fishpicks4531]

Great tip - thanks mate. I am just editing next week's video release which will be all about our coaching session and the 8 takeaways I learned from you :)

[@IsaacHashman]

@@fishpicks4531 Awesome! That's so cool :D Can't wait to see it!!! P.S. in case you haven't seen yet, I sent you the specs on my flag I use for MTL (and sidepins too)

[@fishpicks4531]

I saw that mate - thanks. Haven’t had a chance to do any mods yet because of work commitments but am hoping to have a go this weekend - wish me luck!

[@IsaacHashman]

@@fishpicks4531 good luck! :)

[@jibreel1580]

Great video, do you know what brands of windshield wipers allowed for you to make these tension wrenches instead of snapping?

[@fishpicks4531]

I’m afraid I don’t because I didn’t source the ones I used but I can say that they felt flexible in the hand rather than brittle - I’d recommend getting hold of a few different brands and then just having a play.

[@brianpfeiffer1263]

Fish, love the page. I'm a southpaw, so I pick upside down, and use my thumb or back of my forefinger for tension. This is starting to hinder me on some locks, any advise on tension for a lefty?

[@fishpicks4531]

Not something I have any experience with mate but I know there are several lefties on the Facebook forums so I’d recommend maybe put out a shout there?

[@ftumchgtumch732]

Great detail, but clockwise/anti clockwise is completely dependent on the hand doing the turning. I guess it'd be helpful to make a point of the first clockwise turn is actually turning the HEAD you just made clockwise (meaning the lower portion "handle" is going against that turn with an anti-clockwise turn) etc...

[@diverguy2583]

I'm replacing my wiper blades tomorrow lol. I'm wondering if applying heat to aid in bending it would help, you should be able to temper and anneal it in motor oil so it's not too brittle.

[@DonzLockz]

Great job Mr Fish! Are you a TV presenter? Lol

[@fishpicks4531]

Haha no but maybe I missed my calling?!

[@DonzLockz]

@@fishpicks4531 lol. I think you have indeed. :)

[@MarcusAlexanderAuthor]

I requested nail varnish on your fingers to make the viewing more enjoyable but nooooooooo, you had to ignore that request. I feel like there's only one option left to produce any joy in your channel and that's to add more 'Pew! Pew! Pew!' laser sounds. #FishPicks #LockPicking #Lasers4Ever

[@fishpicks4531]

Marcus you are a bad man! Can’t wait to catch up in the real world again soon - and keep those laser sounds coming!

[@fishpicks4531]

Marcus - I just ordered an XL Pew Pew Pew t-shirt for you from the US - hope that will make up for the lack of nail varnish brother! 😂

[@MarcusAlexanderAuthor]

@@fishpicks4531 Pow! Hells yes it does :D

[@kevenquinlan]

Good video. 1st= So glad you made the comment about Petersons insert package, as I was about to buy them= not going to now. I hate Peterson's picks. I'm a Sparrows man through and through. The few times I have overpaid for their picks= insta-breaks??? I had 1 I put in the keyway and on the first lift- the tip broke off? I see a lot of the 'sport pickers' use them- and I think it's because their metal is 'scratchy'. In that regard- they give good feedback, but they are scratchy because they are a brittle metal. With a price point that's 3X's the price of a sparrows pick, it's a no brainer what I use. 2nd= Chris had a ton of vid's and I watched the one on making his tensioner. He is a train-wreck for content quality, lol. The video's are so poorly produced they are hard to get through. They are disorganized like HE is disorganized, as is a testament to his layout, which is covered with random pieces from? Also, his fingernails look like a homeless person's toenails. 3rd= tensioners are easily the least talked about tool in picking, which I don't understand. I've had locks I couldn't pick because I didn't have the proper tensioner. I get the right one= and breeze through it. I really wish a lock company would come out with a comprehensive and well though out set. Usually they make it longer, or shorter, or put a twist in it, or have each end 45 degree'd turn from each other- which makes putting them in a case less than ideal. Kirigami tensioners are at least new in design and I plan on trying them but enough research hasn't been done nor does it seem it ever will. You have all this research on pick head design when in truth- it makes very little difference and some of the heads the produce= you'll never find a lock you can use them in. You need like 6 hook style, a few rakes and that's really it. Anywho, thanks for the vid. I plan on making my own and will still probably buy the Peterson turning tool but will NOT buy their metal strips.

[@victorrussell6284]

Good tip. It would be even better if we knew the size of the material used. My wiper material is 1.2mm thick by 3.8mm wide and it seems a bit too thick?

[@markowens2577]

Try to add just a little. Heat small blow torch. And cool IT fairly quickly Will harden like toughened glass.

[@gantry289]

Thanks for making the "Idiots guide" for us slow learners lol, but even more important, thanks for stating "standard" measurements for countries that might be a little behind the 8 ball.

[@fishpicks4531]

Haha my pleasure - I took ages in Photoshop designing that front cover! Hope it made you smile. Glad the measurement conversions were helpful 😉🙌

[@dogstar5572]

I’ll be making a few of them......one might be correct.

[@fishpicks4531]

Let me know how you get on mate 🙌

[@fishpicks4531]

Certainly I went through a lot of failures first but hopefully you’ll have fewer if this tutorial is successful in its purpose!😉

[@WRWhizard]

When bending brittle metal, heat it first to remove the temper. It should not make it too flexible to use.

[@rayhill6477]

Are these sold anywhere?

[@brandtrey1]

For fear of being called lazy, could someone just buy these from Chris?? When you said he sent you a few, does he have a way of making some money from his designs, cause i'd love to pick up a couple.........seems cheaper than buying all these tools to "try" and make them myself.

[@rainbowranddy]

The blue meanies would even be impressed.

[@wtffatherandson1603]

do you sell these?

[@TuMayPicking]

[@RasoolKhezri-l3s]

I love you❤❤

[@elineblind348]

Hey bro love your stuff, but say it with me A-LU-MI-NUM

[@fishpicks4531]

ahhh I just can't do it! I also wear trousers over my pants and eat chips rather than fries...but if it's any consolation, I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

[@fishpicks4531]

Out of interest - do you guys just pretend that last 'i' isn't really there?!

[@EmeraldHill-vo1cs]

AL U MIN IUM, right, i think we ve got it right in oz.

[@elineblind348]

@@fishpicks4531 we pronounce one i we don't have a second between the n and the u.

[@ivayloivanov3010]

this steel is not hard enough

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Go to an auto parts store on a rainy day and look in the trash

[@aptknifethrowerguy8342]

You need 100$ worth of tool to make a 1$ tool