Tools 101

The right tool for the right lock. Every technique in this guide starts with a matched pair — a way to apply tension, and a way to manipulate the mechanism.

Tool	What it does	Best for
Tension wrench (BOK)	Applies rotational torque from the bottom of the keyway.	Applies rotational torque from the bottom of the keyway.Most pin-tumbler and wafer locks; leaves room for the pick above.
Tension wrench (TOK)	Applies torque from the top of the keyway; often thinner and more stable.	Applies torque from the top of the keyway; often thinner and more stable.Paracentric/security keyways where the bottom is crowded.
Hook pick	Lifts individual pins for single-pin picking (SPP).	Lifts individual pins for single-pin picking (SPP).Pin-tumbler, security-pin locks — the workhorse pick.
Rake (city / snake / Bogota)	Scrubbed in and out with light tension to bounce pins at random.	Scrubbed in and out with light tension to bounce pins at random.Cheap pin-tumblers, wafer locks — fast, imprecise entry.
Dimple / flag pick	Reaches pins set by dimples milled into the key's flat faces.	Reaches pins set by dimples milled into the key's flat faces.Dimple cylinders — geometry is different from a hook.
Dimple tension wrench	Grips the flats of a dimple keyway.	Grips the flats of a dimple keyway.Dimple cylinders — needed to torque the plug.
Tubular pick	Self-setting feelers arranged in a ring; twists to apply tension.	Self-setting feelers arranged in a ring; twists to apply tension.Tubular locks; must match the pin count (usually 7 or 8).
Disc-detainer tool	Collar for tension plus a probe to rotate individual discs.	Collar for tension plus a probe to rotate individual discs.Disc-detainer and Abloy locks — no other tool has the right geometry.
Jiggler / try-out key	Pre-cut keys wiggled under light tension to trip low-security wafers.	Pre-cut keys wiggled under light tension to trip low-security wafers.Budget wafer locks; cabinets and older car doors.
Shim (padlock shim)	Thin waved metal strip that releases a padlock's locking pawl.	Thin waved metal strip that releases a padlock's locking pawl.Cheap padlocks without anti-shim designs.
Comb pick	Pushes all pin stacks up above the shear line at once.	Pushes all pin stacks up above the shear line at once.Cheap locks that allow over-lifting and lack anti-comb pins.
Bump key	A '999' key tapped to bounce driver pins momentarily above the shear line.	A '999' key tapped to bounce driver pins momentarily above the shear line.Standard residential pin-tumbler cylinders without anti-bump pins.

Tension is 80% of picking

More attempts fail from bad tension than from bad pick technique. Start lighter than you think — a beginner's default is roughly the force of pressing a keyboard key. If nothing is setting, reduce tension first.

Matched pairs, not big kits

A cheap 30-piece pick set is mostly rakes you'll never use. A single good hook, a short hook, and two or three tension wrenches will open more locks than a wall of tools.