Bicycle Mechanics - Park Tool Kits, worth it?

Tools are expensive. I'm decided on finally having some proper tools and I would rather aquire them in a lot rather than piecing it out. I've looked at a few tool kits:

Nashbar Big Toolkit 2: $44.95
http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=99&subcategory=1062&sku=3521&brand=

"Avenir" Tool Kit (ebay): $69.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3600102652&category=7295

Park Roll Up Workshop: $125.95
http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=99&subcategory=1062&sku=2646&brand=

Looks like with the Nasbar I still need some cable cutters and a 4th Hand tool, looks like I need the latter no matter which kit. So do you really get what you pay for in the tool arena? Is there a better dollar to tool ratio to be had?

Depends. You need to think about from the angle of, how many times do I want to replace the tool? Buy cheap and you get cheap. Be wary of bundled kits as well. There might be quality tools of one kind, but to keep prices down, the suppliers have to compromise on others. Open up a kit and you'll see what I'm getting at.

Park are high quality and have a deserved reputation. It might be better to buy what you need as you go along. You'll get the more specialised tools you need as and when you need them. If you've got a good collection of home tools then you're half way there anyway.

I'd say balance the choice of what you buy against what you need to do essential maintenance, what you might need, and the nice to haves.

In short, I'd be wary of buying bundled kits and would suggest you inspect them closely. An example is that I recently saw a 'sexy' kit in a hard case down at my lbs. I did a mental sum of the tools (not that high quality on closer inspection) and compared to what the price was, I could buy better quality individually and more of it. One case (forgive the pun) where the sum of the parts was less than the whole.

Personally yes. The worst thing I eve did was try to piece a set together. May be the area I live in but if I had just bought a park tool set I wouldn't have many broken tools and I would have ALL of the tools I need.

Most lower end tool kits are just that. Worth what you pay. :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
...Most lower end tool kits are just that. Worth what you pay.

Wish I could claim back every buck I spent cutting corners trying to save more bucks.:)

I have a fight going on with my hardware store for example. They (B&Q) market a range of in-house power tools called Pro. I bought a jig saw from them a few months back. It was cheap at the time and it looked ok. I tried using it about 4 times and it was a poor quality tool. I then spent twice the price on a Makita saw and that's the difference. As you say, what you pay is what it's worth.

LAW OF TOOLS (every guy should know this by now)

Thou shalt seek to purchase the best tools that thou can. For in the purchase of a tool of fine quality one is saved from the dispair of lost money. Money used replacing a tool of inferior quality when one should have purchased the superior tool is money lost. Thou shalt understand: the superior tool shall have a longer useful lifespan than shall the inferior tool thus saving one from the shame of not having beer money.

I thought evrybody knew this one. I mean, heck, why do mechanics buy Craftsman tools when they can pick up a cheap tool. Quality!! (That and the lifetime warranty doesn't hurt either.)

Here it is in the simplest way I know how to say it.

Buy what you need when you need it, that way you won't end up with a bunch of junk you won't need or use. Buy quality where you need quality, bike specific tools like BB tools and cassette tools, should be Park. things like allen wrenches, wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets and torque wrenches can be purchased from your local tool supplier for a savings. If you want a truing stand, save your money and buy a park TS-2, it's the only one that's effective, I've tried them all, gave some away and have the others in heap in the basement.

Cheap tools are for people who rarely use them. A 50-cent screwdriver can last years for someone who only uses it twice a year. If you need it five times a day, it will probably be rounded off within a month.

If you KNOW you'll be using the tools regularly, don't balk at the price. They'll probably pay for themselves in durability and usefulness.

I'm pretty much with with everything previously said. From my experience, you definitely get what you pay for. My first venture into wanting to work on my own bike included buying a Park PCS-1 Repair stand and a Park Roll-Up workshop. The stand is still the only one that I use and all of the tools are still in near perfec shape. The Roll-Up Workshop had everything I needed for months until I began doing more complicated and tool-specific repairs. Since then, I've amassed a good collection of additional tools, one at a time when I've needed them or a bunch together looking into the future, and they have nearly all been Park because I know the quality that comes with them. You get what you pay for.

-Moab

why do mechanics buy Craftsman tools when they can pick up a cheap tool. Craftsman?

Snap-on and Mac

I like the Pedro's line of tools.

Here a similar set-up:Pedro's Took Kit (http://www.pedros.com/frames/tools.html)

The difference is the absolutely necessary 9/10 wrench with bottle opener!

Beer me please!

L8R

RareVos: Performance Bicycle Shop has one that I'm considering:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.html?SKU=16142&Store=Bike

$49.99

Zack

EDIT:I wrote this post thinking that RareVos had suggested he might get the Performance kit, and not ZackJones.

RareVos,

The Performance kit is a lot cheaper, and would probably work for you since it doesn't sound like you're planning on doing anything major right away. If you were to print out a list of what you are getting, though, and compared the two, you are getting more from the Park kit, although it is considerably more money. Check out the reviews a at www.mtbr.com . Many of the performance tools have been rated, and most don't fair very well. Performance throws in some things like spoke wrenches that you won't need unless you're planning on putting in the time to learn and practice truing your wheels soon. Spoke wrenches are a place you don't necessarily want to go cheap on. Park has a reputation for making some of the best. You also won't notice much of a price difference between the internet and the LBS for things like spoke wrenches. I can pick a Park spoke wrench up at my LBS for 5 or 6 bucks. Thats not much different than the net.

I do own some Performance tools from my earlier ventures into buying tools and I fhave found them to feel skinny and not "built tough" like the Park tools that I now swear by. They certainly will work for the once-in-a-while home mechanic, but again, you get what you pay for.

Originally posted by mrfix
Here it is in the simplest way I know how to say it.

Buy what you need when you need it, that way you won't end up with a bunch of junk you won't need or use. Buy quality where you need quality, bike specific tools like BB tools and cassette tools, should be Park. things like allen wrenches, wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets and torque wrenches can be purchased from your local tool supplier for a savings. If you want a truing stand, save your money and buy a park TS-2, it's the only one that's effective, I've tried them all, gave some away and have the others in heap in the basement.

Great advise.

Case in point: There are maybe two or three Park tools in the Park kit you list that would be worth owning: the crank puller, chain tool and wire cutters (and the wire cutters are a stretch since lesser brand models work as well and last as long). The BB & cassette lock-ring tools would be OK if they happen to work on your bike(s) but that assumes you're riding a bike equipped with Shimano components. You'd be better off buying a nice set of cone wrenches, a Park chain whip, and any brand of tire levers and patch kit. Get the multi-tool from a hardware store along with a nice set of screwdrivers, t-handle hex wrenches (metric) and a Park bike-shop quality pedal wrench.

The Avenir kit looks like it has a nice collection of the right tools but I don't know squat about the quality. Assuming the important tools aren't crap, it looks like a nice value that'll take care of your basic needs.

The Nashbar kit looks like crap.

Originally posted by Raiyn
LAW OF TOOLS (every guy should know this by now)

Thou shalt seek to purchase the best tools that thou can. For in the purchase of a tool of fine quality one is saved from the dispair of lost money. Money used replacing a tool of inferior quality when one should have purchased the superior tool is money lost. Thou shalt understand: the superior tool shall have a longer useful lifespan than shall the inferior tool thus saving one from the shame of not having beer money.

I thought evrybody knew this one. I mean, heck, why do mechanics buy Craftsman tools when they can pick up a cheap tool. Quality!! (That and the lifetime warranty doesn't hurt either.)

Forgive me for my unmanly slipup. It has and never will happen again :)...

Forgive me for I have sinned. I purchased a chainwhip for half the price that no one has ever heard of. I broke it first attempt. I just assumed it would last at least 2x :)

Seriously though all tools I can buy at a real hardware store I do. All tools that are very bike specific I buy Park now.

I'd pick up the tools as you go along. Along with Park, I've found Var and Hozan bike specific tools to be of excellent quality.

For a mesly $600 you could get this


The goods. Everything you need in one Mac-Daddy set up. Contains only the finest tools.

Tire Levers
Magnetic Parts Tray
Crank Remover
BMX Freeewheel Socket
Cable Cutter
Beverage Wrench
Cog Wrench
T/L Hex Wrench 2mm
T/L Hex Wrench 2.5mm
T/L Hex Wrench 3mm
T/L Hex Wrench 4mm
T/L Hex Wrench 5mm
T/L Hex Wrench 6mm
T/L Hex Wrench 8mm
HG Socket
HG Socket W/O Pin
L Hex Wrench 9 Pc Set
BB Socket
Multi Spoke Wrench
8 -15 mm Ratcheting Combo
13 -19mm Cone Wrench
32 Mm Headset Wrench
36 Mm Headset Wrench
40 Mm Headset Wrench
15 Mm Pedal Wrench
Phillips #1 * 80
Phillips #2 * 80
Flat Blade 4 * 80
Flat Blade 5.5 * 125
Flat Blade 6.5 * 150
Pro Chain Tool
Aluminum Case

I like either park or Pedro's tools. here is a link if you want to check out Pedro's

PEDRO'S tools (http://www.pedros.com/frames/tools.html)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Forgive me for my unmanly slipup. It has and never will happen again :)...

Forgive me for I have sinned. I purchased a chainwhip for half the price that no one has ever heard of. I broke it first attempt. I just assumed it would last at least 2x :)

Seriously though all tools I can buy at a real hardware store I do. All tools that are very bike specific I buy Park now. LOL Thou needest to be smote with thy poor chainwhip!. :D

Thank ye for all the suggestions. I have decided upon buying them as I go... I think of it as financing the super expensive Park mechanics kit. I just went to my LBS yesterday and bought some headset wrenches, crank extractor, and had to order the freewheel tool and pin spanners for cup and cone BB's.... I'll have all I need in a couple few weeks at this rate.

Originally posted by Raiyn
LOL Thou needest to be smote with thy poor chainwhip!. :D

If it hadn't broken I would agree...POS...I need to buy another one soon. :D