-holiday76

This might have been covered before but it didnt come up in a half assed search I just did.

Has anyone made their own bike tools? Just this past weekend I made a headset press out of a 3/4" threaded rod, some nuts and some nylon washers. The entire thing cost me $8 to make if you can even call it that since all I really did was put the pieces together.

If my fathers friend ever returns my mig welder I'm probably going to make my own truing stand as well.

I'll post a pic of my new "headset press" when I get some time tonight or tomorrow.

So what have you guys made? What has and hasnt worked for you? Oh and if someone does find another thread on this topic feel free to link it, but maybe this one will dig up some new ideas.

liquefied

This reminds me I need to make one of these. Did you follow the design in this thread by chance? https://forums.bicycletutor.com/thread-922.html

I'm also planning on making the headset removal tool that's linked to in the bottom of that thread.

dbakl

I made this headset wrench in college about 1972 using nothing but a piece of scrap metal and a grinder, in the shop where I worked one afternoon when no one was around. I had my bike right there, so made it fit perfectly. Still use it sometimes...

I have a headset press I made with a large bolt, nut and washers too, but now I have the real deal.

bigbossman 

I made a crown race setting tool out of a length of copper pipe and a cap. Soldered the cap on to the pipe, and viola. I use it like a slide hammer, and it works well.

I used to use a home made headset press but found an "official" one at Pricepoint for $50, so that's what I use now. It is a lot better, and well worth the $50.

auchencrow

I modified this ratcheting woodworking clamp from Lowes ($7.98) by replacing the pads with the eyes from a small turnbuckle: It's the best third-hand tool I've found.




I needed a 2nd chain whip one day and made this from a Stanley hardware strap
(Cost - about $1.79 vs $27.99)

kknh3

I've posted these before, but here's a couple pics of my homemade maintenance stand. I made it almost entirely of scrap and junk from construction projects at my workplace.




Next is my homemade dish gauge. It's made from aluminum stock I got from Home Depot



Last is my homemade truing stand, which comes from the book, The Bicycle Wheel by Jobst Brandt.

-holiday76

apparently I did, though not on purpose because I never saw that thread before.

Roger M

I needed a stand and couldnt bite off the price tag for a nice Feedback or Park. I saw a few DIY stands on the forums made of Black iron or galvanized pipe and fittings, But I didnt want to spand any money. I had a bunch of old copper pipe with fittings from some old radaint heat jobs that I had done. I salvaged the fittings and pipe I needed and made this. It's been in use for almost a year, and has served me well. Until I find a cheap CL stand, this works good for me. I have zero dollars into it, but about 3-4 hours of torch work



I did grind down some old wrenches for pedals and cones also.

-holiday76

love that. I might have to try that in lieu of a metal one.

jfmckenna

I hammered 2 brads through a block of wood to use as a pin tool to remove the crank cap bolt on my Campy 8-speed

kknh3

All of the details are in the book, including dimensioned drawings. The book also has a lot of great wheelbuilding information.

WNG

There was another recent thread about homemade bike tools. Interesting creations in there.
I took 1" steel conduit and some brackets I got for a $1 each to suspend a bike work 'stand' from the garage ceiling joist. I couldn't afford the floor space for a dedicated Park/Spin Doctor stand.

I was in a pinch for a 2nd chain whip in order to remove a Suntour cassette. I don't run into those often. I made one out of a trashed Sugino crank arm and old chain. $0 cost.

ftwelder

You guys are pretty crafty.

Chris_in_Miami

My lock ring pliers also work on the ball ring of some Sturmey hubs:

bikamper

My headset press in action.

Nuts, threaded rod, flat stock, black pipe 1/2x1/4 reducers. Five minutes with the mig.

old's'cool

I use a cargo tiedown (webbing type with quick release) to hoist my bikes up in lieue of a workstand. I just throw it over the garage door guide rail, or 2nd storey balcony or kid's gym outside, depending on where I want to work. I had the strap already, so cost was $0.

Homebrew01

I built my own frame building jig. Then built a couple of frames. Raced one for a few years, and dug it out of the back of the shed a few years ago & started riding it again.

grifone37

Wheel dishing gauge. Walnut and brass.IMG_2218..jpgIMG_2217..jpgIMG_2216..jpg

brian3069

I made a pin spanner, got the idea from this tread. Works great.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/465185-home-made-bottom-bracket-cup-tool-pin-spanner.html

Chris_in_Miami

Wow, that's very well done, and so classy!

stien

I used two small allen wrenches for that cap (the same one hah), friggin' reverse threaded thing.

rhm

Oooh, I like that. I might just copy that design.

Roger M

Bringing back a fairly old thread.

I've wanted nice wheel building stand, but couldn't bite off the cost of a decent one. I mentioned it to a friend that is pretty handy with metal, and a few days later he shows up with this.



It's nice to have friends with the skills to build stuff like this.

Holden McNeil

Homemade headset press from Home Depot threaded rod, nuts, washers, and a little time with the MIG welder.


Headset Press by N. Paglia, on Flickr

BattleRabbit

Some pretty cool tools in here! Kinda reminds me of all the doohickeys my dad and grandfather have made for working on cars...

Oh, hello Holden!