ljr

I'm new to bicycle building and planning to rebuild my first vintage road bike. I have an old 40-ish-year-old road bike waiting to disassemble renovate and rebuild.
So, really need some advice on choosing a proper and economical toolbox. Is something like Bikehand YC-721(Taiwan made, pic in my gallary) sufficient and reliable? Many thanks.

Andrew R Stewart 

The assemblage of tools includes a few that won't be needed for a 40 year old bike and lacks a bunch that are needed. Andy

Crankycrank

+1 with what Andrew said. Probably best to buy tools as you need them for your vintage bike and you may need to do a little research to find out the brand and model of each of your components first to know what tool is needed as there have been many different standards over the years.

smd4

I think you can start with a prepackaged tool box, but then you'll need to add on to those tools that came with the box. Also--those tool boxes (like the Bikehand YC-721) where the tools fit into specific molded places in the box, aren't very useful when you start really getting into this stuff. You'll eventually throw that "box" away and store your tools on a bench, or in a conventional tool box of some kind. As your tool kit grows, here are a few of my suggestions from a few threads back. Some of these tools are included in the Bikehand YC-721:

--Set of metric open/box end wrenches up to 17mm;
--12" adjustable ("Crescent") wrench;
--Ball-peen hammer;
--Metal shop ruler (to measure chain stretch, etc.);
--Needle-nose pliers (to grab the cable when adjusting derailleur cable tension);
--JIS (Japanese) Phillips head screwdriver, probably No. 2 will cover you in most instances;
--Hex/Allen Tri-wrench in 4, 5, 6 mm;
--Socket Tri-wrench in 8, 9, 10 mm;
--Torx Tri-wrench (I have one but don't use it, because I don't have any Torx fasteners);
--Pedal Wrench (I have an older (Verma?) model that has both 15mm and 1/2" at either end);
--Set of good quality cone wrenches (I use Park);
--High-quality spoke wrench to fit your spoke nipples. Park makes these. Get the kind that looks like a hot-air-balloon with rubber grip. Don't cheap out on this tool!;
--Headset wrench specific to your headset if you use one. Park makes these as well;
--Chain Whip;
--Cassette lockring tool depending on cassette manufacturer (This will be used in conjunction with your chain whip and adjustable wrench);
--Bottom-bracket tools, depending on what you're using and the era;
--Fourth hand (Hozan makes an excellent one);
--Quality bike-cable-specific cable cutters (I use a discontinued Shimano version but the newer Park one seems quite capable);
--Metric Allen key set (the "L" shaped ones);
--Chain Tool (type depending on what you use--rivets, quick links, etc.);
--Tools specific to your bike--I need an extra long 6mm Allen key for my stem and a 8mm Allen for my cranks. I also have a specific tool for my chainring bolts and crank dust caps, and one to adjust my pedal bearings;
--Good quality oil (your choice; I use Tri-Flow);
--Good quality grease (your choice; I use Shimano Special Grease. Phil is good too);
--Good quality floor pump including good-quality chuck for your particular valves (I use a Silca Pista Plus with Hiro chuck for Presta valves);
--Tire valve core tool (I think these would be used if you are tubeless and need to remove the valve core);
--Decent floor stand if your bike can be lifted into one;

Fun tools but completely unnecessary: Angle gauge; digital bike (expensive) or luggage (cheap) scale.

This list is what I can think of off the top of my head, but should be a good start for most home shops. YMMV. There are of course very specialized tools like dropout alignment tools, headset cup and race removers/installers, etc. These can be pricy and not used very often, but many can be fabricated at home. I may add to this list as I think of things.

Iride01 

Unless you plan to work on a lot of bikes for other people, I'd stay away from tool kits with a bunch of expensive special tools for bikes.

You really don't need many tools for working on a bike. A few allen keys, torx bits and flat and philips drivers along with a few sizes of wrenches. Possibly a set of cone wrenches are the only special tool you might use regularly if you have that type of wheel.

I wouldn't buy any of the special tools that you might need for your current project until you carefully consider if you will ever use them more than once. Many times the special tools might not be needed for a future project because it will require something else.

And consider just taking that part of the bike to a local bike shop and just letting them loosen or tighten it for you. Maybe they'll just hand you the tool and let you do it right there.

If you are a tool collector and just have to have them, then go for whatever you wish.

Steve B.

I could not find stuff after it all had assembled into 5 different tool boxes. The former owner of my house had gifted me with well over 100 peg board hangers, so I took the hint. The entire right side is bike tools.

zandoval 

I would suggest you start with the tool kit you are going to carry when you ride.

veganbikes

I would not buy a pre-made toolkit, those tend to be of pretty low quality or have a lot of tools I don't want or would replace. The only kit I would ever consider would be from Campagnolo and they are both in wood boxes and I probably wouldn't actually use them but collect them.

For the more basic tools, Wera, Wiha, Snap-On, Knipex, Felco, PB-Swiss, Vessel...(in no particular order) make some good stuff and they are well worth it.

For bike specific stuff for the hobbyist Park and Pedros, make some decent stuff but their generic tools aren't that great. However Park makes a lot of tools for older freewheels and headsets which can be quite handy. For higher quality Abbey, EVT, Wheels MFG...make some really excellent stuff.

Get tools you need as you need them.

This is a super handy thread for Hex Wrenches and quality:
Hex Key Brand Comparison (photo intensive)

The only reason to buy a cheap tool is if I am only looking to use it once and toss it or maybe something as an emergency kit to throw in the back of a car or something and almost never use.

byscott

I have a lot of bike-specific tools, acquired over 40 or so years. I have never bought a “tool kit” of any sort. I think “get tools as you need them” is good advice. The other bit of advice that I would offer is that it’s better to buy a high quality tool used than to buy a low quality tool new. Well made, high quality tools will last a lifetime. Lower quality stuff will not, and you’ll spend more in the end.