Favorite Tool
12-23-22, 04:31 PM
#1
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Favorite Tool
Everyone has that one tool, that one you reach for for about everything.
Mine is a box end crescent wrench.
Stanley - The Claw is it's actual name, but what it is, is a box end crescent.
I watch for them on ebay.
I have a 10", 2-8" and 2-6" and I use them constantly.
One of these is at 3 bucks right now...
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...0&LH_PrefLoc=2
Mine is a box end crescent wrench.
Stanley - The Claw is it's actual name, but what it is, is a box end crescent.
I watch for them on ebay.
I have a 10", 2-8" and 2-6" and I use them constantly.
One of these is at 3 bucks right now...
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...0&LH_PrefLoc=2
12-23-22, 05:03 PM
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For framebuilding my fav is my hand scraped cast iron flat surface.
For bike wrenching it's a 8,9,10 "Y" wrench
For general life stuff it's an Explorer Swiss Army Knife (by Victorinox of course), and yes, those are unicycle build plans...
For bike wrenching it's a 8,9,10 "Y" wrench
For general life stuff it's an Explorer Swiss Army Knife (by Victorinox of course), and yes, those are unicycle build plans...
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12-23-22, 05:20 PM
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Park vintage 4,5,6 mm Allen tri wrench.
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12-23-22, 06:49 PM
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Having been a stagehand for near 50 years, I got in the habit of carrying a multi-tool of some sort. Before Leatherman and the like were invented it was a Victorinox Champ SAK. Later Gerber, SOG or Leatherman. Never liked Leathermans. My current go to that I carry is a Gerber Truss MT, this being the design who's assorted tools open outward so no need to open up the pliers to access a knife, etc.,, They discontinued this design apparantly, too bad, best MT I've used.
12-23-22, 07:25 PM
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+1 on the 8-9-10 Y wrench. I'm still using the one I bought at Yellow Front back in 1980-1981 or so. Used it quite a bit this afternoon, in fact, stripping an old swingset-steel Huffy.
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https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
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https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
12-23-22, 08:05 PM
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These days I am pretty much specializing in wheel building although I still do some general bike work. I do get the most satisfaction from using my wheel building tools.
Last edited by Dan Burkhart; 12-23-22 at 09:01 PM.
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12-23-22, 09:24 PM
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hard to say favorite but best decision/purchase was to quit goofing around with DIY stand and getting a Park PCS 10 stand
I now wish I had a park wheel building stand, but don't do enough of that to justify
I now wish I had a park wheel building stand, but don't do enough of that to justify
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
12-23-22, 09:55 PM
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My Park PRS-6 (pre-1996). I use it nearly every day.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
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12-23-22, 09:56 PM
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Bike specific: EVT Ultra True Arc hangar alignment tool
not bike specific: Knipex 7” Pliers-wrench
the EVT is both a beast and precise at the same time. It is a joy to use.
the Knipex is great to have at the volunteer co-op. It will grab 14 and 15mm axle nuts as well as threaded headset and Ashtabula locknuts.
not bike specific: Knipex 7” Pliers-wrench
the EVT is both a beast and precise at the same time. It is a joy to use.
the Knipex is great to have at the volunteer co-op. It will grab 14 and 15mm axle nuts as well as threaded headset and Ashtabula locknuts.
12-23-22, 10:00 PM
#11
Newbie
I like the specialized bike tools that are made for the specific job at hand. Like my cotter pin removal tool, which I haven't used for a long time, but I know it's down there in the bottom of the bike tool box, waiting for the day I decide to take up another vintage Raleigh.
12-23-22, 10:04 PM
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Having been a stagehand for near 50 years, I got in the habit of carrying a multi-tool of some sort. Before Leatherman and the like were invented it was a Victorinox Champ SAK. Later Gerber, SOG or Leatherman. Never liked Leathermans. My current go to that I carry is a Gerber Truss MT, this being the design who's assorted tools open outward so no need to open up the pliers to access a knife, etc.,, They discontinued this design apparantly, too bad, best MT I've used.
My experience was the Leatherman had a harder tool steel and the phillips bit lasted longer than the Gerber.
Guys liked the Gerber because they’d screw around with whipping it open like a switchblade or something.
12-24-22, 12:27 AM
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At the shop, I like to slide a Park pedal wrench under the top of a new bike box to pop it open. Very satisfying.
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12-24-22, 07:11 AM
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I agree and appreciate the scale to nearly 8 inches and in mm, at 72 I still carry a Leatherman every day.
12-24-22, 07:58 AM
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pedal wrench - it's a skinny old French unit but it works great
also, I'm glad that I dumped all my assorted & poorly stored allen wrenches into a big clear plastic snack container. they are all in there. it's OK if I have to hunt for the correct size & some are labeled w/ a piece of masking tape. but there's no more hunting for that other set of allen wrenches cuz I can't find the size I need. of course I carry a bike specific, folding allen set, that looks like a pocket knife, in my rack trunk
also, I'm glad that I dumped all my assorted & poorly stored allen wrenches into a big clear plastic snack container. they are all in there. it's OK if I have to hunt for the correct size & some are labeled w/ a piece of masking tape. but there's no more hunting for that other set of allen wrenches cuz I can't find the size I need. of course I carry a bike specific, folding allen set, that looks like a pocket knife, in my rack trunk
12-24-22, 08:02 AM
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12-24-22, 08:05 AM
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inherited my Dad's knife collection. he had a little baggie of extra toothpicks & tweezers. now I have to find my knife that is missing both
12-24-22, 08:18 AM
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pedal wrench - it's a skinny old French unit but it works great
also, I'm glad that I dumped all my assorted & poorly stored allen wrenches into a big clear plastic snack container. they are all in there. it's OK if I have to hunt for the correct size & some are labeled w/ a piece of masking tape. but there's no more hunting for that other set of allen wrenches cuz I can't find the size I need. of course I carry a bike specific, folding allen set, that looks like a pocket knife, in my rack trunk
also, I'm glad that I dumped all my assorted & poorly stored allen wrenches into a big clear plastic snack container. they are all in there. it's OK if I have to hunt for the correct size & some are labeled w/ a piece of masking tape. but there's no more hunting for that other set of allen wrenches cuz I can't find the size I need. of course I carry a bike specific, folding allen set, that looks like a pocket knife, in my rack trunk
12-24-22, 09:15 AM
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I have three:
The Park AWS1 4-5-6 mm allen Y-tool. Mine is so old and been used so much that I "dremeled" a thin slice off the 4mm to reestablish a sharp tip.
The Park PFP-4 floor pump refitted with a Hirame presta valve chuck. It's in nearly daily use for years
The "Wrench Force" (aka Feedback Sports) repair stand. Wrench Force was a Trek house brand and It was a super bargain years ago when Trek was closing them out and getting out of the tool business. Mine came with a crude but usable wheel alignment attachment, a carrying case and a handlebar/fork holder to keep the front wheel from flopping around when the bike is off the ground.
The Park AWS1 4-5-6 mm allen Y-tool. Mine is so old and been used so much that I "dremeled" a thin slice off the 4mm to reestablish a sharp tip.
The Park PFP-4 floor pump refitted with a Hirame presta valve chuck. It's in nearly daily use for years
The "Wrench Force" (aka Feedback Sports) repair stand. Wrench Force was a Trek house brand and It was a super bargain years ago when Trek was closing them out and getting out of the tool business. Mine came with a crude but usable wheel alignment attachment, a carrying case and a handlebar/fork holder to keep the front wheel from flopping around when the bike is off the ground.
12-24-22, 09:22 AM
#20
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I first became aware of the Knipex pliers wrenches just a few months ago, and I have really been impressed by how useful I have found them to be. In addition to tightening and loosening fasteners and fittings that have "flats", I have found them to be great for bending metal.
It would be hard to pick just one size. The 7" is a great all-arounder for a lot of stuff, but I also find myself running into situations where the 5-inch (86 03 125) is just dynamite.
For a couple of the sizes I have, I've also purchased the soft jaw covers.
It would be hard to pick just one size. The 7" is a great all-arounder for a lot of stuff, but I also find myself running into situations where the 5-inch (86 03 125) is just dynamite.
For a couple of the sizes I have, I've also purchased the soft jaw covers.
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12-24-22, 09:40 AM
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1. Leatherman Juice CS-4. EDC on or off the bike.
2. Knipex 6" pliers
3. Crankbrothers M10 Multi Tool
Maybe not a "tool," but my Bike Hand gets more use than any other thing on the list except the Leatherman.
2. Knipex 6" pliers
3. Crankbrothers M10 Multi Tool
Maybe not a "tool," but my Bike Hand gets more use than any other thing on the list except the Leatherman.
12-24-22, 10:39 PM
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Favorite all around Tool? Probably my mill, but possibly only because I don’t own a lathe.
Favorite bicycle tool is probably a dial indicator. I’m not sure it lets me true wheels substantially better, but it does make it substantially faster and easier.
Also on the incredibly handy list is a decent pair of digital calipers. I’d list the surface plate, but then I’d need to list the plethora of things that go with it, even if I didn’t do that for the mill.
Favorite bicycle tool is probably a dial indicator. I’m not sure it lets me true wheels substantially better, but it does make it substantially faster and easier.
Also on the incredibly handy list is a decent pair of digital calipers. I’d list the surface plate, but then I’d need to list the plethora of things that go with it, even if I didn’t do that for the mill.
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12-25-22, 09:25 AM
#23
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Probably my mini Snap-On 1/4 Bit Ratchet, it gets quite a bit of usage. I would say my Abbey Chain Tool but I don't use it quite as often but it does feel good in the hand and operates so smoothly.
12-25-22, 11:41 AM
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Bike specific: EVT Ultra True Arc hangar alignment tool
not bike specific: Knipex 7” Pliers-wrench
the EVT is both a beast and precise at the same time. It is a joy to use.
the Knipex is great to have at the volunteer co-op. It will grab 14 and 15mm axle nuts as well as threaded headset and Ashtabula locknuts.
not bike specific: Knipex 7” Pliers-wrench
the EVT is both a beast and precise at the same time. It is a joy to use.
the Knipex is great to have at the volunteer co-op. It will grab 14 and 15mm axle nuts as well as threaded headset and Ashtabula locknuts.
I first became aware of the Knipex pliers wrenches just a few months ago, and I have really been impressed by how useful I have found them to be. In addition to tightening and loosening fasteners and fittings that have "flats", I have found them to be great for bending metal.
It would be hard to pick just one size. The 7" is a great all-arounder for a lot of stuff, but I also find myself running into situations where the 5-inch (86 03 125) is just dynamite.
For a couple of the sizes I have, I've also purchased the soft jaw covers.
It would be hard to pick just one size. The 7" is a great all-arounder for a lot of stuff, but I also find myself running into situations where the 5-inch (86 03 125) is just dynamite.
For a couple of the sizes I have, I've also purchased the soft jaw covers.
12-25-22, 11:49 AM
#25
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