Hello, I'm trying to remove the outer and middle chainrings from the crank spider, and was trying to find out if there is something that would hold the rings in place instead of using a standard chainring nut tool. All suggestions welcome, Thanks.

Did you strip it? Sometimes inside there is a smaller size hex insert to stop the rings from moving. Is it stuck? Some penetrating oil might help after a soak. I had to resort to drilling them out on one occasion. More info please.

The inside "nuts" usually have a slot across their flange and a wide bladed screwdriver can be used (or modified with a file) to fit across the slot and keep the nut from turning.

Sometimes the chainring bolts sieze with corrosion that form in their threads if the bike ir ridden often in wet conditiond. Spray the bolts with a release penetrant like PB Blaster. Let them sit overnight so the stuff wroks its way into the threads and corrosion then try unscrewring them again using the slots at the back of the barrel nuts for more leverage. If they still won't release from each other after a couple of repeat applications of the penetrant, you might have to graduate to the careful application of a bit of heat from mybe a butane torch but be careful, as the aluminum chainrings and crank spider cannot take as much heat as steel can.

Chombi