What do people use? I have one of the cheapo Park tools, but I would like something better.

wheels mfg's chainwhip is the shiznick!!! all others blow hard.

in other words... try the wheels mfg chainwhip, business cycles sells them.

I'd second that. The Wheels Mfg chainwhip is decent 1/8" whip, nice and cheap too.

Its also a very nice black colour so its easy to colour corodinate with.

to install my first DA cog on my first SS/Fixie...
I used a long length of tube, wrapped multiple times around cog, direction of turn, and grasped with my hands -- one hand on the tail end, and grunted

it worked

That's important! I wouldn't be caught dead using a tool that clashed with my outfit.

I have the Shimano chain whip/lockring tool and I like it alot, solid good leverage.

a while back, i got a nashbar chainwhip for around $5 after a 20% off coupon.

replaced the 3/32 chain with a 1/8 scrap i had in my parts box, and it works well. the handle is a bit small and thin compared to pro tools, but for the price...

wheels mfg. cheap, solid, effective, easily matchable just about sums it up

rotafixa

I was going to do the same to my nashbar chainwhip, but i couldn't get my chain tool around the handle and lined up with the pins to push them out.
Did you bang the pins out with a hammer or something?

It's free and is many times more effective than a chainwhip...

wheels mfg here as well-

yeah, i wasn't able to get my chain tool in there, either.

i used an awl and easily tapped the old pin out, and the new one in. it took 5 minutes, at the most.

i used a hammer to get the pin through the first link. (after i busted the 1/8" chain on my wheels mfg. CW)

as good as new.

My chainwhip and lockring tool.

Wheels mfg stock 3/32. On the other side, drilled 4 holes. used used links of a retired track chain. used a combination of chain tool, vice, and punch and hammer to get them all in. There's a backup 1/8 piece in case the closer one fails (it usually happens where the chain enters the bar). I've seen it happen many times before on other whips i've seen. so a little back up insurance. plus it looks iron maiden.

doesn't get past airport security though.

The lockring tool is the var 16 tool. handles even the most mangled of lockrings with ease, and doesn't further chew them up. plus wrenches things down very snug. a dream to use.

I've also used the dura ace whip/ring tool. real nice.

I have done this before. It is really easy. https://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm

Also effective in a pinch, just ride around the block then tighten the lockring again.... Doesn't really help if you are trying to get the cog off though.

you can use the rotafixa method to take a cog off. . . just do it the opposite direction. i did it the other day

I kept breaking cheap whips and broke one parktool whip. Came across an old, simple and beefy, Suntour chainwhip for like a quid and it's been doing good service ever since. Just need to wrap it with a rag to keep my hands from hurting and bruising.

I have 3 different chain whips in the shop. An old Suntour....a Wheels Mfg...and a Park sr-2. The Suntour one stays in the race day toolbox so I dont use it on a day to day basis, but it gets the job done. As for the other 2, the Wheels one is a decent whip but pains the hands if you need to put a ton of torque on it. As for the Park, I swapped the 3 32 chain out for 1 8 (very easy as it is held on by 3 small bolts) and absolutely love it. It is quite long and has a round handle so it doesnt eat hands. I typically dont like Park tools but this one is a keeper.