Tools
 

Hey everybody:

What brand of tools are you guys using?
further, what do you think is an "ideale" seatup for a solid toolbox?

165, with those dope how-to writeups, i hope you'll contribute

if you're doing occasional repairs, the nashbar and spin doctor stuff is just fine.

that said, when i have to pick up new tools, i buy park. i figure that i'm going to have them and use them for a long long time, and so it's worth the extra scratch for tools that are built a little more solidly.

hozan makes top notch stuff, and pedros looks to be quality as well.

I have mostly park, but the more pedros stuff i get, the more I like it. I figure that the more important the repair, the better the tool should be. For easy stuff like cone wrenches, cheap is ok. For things like crank pullers and lockring tools, go for the good stuff.

park/hardware store

Hardware store is a good idea. Any of my tools that aren't bike specific (box end wrenches, hex wrenches, sockets etc) are either craftsman, matco or bondhus. The automotive tools just feel more substantial than bike tools.

The only bike-specific tools I own are a truing stand (spin doctor), crank puller (park), and cassette lockring tool (park). Everything else is hardware store.

same here

What do you break chains with?

Caught me. I have a park chain tool too. It's so small it barely counts!

I got a good deal on a set of Spin Doctor tools and toolbox in the Performance store in Chapel Hill, NC. It was a good way to get started but the quality isn't that great. I had to replace the pedal wrench with a Park after the Spin Doctor rounded out. I also snapped the Spin Doctor chain breaker trying to use it on a SRAM PC-1 and the Spin Doctor headset wrench has come close to rounding off the lock nut on one of my bikes. I carry a Topeak Alien in my bag and just use its chain breaker now. The crank puller, bottom bracket and hyperglide lockring tools and cone wrenches all get the job done for about half the price of the Park though.

park/campagnolo/shimano

otherwise my tools are self-made, like:
lockring wrench
chainwhip
headset cup remover/press
pedal wrench

on a tangent note, did you all hear that pedros is now manufacturing all of their tools in america? i think that is incredibly awesome.

my tool brands vary, but mainly park stuff for bike specific tools, and craftsman for everything else.

an ideal tool box depends on what sort of bikes you work on, what tools your specific parts require, and how far you go yourself.

Park Tools. They cost a bit more but will last decades.

My kit:
- 15mm wrench (for most hubs)
- Park 3 spoke allen wrench for all allen bolts (seat, seatpost, stem, bars, pedals, chainring, Phil hubs)
- Park Chain breaker
- Park Chain whip (Modified)
- Park Lockring wrench
- Air pump
- Tire levers
- Park Grease for lots of places
- Tri-Flow for the chain

Those tools will cover everthing except the bottom bracket, which you probably won't fool with anyway.

This has been discussed before: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=tools

Also, buy a pump with a steel chamber. They last much longer than the platic ones.

Park tools!

i'm always surprised to find "bike enthusiasts" who
aren't able to completely assemble/dissemble their
bike. i mean, granted some people aren't as mechanically
skilled as others, but i always considered bike mechanic
shops a place for those who have no clue, those who
don't care to know or people who want to borrow tools.

sorry, if i'm stepping on any toes, but bike maintenance
isn't rocket science. plus most people in the ss/fg are
dealing with one gear and perhaps no freewheel.

I don't really think that a lot of people just take apart their bikes for ****s and giggles. Most people learn to do things only when they want to switch a part, when something goes wrong or just for regular maintence or cleaning. And if they feel like they might mess it up, then yeah, they'll go to their LBS. I don't think that makes someone incompetent, or someone who doesn't care. The bottom bracket issue isn't usually a common problem to have, so I think that is a poor example. I admit that there are people who do take things apart for fun, but I wouldn't say a lot of people do it. I consider myself a bike lover, but I'm not going to mess around with something I'm not confident about.

Maybe, like 165, you could post some how-tos to help some people out? I think that would be pretty helpful to a lot of people. Maybe even show us some of your self-made tools? That would also rock, considering a lot of fixed riders here don't always have the cash to go buy stuff. :)

sometimes i take things apart for ****s and giggles. like my dvd player. it works better without a case.

no seriously, it does.

yea, i know everything about my bike except that damn bb. mostly because i can't physically take it out. but last week i felt like a loser, so i started asking questions and reading. by the end of the week, i'll only have the headset left to conquer.

I like pedros tool, but park chain tools. and auto box wrenches. just seem to work the best. red riding hood, if you really want to know how to fix things, just ask, someone usually steps in and gives good advice after all the **** talkers shutup. headsets are easy, get a dual sided 32 adn 36 headset wrench and big adjustable wrench. hand tighten the cup until it's where it need to be (no more play, but still turns well) put the (probably 32mm) wrench on the cup and grab the topnut with the adjustable and tighten the nut onto the cup, but make sure to hold the cup still, or else the adjustment won't hold.

is that the sort of thing you look for?

-jason

and make sure you use the topic "girl in need of ______, help!"

i was hoping that this was going to be a thread telling certain forum members that they are, in fact, tools. but no, somebody wanted useful information.

i have a lot of park tools stuff. and by a lot, i mean the stuff i carry around in my bag for every day maintainance. anything else i just go over to a friend's house and use their tools because i can't afford to fill a box.

I have a whole bunch of Park tools and I think they are all great, with the exception of the lockring tool which is like utter crap IMO. 2 repair stands, truing stand, cone wrenches, freewheel/bb tools etc.
Craftsman 6 pt. sockets
Other random hardware store tools too
One tool I particularly love is the Dura-Ace 1/8" chainwhip/lockring tool. Super solid.
I fashioned my own lockring remover but I like the DA one better.
I would love to see some pictures or explanation for some people's homemade tools. Especially Headset press and race removers (please).

I would definitely say that Park makes some quality tools. But Pedros stuff feels super sexy.

Ahhh, I was just trying to be helpful. I usually know how to find the resouces and ask the questions, hence the "girl in need" post. I was just trying to turning a negative post into a positive one. Travsi was talking about how he found it unbelievable that people couldn't do everything themselves, so I thought maybe instead of just talking about how much it annoyed him, he could help us out. Sorry if ya'll misunderstood me. I am pretty interested in seeing some of his home-made tools he was talking about. Any one else interested? Have they been posted elsewhere?

I was joking about the girl in need thing. I found it funny when you did that. But thats probably just me.

i'm tired of being inside writing, so i'll go ride to the
workshop to take some picture of the self-made tools.

...yes, i'm lucky and have a metal and wood workshop
where i study.

Totally cool, I thought it was funny too!

That rocks! I am interested in seeing them. Thanks!

whatever works? the generic/cheapy/semi-complete set should be enough for most stuff. add tools as you'd like. use what works. :beer:

i agree with travsi, i don't get how people don't know how to fix stuff...that's why i'll try to answer questions if i know the answer...help other people learn, ya know.

-jason

Thank you sir, that attitude is greatly appreciated.