I need a lockring wrench. What's the deal with the machined one at Harris Cyclery? Is it really the "tool of choice" or should I get the unmodified one? Or something else entirely?

Park Tool makes one that is a combination headset wrench and lockring tool. I can't recall the name, but it's on their site probably on headset tools.

Try the Hozan Lockring "pliers"

Less chance of slipping with the pliers a sure choice. . .

https://www.businesscycles.com/

https://www.parktool.com/tools/HCW_12.shtml
or just use your teeth.

or go with the pauls version and never slip ever. buy me one?

The HCW-12 seems to have been discountinued by Park, though some LBS or on-line retailer may still have them, try the HCW-5 https://www.parktool.com/tools/HCW_5.shtml

I have it by the way and for the life of me can't get it to grip the lockring sufficiently to reverse it. This is a DA lockring for what it's worth. Maybe I need to make like Harris and machine down the interior to get a better fit.

hence the teeth reference

I've come up against this problem a couple times. the issue seems to be the whether the radius of the lockring tool is compatible with the diameter of a given lockring, and there is a lot of variation out there. The Park HCW-12 is radiused a little too large for a DA lockring, hence it slips. The Paul lockring tool is beautiful, but has a narrow diameter and won't fit (for example) Miche lockrings. Dunno if it fits DAs. The Hozan tool supposedly works because it is radiused kinda like a French Curve and therefore gets a better bite on a range of diameters. There are a lot of other lockring tools out there and it is trial-and-error to find one thats a fit. I got walked through this once by a curmudgeonly LBS owner who then offered to order a Hozan for me at a crazy price. I declined, and have been to lazy to get one from the internet.

Yup, the DA / HCW-12 is exactly my problem. It's like a tangential curve so it just slips right out. Ah well, some day when I need to change lock rings I'll just go buy the right tool or take it to my local bike school, rent some space for like 5 minutes, and use their tool to take it off.

I have two that work well: A Hozan c-205 and a Var, both of which grip the lockring well. The Hozan's the better all-round tool, as it can also fit the lockrings used on some older headsets. I also have a park tool, but it's completely useless, at least next to the other two.

I've got a Hozan c-205 and it's the best lockring tool I've ever used. Way more grip than the Park tools that I've tried. I had to have the LBS order it in special - when I asked them to order it, they ordered a Park, and I was just like, 'Uh, no, I want the Hozan - the one you have in your self serve shop...' It's thicker metal, and really grips well...

My 2 cents.

Agreed. The Hozan is the best tool out there for the money. The Park Headset/Lockring Combo really hurts your hands and slips real easy due to the thinness of the wrench. Spend the extra few bucks, it's worth it.

sorry for this being my first post, but i had to throw in my 2¢...i have a big screwdriver and a heavy object and i just beat on my lockring to get it off...(beat on it to get it off...guess i just set the tone of my future posts) does nobody else use a beatin' stick and vice-grips as their "multi-tools"?

Screwdriver and hammer. It had to come sooner or later.
Yabba dabba do. The Flinstones.
No seriously, sometimes it comes down to that.
Also while I'm at it, heat is the answer to locktight. It melts using a propane torch. Doesn't burning grease smell lovely?

So would you recommend the C-205 even over the Hozan Lockring Pliers? I have the Fuji Track Pro so I assume it is a Miche lockring if that matters. I do plan on getting another fix soon so something that will work well with more than just the Fuji would be ideal.

I can get my HCW-12 to work on my DA lockring by slipping a penny or other shim (flat) between the smooth edge of the lockring and the tool...cheaper than buying a new wrench and almost anything can work as a shim.

The pliers seem like overkill to me. The Hozan hook spanner (Harris modified version) works so well I don't see why you'd need to spend the extra money on the pliers unless you owned a shop.

i have the hozan hook spanner and i hate it. i always have to wrap my hand in an old tshirt (the metal is uncomfortable to push very hard on, and you need to push rather hard on it!) and it slips off alot (and you can skin your knuckles on the spokes). i wish i had the pliers style. or the pauls ultimate wrench.
for a cheaper option i would get the doubled hook spanner (that has the slot).

The Hozan Pliers work great and inspire confidence. . .

They grip both sides under pressure and do not slip.

another vote for the paul lockring wrench.

Well, I know it doesn't fit a Miche lockring (tried it). Will it fit a DA, or is it a piece of proprietary hardware that only fits Paul components?