Decent tools....ideally UK-made

[mikeIow]

Hi there,
Getting exasperated with how much tat we are getting these days.

I was wondering if there are any British (or European) manufacturers of cycle tools. Things like chain splitters/whip, etc.
The sort of thing you can see dodgy brands selling on well-known shopping sites for around a tenner - happy to pay a bit more for some decent quality stuff that hasn't taken huge air/ship miles to get here 👍

 

[Arrowfoot]

Tools are readily available. And they are quality stuff. Its replacement parts such as group sets that there is in severe shortage. Google Decathlon, Merlin Cycles etc. Its in stock. Again quality stuff.

 

[JoeyB]

Park Tool are the obvious choice as a reliable go to, not UK / European though...US based I believe.

Hmmm have you identified a gap in the market!?

 

[mikeIow]

Tools are readily available. And they are quality stuff. Its replacement parts such as group sets that there is in severe shortage. Google Decathlon, Merlin Cycles etc. Its in stock. Again quality stuff.

Oh, I know there are loads available....was really trying to support more local businesses that might actually make them I was interested in!

Park Tool are the obvious choice as a reliable go to, not UK / European though...US based I believe.
Hmmm have you identified a gap in the market!?

Even they don't outline where their stuff is made - https://www.probikekit.co.uk/site-info/about-us.list didn't really help
Maybe I have

thanks

 

[newts]

For hex keys Wera are excellent, i have a set similar to the link that have had daily use for 10+ years & still going strong.

https://www.toolstation.com/wera-ba...VAZ7tCh24NAA7EAQYAyABEgJqwPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Chislenko]

To be honest most of my cycling related tools came from Halfords and they do the job.

Most of my general tools are hand me downs so circa 50 years old and still do the job.

NB. I did sell all the Whitworth and AF spanners at a car boot!

 

[Profpointy]

Sadly, some of the traditional British tool manufacturers are a shadow of their former selves. Britool, formerly my favourite spanner brand are now owned by Facom (French, albeit Facom themselves do excellent tools) and, horror of horrors, Britool is now their cheap and nasty brand. Not sure Record / Marples are anything like they were either.

OK we still have some fine Shefield makers like Clico (who do modernised, very high quality, versions of Record woodwork tools), Sorby, Henry Taylor on the woodwork front, and the likes of Sykes Pickavant on the spannering front, Moore & Wright for measurement.

Maybe not so shabby after all I guess.

Re: bike tools, I'd only buy Park (or similar) for bike-specific specialist tools. For normal tools like allen keys, spanners, or pliers/cutters etc I'd go for the mainstream top quality makers: Sykes, Facom, snap-on for spanners; Lindstrom or Elliot Lucas for pliers/cutters; . Bahco, Eklind, King Dick etc also solid brands in general

 

[Profpointy]

To be honest most of my cycling related tools came from Halfords and they do the job.

Most of my general tools are hand me downs so circa 50 years old and still do the job.

NB. I did sell all the Whitworth and AF spanners at a car boot!

Sold your whitworth set ? What happens when you buy that pre-war Bentley ?

 

[Gillstay]

Yep Facom and Bahco are exceedingly good, and Swiss Felco wire cutters are useful for more jobs than you imagine
FELCO | CP Pratical Wire Cutter | Official UK Stockist | World of Felco

 

[slowmotion]

Try some Draper Expert cable cutters for your gear and brake cables. I think that they are pretty good and not too expensive.

Ebay advert here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284341334719?hash=item42341072bf:g:-jQAAOSwZyRg0Itq

 

[Profpointy]

Yep Facom and Bahco are exceedingly good, and Swiss Felco wire cutters are useful for more jobs than you imagine
FELCO | CP Pratical Wire Cutter | Official UK Stockist | World of Felco

I have Felco secateurs and also a long handled lopper and both are superb. Anything made by the Toblerones is likely top notch albeit at a price

 

[gbb]

For hex keys Wera are excellent, i have a set similar to the link that have had daily use for 10+ years & still going strong.

https://www.toolstation.com/wera-ba...VAZ7tCh24NAA7EAQYAyABEgJqwPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I use them and they are good quality but...with daily use, the coloured sleeves sometimes come off and the ball ends, particually on the smaller keys can and do break off.
That is with heavy use tbf, I get through 3 or 4 sets a year but generally they're good quality.

 

[Hover Fly]

Var tools from France.
https://www.vartools.com/en/brakes-and-cables.php
Weldtite/Cyclo.

 

[slowmotion]

If you are not working on bikes for employment, eight hours a day, you really don't need very good tools. How many times in your life are you going to change a cassette or a bottom bracket? Top dollar tools are nice to look at, but if they don't get used you are really like a banker gazing at a £200 million painting in a bank vault.

Get good cable cutters though!

 

[Blue Hills]

Try some Draper Expert cable cutters for your gear and brake cables. I think that they are pretty good and not too expensive.

Ebay advert here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284341334719?hash=item42341072bf:g:-jQAAOSwZyRg0Itq

View attachment 606024

I'd be interested to know if you've ever used the Park ones and if so how they compare. I have the Park ones - a bit underwhelmed with them for the price.