Mickle's tip of the day - Tools: Wear and tear.

[twobiker]

you can never seem to get a 7mm allen key unless you buy it seperately.

 

[Mad at urage]

Isn't that a bit extreme? I thought proper allen keys are hardened steel so what you would save on a new allen key you would lose in hacksaw blades and knuckles.

I'm with Mickle on quality of tools. Park Tools for bike specific tools and proper Sheffield steel for spanners. And the right size spanner for the bolt - none of these poxy adjustables!

Sometimes it's better than waiting for the shops to open, sometimes I've just not wanted to spend time going to the toolshop. Hacksaws aren't the only cutting tool available!

 

[mickle]

A good hacksaw blade with get through even a high quality allen key in a few moments. The heat generated by motorised cutting tools like angle grinders can too easily affect the temper of the tool you're butchering. Rendering it too soft.

 

[buddha]

A worn 14mm spanner (+ file) makes an excellent 15mm track-nut spanner.

 

[mickle]

A worn 14mm spanner (+ file) makes an excellent 15mm track-nut spanner.

A 15mm spanner makes an even better 15mm track-nut spanner.

 

[buddha]

A 15mm spanner makes an even better 15mm track-nut spanner.

Yeabbut I didn't have one.

And who uses a 14mm spanner anyway? ... apart from people with 14mm nuts and bolts of course.

 

[gbb]

A good hacksaw blade with get through even a high quality allen key in a few moments. The heat generated by motorised cutting tools like angle grinders can too easily affect the temper of the tool you're butchering. Rendering it too soft.

If you go at it like a bull in a china shop, maybe
A 1mm slitting disc does the job a treat, it cuts through almost anything remarkably quickly. Its all academic anyway , most people dont have a disc cutter, or a vice that's really needed to hold the allen key safely while you cut it.
If you use a grinding / flap disc, its true, the heat will often ruin the allen key.

A 15mm spanner makes an even better 15mm track-nut spanner.

Yeabbut I didn't have one.

And who uses a 14mm spanner anyway? ... apart from people with 14mm nuts and bolts of course.

14mm was a regular size on the crank retaining bolt or nut on older MTBs.

 

[Smokin Joe]

You only need two tools.

A hammer for fitting things, and a bigger hammer for getting them of again (Smokin Joe, County Cork College of Engineering graduate with honours).

 

[gbb]

You only need two tools.

A hammer for fitting things, and a bigger hammer for getting them of again (Smokin Joe, County Cork College of Engineering graduate with honours).

Or as one of my friends puts it...you'll need a Wisbeach screwdriver...AKA a big hammer. I can imagine he knows people who only have one item in their toolbox...a big hammer.