Show me your Tools…..

[sevenfourate]

Mechanical Engineer by trade. So always loved the Tools of the trade. My home stuff is mostly Halfords Advanced Brand. Sensibly priced and does the job with no fuss. Guaranteed. Literally…..

BUT: I do lack many cycling tools. As I come across tasks: I’ll try to buy tools to have a go at maintaining myself. Especially if those tools are generic. More specific stuff - I happily let my LBS do.

So all I really have so far that’s Bicycle specific is:

Pedal Spanner
Brake Disc tweaking tool
Chain Splitter
Flush fit cutters
Brake Pad / Disc setting shim
Decent Cable cutters
Chain Stretch Gauge
Cone Spanner’s
Spoke Tool

What about you ? What do you fettle your equipment with / what Cycle specific tools do you own ?

 

[chriswoody]

I've built up a reasonable collection of tools over the years. As my bikes have got more complicated they've demanded more and more specialists tools. As always it's a trade off between how much they cost and whether I'll use them enough to justify the cost.

As well as the tools on the wall, I also have two torque wrenches, 2-15nm and a 10 - 100nm, a stonking big adjustable spanner, a bearing drift set and hydraulic brake bleed kit. Oh and a track pump and Schwalbe air blaster for tubeless tires.

 

[EckyH]

Utility knives from Stanley, plier shaped tools mostly from Knipex, wrenches and torque wrenches from Proxxon, Allen keys and screwdrivers from Wera, bicycle specific tools mostly from Cyclus Tools and Unior, some Park Tool, Shimano and Tacx, pumps and some tools from Lezyne.

E.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Not worth showing mine, tbh.

Random collection of tools, purchased on an urgent need basis, and, following use, slung in a cavernous toolbox where they lie randomly distributed.

Teachers note: this boy could do better.

 

[winjim]

I'll let you see my big spanner

 

[sevenfourate]

I'll let you see my big spanner

View attachment 757798

**Surface Rust** - Doesn’t look like your King Dick gets much use………

 

[Drago]

My entire tool kit. Precision instuments all.

 

[Marchrider]

My entire tool kit. Precision instuments all.

View attachment 757807

My dad still exists - although his weren't so high tech

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's important to always use the wrong tool for the job. Flat head screwdrivers at an angle or the tips of scissors for crosshead screws, pliers for most jobs, that sort of thing. It's always good to have sets of both imperial and metric tools mixed up in an old Tesco bag for life so that you can get subtle mismatches of size.

 

[Sharky]

BUT: I do lack many cycling tools.

I believe a chain whip would be a useful addition ..

Although I can't see how this would help to remove a sprocket, but it could help to remove an irate motorist.

 

[Smokin Joe]

A monkey wrench, a chisel and a hammer are enough to cover nearly all jobs. But the most important tool in any workshop is the kettle.

 

[simongt]

bikes have got more complicated they've demanded more and more specialists tools. As always it's a trade off between how much they cost and whether I'll use them enough to justify the cost.

Same with cars. Even over thirty years ago, even our VW Polo needed 'specialist tool ***' for even fairly simple tasks, so thus discouraging home servicing beyond basic checking of the obvious. Okay, it gave more work to dealer garages, but also gave them the excuse to rock up the charges for servicing and parts, voiding the service agreement etc., etc..

 

[Sharky]

Same with watches.

My watch needed a new battery last week. Took it to one of those booths in the local shopping centre. I doubt if it took more than 10 mins and they did a good job.

But it cost just under £50. I couldn't have done it myself, without the proper tool. Googling, I found what it think would be the correct tool for about £10!

Might try myself next time.

 

[simongt]

But it cost just under £50.

Just under fifty quid - ?
Must be a fancy watch - !
The watch stall on Norwich market charges me £4 to change the dags of the various 'standard' watches I take to him.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I know it looks chaotic, but what the hell, I know where everything is (more or less) and it works for me! The whole workshop is due a revamp: in the time we've lived here this room has been a utility room, an automotive workshop, a microbrewery and now a bike workshop, although most of the actual work is done on the stand outside. Currently, the bike tools are in the small toolbox with the more specialist tools - headset press, derailleur hanger alignment tool, wheel dish gauge, wheel building stand and all the rest of it - hanging on the wall or tucked under the bench. There's also a toolbox full of general automotive tools, hardly any of which I use any more and which will probably be rationalised soon. A fair amount of space on the bench is given over to my favourite thing in the world, my ultrasonic cleaner. I may not be the world's tidiest worker, but I do like my bike bits to be clean when I lose them in the clutter!