The right tool for the job

[Fiona N]

How incredibly satisfying it is to have the right tool for the job to hand

Last night I was struggling to remove a pair of small circlips from the axles of my Crank Brothers pedals preliminary to rebuilding with new bearings and whatnot. Struggling was the word - no matter how I held the axle, I couldn't make the pointy nose pliers open the circlip while pulling the axle away, nor could I lever the things off with a tiny flat screwdriver. I gave up in disgust after about 30 minutes as it was clear the only thing that I was going to do was drive the screwdriver through my finger or the table top.

I bought a pair of external circlip pliers this afternoon and found it's a job of 5 seconds with the right tool

What other tools have made your life so much easier and injury-free than trying to bodge a job with the wrong thing?

 

[TheDoctor]

Pedal spanners. Without, getting a pedal off can turn into a sweary strugglefest.

 

[subaqua]

a workstand , and a decent chain splitter .

 

[zexel]

How incredibly satisfying it is to have the right tool for the job to hand

Last night I was struggling to remove a pair of small circlips from the axles of my Crank Brothers pedals preliminary to rebuilding with new bearings and whatnot. Struggling was the word - no matter how I held the axle, I couldn't make the pointy nose pliers open the circlip while pulling the axle away, nor could I lever the things off with a tiny flat screwdriver. I gave up in disgust after about 30 minutes as it was clear the only thing that I was going to do was drive the screwdriver through my finger or the table top.

I bought a pair of external circlip pliers this afternoon and found it's a job of 5 seconds with the right tool

What other tools have made your life so much easier and injury-free than trying to bodge a job with the wrong thing?

Tis so true, but as you say when the job takes 5 seconds, I then struggle justifying the purchase because I haven't used them enough!

 

[subaqua]

a man/woman can never have too many tools

 

[corshamjim]

Mole grips are my favourite. There's something really quite satisfying about pressing that little lever to release the vice-like grip on whatever I've just been wrenching one way or t'other. The way it works I think is just magic.

 

[gbb]

Cable cutters. I got a pair of Knipex ones off a boot sale...50p
Its just so so satisfying to 'snick' and see that clean, effortless, perfect cut. Sad innit !!!!

 

[biggs682]

work stand is a good addition along with decent quality tools

i need a good vice but i have no room to place it

 

[Adasta]

Pedal spanners. Without, getting a pedal off can turn into a sweary strugglefest.

It can be a bloody, sweary strugglefest if you don't cover the chainset.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

A decent spoke key. For traditionally shaped nipples I use a Fat Spanner Multi Spoke Key - it grips them on all 4 sides so never slips.

Generally any tool made of cheese is BAD news.

 

[chillyuk]

I'm with GBB on this one and the purchase of dedicated cable cutters. I have been wrecking cables for 50 years by using side cutters but a recent purchase of the proper thing has transformed this aspect of bike maintainance.

 

[albion]

a man/woman can never have too many tools

Yet the same job is often childsplay.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Cable cutters. I got a pair of Knipex ones off a boot sale...50p
Its just so so satisfying to 'snick' and see that clean, effortless, perfect cut. Sad innit !!!!

You lucky, lucky bastard

 

[Cardiac]

+1 for the pedal spanner (ideally with 14mm/15mm sockets at the other end for daughter's bike's wheels)

Wire-stripper (not cycling related but a big time saver)

 

[Cubist]

Cable cutters for me too, and a really decent set of allen keys is next on my list. I've got loads of the ordinary sort, plus some long ones with ball ends, but I really want some of the T-handle ones.