tools.

Mark Alexander
Mark Alexander Posts: 2,277
edited January 2008 in Workshop
I have realised that I now need to start maintaining my own bikes properly. It's about time too.

Can anyone recommend some good quality (but not expensive for the sake of it) tools that are good. I have a bondhus gorilla grip alun key and am very impressed. with that.
http://twitter.com/mgalex
www.ogmorevalleywheelers.co.uk

10TT 24:36 25TT: 57:59 50TT: 2:08:11, 100TT: 4:30:05 12hr 204.... unfinished business

Comments

  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    personlly I think Park is crap - so don't get them

    PEDRO's do good tools
    or TACX
    or Elite
    or Campagnolo
    or Shimano

    and NOT Lifu
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    gundersen wrote:
    personlly I think Park is crap - so don't get them

    Hi there.

    I respectfully disagree! I've never been disappointed with any park tools/

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Cyclus do a decent range of workshop quality tools and where possible I buy general engineering workshop tools and get bike specific stuff only where needed.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Mark Alexander
    Mark Alexander Posts: 2,277
    It's been recommended by a friend just to get good quality spanners from a hardware shop. as Montydog suggests. I think that i'll do that as and when I need them
    http://twitter.com/mgalex
    www.ogmorevalleywheelers.co.uk

    10TT 24:36 25TT: 57:59 50TT: 2:08:11, 100TT: 4:30:05 12hr 204.... unfinished business
  • chunkytfg
    chunkytfg Posts: 358
    Cant go wrong with the Halford professional range for generla tools and the bike specific stuf as above really.
    FCN 7

    FCN 4

    if you use irrational measures to measure me, expect me to behave irrationally to measure up
  • campagchris
    campagchris Posts: 773
    This is a good starting point if your a shimano man
    http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=T0046
    or this one they make good tools.
    http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=T0045
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    If you make a living working on bikes get the best possible. Probably "Park".
    For the home mechanic even some of the cheapest tools work just like the more
    expensive ones. I'm a home mechanic and when I see a tool that I need and it's on sale,
    it's mine reguardless of brand. I have rarely been disappointed and if it turrns out to
    be a complete piece of crap when I get it, right back it goes. It works for me.

    Dennis Noward
  • piedwagtail91
    piedwagtail91 Posts: 781
    a good set of allen keys is a must, i'd go easy on the spanners as there aren't that many nuts on a bike now.
    as above really little bike specific stuff apart from the cone spanners, bb tools, and chain tool..
    a decent socket set should cover the rest.
  • FatBlokeFromFelixstowe
    FatBlokeFromFelixstowe Posts: 421
    You could try this set, works for me

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... Tool%20Kit
    My commuting bike
    http://tinyurl.com/366awv
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I bought a set from Lidl last year and thought i then had a few tools i could use. Comes to chainging my cassette and chain and I find the chain splitter falling apart and the cassette remover a piece of crap.

    So a lesson there, you can go too cheap, and that's what happens. I will endeavour to replace all the parts of that 'tool kit' with better quality pieces.
  • HungryCol
    HungryCol Posts: 532
    BBB do some Ok tools. Having said this I have broken the BBB chain wip I have. Get yourself a good range of allen (hex) keys right down to 1.5mm or 1mm if poss. Get yourself a good cable cutter and cable cap ends to stop fraying. "Zinn and the Art...." book and a bike stand. Muc Off cleaner and a chain cleaner. A wheel truing thingy but these can be expensive.
    Every winner has scars.
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    As a former lbs mechanic I certainly wouldn't recommend Park.
    They usually lasted about 14 days.
    Then in the bin.

    In the workshop we used either Campagnolo sets or Var tools, with the usual Shimano and Sachs tools thrown in.

    For hobby use Tacx or Elite were our recomendations for special tasks. Today I would also recommend Pedros. Ordinary tools certainly go a long way.
    Personly I have some Cyklus but the quality can be up and down. ( but it is long lasting kit)
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Halfords stuff is good and well priced

    the main thing is that for the tools you use a lot (spanners, screwdrivers, allen keys etc.) buy good ones

    but for the oless used items - chain whips, BB tools etc. - then budget stuff will be fine

    I use a mixture of Park, Teng spanners, CK, Draper, Halfords... I've not come across anything that is spectacularly rubbish though.

    See Screwfix for some good deals on general tools.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    I have a mixture of Park, Teng and Shimano. They all do the job.
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Teng stuff is so nice... 8)
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    So are Park IME - my workshop is full of them and the only one that has ever disapointed is the cheap home mechanic pedal spanner. (I must get round to replacing it with the shop quality one) .

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