Building a Tool Kit?

Rookie1986

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to take my biking more serious this year, this includes carrying out most of the maintenance on my bike myself.... one of the things I've been thinking about are tools for the workshop. As most of you will know there are a huge range of tools available from an array of different manufactures (in both Kits and single tool format) but what would be the best route to take...

Do I go out and buy an entry level pre-packaged tool kit from the likes of Amazon/eBay for a few ££ which covers most of the basics....

Do I save up and buy a decent tool kit from the likes of Park Tools...

Or, would I be better spending the money when its needed and getting better quality tools in the process....

Obviously the bottom option seems the most logical as it results in having higher quality tools as-and-when I need them and I don't have to break the back with a large one off purchase but would this leave me short when something comes up where I could have simply just been able to reach into my Tool Kit and grab item "X" rather than having to go onto the internet and order/wait for said item to be delivered?

Additionally, what tools would you guys deem as "essentials", things that I should have no matter what??

Cheers,

keef66

I just bought a toolbox specifically for bike tools, and bought them as and when required.

I have a road bike and get by with this lot. You might need extra stuff for hydraulic brakes / suspension?

Decent set of allen keys and some Torx type too if you have them on your bike
Decent Chain tool
Chain whip
Missing link pliers
Cassette lockring tool (and a freewheel tool for the occasional throwback project)
BB tool(s)
Spoke key(s)
Cone spanners if you'll be tinkering with cup and cone hubs (I do)
Pedal spanner
Chain wear checker
Quality cable cutters (also handy to have the use of a Dremel / grinding wheel to get the cut outer ends clean and square)

(Metric spanners, socket sets, screwdrivers, pliers, hacksaws, files, hammers etc I already have for DIY / car maintenance)

Oil, grease, carbon assembly paste, and an endless supply of rags.

supersonic

I bought the generic halfords/aldi/amazon one years ago and most of it still works great. I have a Pro Bike Kit one too which is supposedly better quality (the cone spanners and spoke keys are) but the rest is very similar. In fact the best chain tool I have ever had!I have Draper cable cutters (this is where you do see a big quality difference) and lots of odds and ends ie sockets, ring spanners and so on. Not seen Park to be of better quality in many cases.

swod1

I've just bought a cheap plastic toolbox from b&q and bought tools as and when needed.

One thing I'm glad I bought is a set of handle Allen keys 20 quid from superstar, much easier than trying to use my multi tool, leave that for trail side repairs.

Only park tools I have is bottom bracket spanners bbt9 and 29.

cooldad

Pretty much this ^^^^^^^ I've been collecting random tools for years, everytime I need something for a specific job, so I have multiple tool boxes.

My only Parktools tool is my Mini Brute chain tool. Best ever.

The Rookie

When I decide to build my first bike I bought a cheap (£25ish) generic toolkit (mine was Aldi, but you find them in lots of places under lots of names, on-one Jobsworth is often on offer) and have used that to build and rebuild a fair number of bikes (my bikes are all like Triggers broom) and strip an awful lot more. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

6 years on and the cassette tool could do with replacing (splines are worn a bit from some of the cup and cone hubs were you don't get much insertion depth) and the chain tool has been replaced is all.

My only parktool is a chain checker!

dirkpitt74

I've got one of these when it was bundled with a work stand for around £50 for both a while back - pretty similar to the Jobsworth from On-One.

Does most things and seem decent quality so far.
Anything else I need I bought separately as and when needed - bottom bracket wrench, decent cable cutters etc.
Only Park tool I have is a chain tool.
My chain wear gauge I got free with MBUK
I've also got decent spanners and hex wrenches that I had previously.