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Involved with a community bike project, a charity has kindly donated £500 specifically to upgrade and get some tools for general builds/servicing/maintenance as numbers attending have grown. Got enough stands, just bike specific tools for users/volunteers, tend to work on everyday run of the mill bikes.
Been looking at getting a Park Tool kit like this http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/17980/products/park-tool-pk-2-professional-tool-kit.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=¤cy=GBP&gclid=CKCD34aC8tACFQML0wodkPMGuQ
But perhaps better to buy stuff individually, tools that get used regularly by everyone, as I think some bits in this kit would not get used that much? We like Park kit as it seems to last, that said we have had some X-tools stuff from Chain Reaction and Jobsworth off Planet X which seem okay too and a lot cheaper than Park Tool. Halfords Advanced spanners & sockets seem to have lasted well too. So for general (all types of) bike work, what would you use £500 on, less hassle of just ordering a good quality all in one kit or shop around for individual things? Any recomendations for good quality things/other brands appreciated. Not coke & hookers I'm afraid, got to be used for what it's been given for. Cheers
bike specific tools for users/volunteers
It's the plural here that concerns....
That Park kit is a very, very good way to start a full workshop. Very good indeed. Then gradually add as things wear out, or as new things are needed. However, if you're going to have multiple people working on bikes at the same time, then perhaps two of a a cheaper option?
I would say the prep station by topeak is a better tool kit for the money (also v expensive mind). Speak with your LBS and see if they'll do you one cost as its a community project.
That Prep Station looks good!
RE a deal, try the distributor instead of your LBS. You may want/need to set up a trade account anyway, for consumables like tubes, chains etc.
Extra do Topeak, IIRC.
If you get a trade deal I would go for a Pedros bench in a box. Perhaps see if they will sponsor your project by way if some free tools? Good PR is that.
Yep thanks, was going to try lbs and distributors for good deals to make it go as far as possible, and thanks for topeak & Pedros tip, will check out
Got compressor, meaty vice etc already there
you're buying quite a lot of "ordinary" stuff in that Park kit - allen keys, cleaning brushes, rubber mallet etc. I think you could find better value fairly easily, but it might not all be the same colour
What do you need ?
Headset/BB press - unior are massive, bulletproof, versatile and a teeny bit expensive (v expensive in comparison to a threaded rod and some imagination
Nice big vice (if you can sell it as bike-specific)
BB / headset knocker-outerer
BB thread tap if these are old bikes
Compressor (or airshot / homebrew option)
Grease gun or two
Bleed kit / bag of syringes & tubing from a pharmacy
Couple of good ratchet "screwdriver" handsets with set of hex/torx bits
Compressor (or airshot / homebrew option)Bleed kit / bag of syringes & tubing from a pharmacy
Neither are needed for BSOs.
That park kit looks hard to beat for the money.
I would suggest that you look at what is included and how/if you could use it. If there are even a few items in there which you think you may not use, price up some alternatives. For non bike specific stuff, there are always great deals to be had on good quality level hand tools and just buy the bike tools you'll actually use.
For example, you could buy this;
https://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-430209/beta-2047-e-c108.html?gclid=CN6FtuCQ8tACFZQy0wodQ7YCRQ
And still have plenty of money left for bike specific tools.
For an extra £100, you get the set I bought (or same if you're VAT registered?);
https://primetools.co.uk/product/facom-cm-129apb-12-module-tool-kit/
I only have a [i]few[/i] bike specific tools really but there again I don't use cone spanners etc.
You're not that outfit in bristol are you? if so, I dropped in some bars and stuff a couple of months ago!
Planet X selling tools cheaply at the mo- good to have spares of everything?
[url= http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/accessories/workshop/tools ]Tools[/url]
Id not bother with the park branded brushes mallet etc
At work we use a whole range of stuff
Spanners screw drivers are halfords own or lidl
Cyclus for headset press and good value bb taps etc
Park for chain whip pedal spanners and third hand tool / cable puller also chain tool ct2
Shimano do good tools also
Cable cutters for me knipex same as circlip pliers and normal pliers.
Ison distribution do loads of tools
Bit rambling sorry
I don't use cone spanners etc.
Worth thinking about the components on BSOs. Cup and cone, ball bearing BBs, etc. More need for "specialist" tools, perhaps.
If you get lots of cheap bso stuff get a proper fixed cup bb tool for the drive side cup on loose ball bbs
I suppose my interpretation of "run-of-the-mill" might be a bit optimistic, flash !
OK then, some nice heavy-duty cone spanners, 2 big chainwhips, old school BB tool(s), maybe even a couple of sturdy pipe-spanners. Track pump or two. Adjustable pin-spanner.
Big bag of assorted bolts/nuts/washers from somewhere like a2a4 ?
scaredypants - Member
I suppose my interpretation of "run-of-the-mill" might be a bit optimistic, flash !
I bet you've got heated seats as well as heated wing mirrors, haven't you? 😀
Worth thinking about the components on BSOs. Cup and cone, ball bearing BBs, etc. More need for "specialist" tools, perhaps.
Quite right, but even good ones are cheap as chips.
Gas blow torch. This thread has made me realise just how much stuff I have collected over the years
^ gas blow torch, funnily enough we did use one a few weeks ago to melt a plastic chewed up bottom bracket cup out...worked a treat if a bit smelly
large socket breaker bar can be useful to save struggling just get a large socket to fit over a bb tool
As op suggests, Park is well overpriced.
I volunteer at something simialir.
Any tool that's usually bought on the cheap doesn't last. Especially if your putting force thought it. Eg. Chain whips, cassette removers, cone spanners BB tools.....etc.... Buy decent branded versions of these types of tools and more importantly makes sure your volunteers know how to use them correctly as even good kit is wrecked when not looked after.
For 90% of the type of bikes we work on I use , my own allen keys and a knippex spanner then the shops cones spanners, cassette and bb tools and occasionaly a 4th hand tool.
Some good 15mm spanners would be good as these are used a lot as well.
I'd say buy individually rather than a specific set as you'll get more of what you'll actually need.
If lost/stolen tools is an issue, order a sh!t ton of [url= https://www.aliexpress.com/item/8-In-1-Hex-Key-Allen-Wrench-Set-1-5mm-6mm-Metric-Hand-Tool-Kit-Box/32774532635.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.180.ygaaUW&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10056_10068_10055_10054_10059_10099_10078_10079_10084_10083_10103_10073_10102_10080_10096_10082_10081_10060_10061_10052_10062_10050_10051-10102,searchweb201603_1&btsid=27bcca77-39f0-4238-b7a2-5d3f26f6e19b ]these dirt cheap hex keys[/url] from China.
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And [url= http://pedros.com/products/tools/cassette-and-chain/cog-wrench/ ]this Pedro's tool[/url] sure beats the hell out of a chain whip, especially for the inexperienced!
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For hex keys bondus are cheap and very good
Not sure on your budget but in general business terms you will get a better deal on kits rather than haggling over tools.
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Mate had one of these for his race work
http://pedros.com/products/tools/tool-kits-and-sets/master-tool-kit-3-1/
It's all one colour, harder for stuff to go missing, it's good quality, it all has it's own spot and there is a list of what should be in the box. The box can also be put away.
They also do this one
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Speak to your LBS and see if they can let you know when the rep is coming round and see if you can have a chat about a set or 2 for your budget.
And [url= http://pedros.com/products/tools/pedal-crank-and-bottom-bracket/bb-socket-holder/ ] these[/url] are worth their weight in gold for cartridge BBs!!!
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If it's anything like the charity I volunteer at then maybe 91 of these?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/5mm-Long-Handle-Allen-Hex/dp/B00E401FII