wonderloaf
Veteran
I pinched one of those XL paper clips from work.
Beginners basic home tool kit.
- Thread starter tom73
- Start date
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Hi,
I'm just starting up restoring bicycles both mountain bike and road bikes. I was wondering was I've come across different things like needing crank extractor and cassette removal tool, what is the best starter tool kit out there too buy or is it better to buy tools individually. I haven't got loads of money to spend at once anything up to around £70 is the most I could spend at the moment
So if there is anyone who has some good advice that maybe they've used before or heard good things about I would be grateful if you could leave a comment.
Many thanks
Matt
I'm just starting up restoring bicycles both mountain bike and road bikes. I was wondering was I've come across different things like needing crank extractor and cassette removal tool, what is the best starter tool kit out there too buy or is it better to buy tools individually. I haven't got loads of money to spend at once anything up to around £70 is the most I could spend at the moment
So if there is anyone who has some good advice that maybe they've used before or heard good things about I would be grateful if you could leave a comment.
Many thanks
Matt
DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
vickster
Legendary Member
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/beginners-basic-home-tool-kit.241740/
Might be some useful stuff
Might be some useful stuff
guitarpete247
Just about surviving
- Location
- Leicestershire
. I'm in the market for a chain tool at mo. though new bike has removable link so not too urgent.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
The aldi/Lidl ones are quite decent. A couple of the tools are a bit shonky, but replace those as they wear out and the rest should do you just fine, and we'll within your budget.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
That £60 decathlon toolkit looks pretty decent for the money. It's missing a couple of basic items you'll need if you are restoring older bikes (pre 2000s really), but it's a good starting point. Adding to it over time you can buy good tools and end up with a comprehensive toolkit.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Multi tools are great, but they are versarile kit for trailside or roadside use. They aren't a substitute for proper tools when in the workshop.
minininjarob
Active Member
30 years of fixing/upgrading/restoring bikes has taught me one thing - get quality 1st time around. This does not mean you need to buy workshop quality tools all the time, which can be very expensive, but spending more money on some key items will stand you in good stead for a long time and make each job easier.
For example I used to use a cheapish crank extractor which could be a pain to use sometimes. Cost around £5. I later on bought a Park Tools one which was triple that price but I found it was better as going into damaged threads and pulled cranks so much easier - it appeared the threads where a lot stronger.
Cone spanners are another good example - had some cheap ones at first but they were rubbish. Bought the Park pro quality ones and they are light years ahead in quality and ease of use. You don't need to get a whole set at once, maybe just buy a couple of sizes (2 of each) which fit Shimano hubs which are the most common then add more as you need them.
Some stuff isn't worth buying the cycling brands e.g. hex keys (buy a Wera set), screwdrivers, spanners (get a Halfords Pro set, cheap and amazing guarantee).
Pedros also make great tools too, you don't need to stay with one brand.
If you have nothing now I'd get a decent allen key set - you'll be using them a lot - Wera here for £25 https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Au...Wera+Ball+End+Multi+Colour+Hex+Key+Set/p71306
Park tool crank puller £13 https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park-tool-crank-puller-ccp-22/rp-prod34314
Shimano cassette removal tool £5 https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-cassette-lockring-tool/rp-prod10183
(removal tools for freewheels are many and varied, this is the most commonly used, just buy more when you need them)
Any chain whip will do as they don't take much force through them but keep them oiled as my last one rusted away as I didn't look after it!
Adjustable spanner - I have an old Bahco one which is amazing as it has no slop.
Cable cutters - I have some old Bahco side cutters which I used for years then I bought a Park cable cutter which I thought would be better - it isn't!! Lesson learnt.
Installing/removing headsets. I don't have a special installation tool - I went to my local bolt stockist anb bought some threaded bar and big nuts/washers which works well for the amount of times I need to use it. I'd like a proper one but they are very expensive. I did buy a headset cup removal tool for about £10 which was miles better than using copper pipe or a screwdriver and hammer.
Hammer - get a normal hammer and a dead blow soft faced hammer which are ace for bike stuff (google what they are!)
..... and so on.......
If you do a job on a bike and you need another tool get a quality one to complete the job. Compared to the parts you have to buy and the time you spend doing the job its only a small additional cost - especially if you compare it to getting a shop to do it!
Last note - restoring bikes means you have to cope with stuck seatposts, bottom brackets which mean you often need very good quality tools as you have to use a lot more force through them. You'll have to learn tips and tricks to help you there - one example when I restored an old MTB was that it had a cup and cone BB and the fixed cup on the RHS only had 2 flats on it which needed a headset spanner to undo it. It slipped as it was rusted in so I used some threaded bar and big washers to clamp the tool onto the cup then used a scaffold pole for more leverage - very brutal but it worked! Main lesson is that don't go swinging at things and going medieval on stuff - use your head and physics to help you!
For example I used to use a cheapish crank extractor which could be a pain to use sometimes. Cost around £5. I later on bought a Park Tools one which was triple that price but I found it was better as going into damaged threads and pulled cranks so much easier - it appeared the threads where a lot stronger.
Cone spanners are another good example - had some cheap ones at first but they were rubbish. Bought the Park pro quality ones and they are light years ahead in quality and ease of use. You don't need to get a whole set at once, maybe just buy a couple of sizes (2 of each) which fit Shimano hubs which are the most common then add more as you need them.
Some stuff isn't worth buying the cycling brands e.g. hex keys (buy a Wera set), screwdrivers, spanners (get a Halfords Pro set, cheap and amazing guarantee).
Pedros also make great tools too, you don't need to stay with one brand.
If you have nothing now I'd get a decent allen key set - you'll be using them a lot - Wera here for £25 https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Au...Wera+Ball+End+Multi+Colour+Hex+Key+Set/p71306
Park tool crank puller £13 https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park-tool-crank-puller-ccp-22/rp-prod34314
Shimano cassette removal tool £5 https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-cassette-lockring-tool/rp-prod10183
(removal tools for freewheels are many and varied, this is the most commonly used, just buy more when you need them)
Any chain whip will do as they don't take much force through them but keep them oiled as my last one rusted away as I didn't look after it!
Adjustable spanner - I have an old Bahco one which is amazing as it has no slop.
Cable cutters - I have some old Bahco side cutters which I used for years then I bought a Park cable cutter which I thought would be better - it isn't!! Lesson learnt.
Installing/removing headsets. I don't have a special installation tool - I went to my local bolt stockist anb bought some threaded bar and big nuts/washers which works well for the amount of times I need to use it. I'd like a proper one but they are very expensive. I did buy a headset cup removal tool for about £10 which was miles better than using copper pipe or a screwdriver and hammer.
Hammer - get a normal hammer and a dead blow soft faced hammer which are ace for bike stuff (google what they are!)
..... and so on.......
If you do a job on a bike and you need another tool get a quality one to complete the job. Compared to the parts you have to buy and the time you spend doing the job its only a small additional cost - especially if you compare it to getting a shop to do it!
Last note - restoring bikes means you have to cope with stuck seatposts, bottom brackets which mean you often need very good quality tools as you have to use a lot more force through them. You'll have to learn tips and tricks to help you there - one example when I restored an old MTB was that it had a cup and cone BB and the fixed cup on the RHS only had 2 flats on it which needed a headset spanner to undo it. It slipped as it was rusted in so I used some threaded bar and big washers to clamp the tool onto the cup then used a scaffold pole for more leverage - very brutal but it worked! Main lesson is that don't go swinging at things and going medieval on stuff - use your head and physics to help you!
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Yes I agree but a multi tool is really an essential just to carry about or in the workshop.
Kempstonian
Has the memory of a goldfish
- Location
- Bedford
A good use for old spokes maybe?
