[gemini2k]

So I finally have some space and money to spend on a nice, "non-portable" set of tools. For the past decade I've just had a portable toolbag filled with a mix of good and not no good tools. I'd like to keep that as the travel set, and have a nice set just for home that lives in a tool chest.

Are there any definitive answers on who makes the best tools? I kinda like the ergonomics of some of the Pedro's stuff, but I'm not sure if Park tools are any better overall quality. Has anyone tried so Birzman tools? They look nice and are priced pretty high, but I have no clue if they are all flash. Any other suggestions? Lezyne? Icetoolz? Hozan? I'm not against mixing brands of course.

 

[wiscodh]

So I finally have some space and money to spend on a nice, "non-portable" set of tools. For the past decade I've just had a portable toolbag filled with a mix of good and not no good tools. I'd like to keep that as the travel set, and have a nice set just for home that lives in a tool chest.

Are there any definitive answers on who makes the best tools? I kinda like the ergonomics of some of the Pedro's stuff, but I'm not sure if Park tools are any better overall quality. Has anyone tried so Birzman tools? They look nice and are priced pretty high, but I have no clue if they are all flash. Any other suggestions? Lezyne? Icetoolz? Hozan? I'm not against mixing brands of course.

Harbor freight. Mmmhmm

 

[yetihenry]

Definitely needs to be on a tool by tool basis, and unless it's bike specific, probably not any of the aforementioned bike brands.

 

[daisycutter]

PARK Tools are the basic standard.

Heard good things about these 2 bike tool makers. Not cheap but made in USA.

http://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/all-products
http://www.efficientvelo.com/

 

[csermonet]

tools are tools generally. that being said, snap on has lifetime warranty so you can always get free replacements should something happen. that's worth the extra money IMO. all my non-bike specific tools are snap on. if its a bike specific tool i need, i get the best that I can afford at the time. park tools seem to be good.

 

[HardtailHack]

Check out the Birzman gear, it is almost shop quality gear and can be quite a lot cheaper than Park, you can't buy every tool you need but you said you are happy to have multiple brands so that is all good.

http://www.birzman.com/products.php?src=prod&class_sn=5

For a small kit that can be used for a bit of everything the CK 1/4" kit is pretty sweet-
http://www.ck-tools.com/products/ck_tools/sockets_spanners_wrenches/sure_drive_socket_sets/socket_set_39_piece_14_drive_metric/
CK gear is top notch stuff and most is made in Germany, I cut all my cables and outer with a bigger set of their sidecutters and the jaws stay good unlike my Channellock cutters which seem to be made of butter.

 

[jonKranked]

i've got a mix, but largely park. i finally broke down back in december and upgraded a number of goodies - i got the shop t-handle allens and a truing stand.

 

[zdubyadubya]

For allens and torx go King Tony tools.

King Tony 8-pc L-type ball and hex

These are the tools that used to supply park and pedro before both went to sh*t. super hardened steel. will last forever. we use them in our shop. we have 4 full-time mechanic benches and each will round out their 4mm and 5mm within a season when using the new park L-handles. About 5 years ago Park/Pedro changed suppliers and our allens went from lasting 4-5 seasons to 1. took me forever to find these guys, but it turned out that going directly to them was cheaper than the park/pedro sets anyways... so everything turned out for the best.

 

[yd35]

My go-to, not worried about durability/utility is Park. Their tools never disappoint, well, except in price. I've had good luck with the Pricepoint house brand, Sette. The quality of finish is definitely many notches below Park, but I've never had any functional issues. For example, Park has a crown race pulling tool with a 170 MSRP. Sette has one for 30 bucks. The Park one is beautiful, probably more durable, and easier to use. The Sette one is pretty ghetto in comparison, but it works. I'll take the 100+ in savings please.

 

[jonKranked]

My go-to, not worried about durability/utility is Park. Their tools never disappoint, well, except in price. I've had good luck with the Pricepoint house brand, Sette. The quality of finish is definitely many notches below Park, but I've never had any functional issues. For example, Park has a crown race pulling tool with a 170 MSRP. Sette has one for 30 bucks. The Park one is beautiful, probably more durable, and easier to use. The Sette one is pretty ghetto in comparison, but it works. I'll take the 100+ in savings please.

the sette headset press isn't stepped properly, or has bad tolerances. i've had headset races get stuck on them during installation.

 

[jackalope]

Actually, the only thing I can add is I've have good luck with Bondhus allen keys, and Park cable cutters.

 

[ianjenn]

SNAP ON cough....cough.....

 

[yd35]

the sette headset press isn't stepped properly, or has bad tolerances. i've had headset races get stuck on them during installation.

I heard about that. Went with the Park press. Works great, but my wallet hurts. Goes to show you, it's really on a tool to tool basis.

 

[jonKranked]

I heard about that. Went with the Park press. Works great, but my wallet hurts. Goes to show you, it's really on a tool to tool basis.

agreed. i have some other sette tools that are fine.

i remedied the headset press situation with a grinder. took some material off, no problem.

 

[jonKranked]

STRAP ON cough....cough.....

 

[bizutch]

People seem to forget that Craftsman has lifetime warranty on their tools for what it's worth.

If I could afford it, I'd every freaking bike tool under the sun for that one random damn time I DON'T want to go to a bike shop.

 

[gemini2k]

and unless it's bike specific, probably not any of the aforementioned bike brands.

That's sort of my feeling

For allens and torx go King Tony tools.

King Tony 8-pc L-type ball and hex

Awesome thanks. I think buying "the best" allen wrenches are the number 1 priority.

SNAP ON cough....cough.....

Yeah, I might buy a few. Looking at other high end tool makers though. Gearwrench has the 102 pt engagement ratchet that looks kind cool. Seems like there are a lot of options besides snap-on that are 1/2 the price buy probably 95% the quality.

 

[pugslybell]

The park cable cutters are not so hot anymore. Not sure what has happened to that tool from them but they do not hold up anymore and require constant adjustment to cut and release. We went back to the pedros knock off the felco cutters at the shop and am happy. Money no object felco cutters for cables and housing all day for me. Park is pretty solid for most tools shop related. Pedros cone wrenches I would not recommend. They are too wide to fit many cones(this may not even be a tool you need but just one to avoid).
Also avoid the pedros ratcheting box wrenches they have a set screw unlike most of these tools that holds a tiny spring and we have had several fail.

 

[gastro]

My favorite allen solution is a Snapon swivel head ratchet with hex bit sockets:

Makes for speedy threading/unthreading.

Pedros has the best bottle opener

 

[EVRAC]

As some have said, it's on a tool-by-tool basis. The best spoke wrench most likely won't be from the same company as the best torque wrench. Have to also consider budget and frequency of use. Don't be stuck with any brand allegiance.

 

[big-ted]

I've always sworn by shimano cable cutters & chain breakers over the park stuff. Actually, for any bike specific tools, cassette lockring tools etc I've found the shimano stuff to be the best. Anything non bike-specific, as already mentioned, Craftsman/snap-on depending on use.

 

[Tomasz]

The cheap Park headset press has worked great for me. Adds a minute or two to the process, but costs billions less. For Crown Race puller I use the flat blade screwdriver. Works to install a Crown Race as well.

Agree with others that non-bike specific tool co's are superior whenever their offerings are conveniently designed for our purposes (pretty frequently).

 

[4130biker]

Tools are awesome. That being said, I think you are on the right track.
One of my favorites is having a nice pick/ scribe tool- somehow comes in handy all the time and its cheap.

 

[ianjenn]

Yeah, I might buy a few. Looking at other high end tool makers though. Gearwrench has the 102 pt engagement ratchet that looks kind cool. Seems like there are a lot of options besides snap-on that are 1/2 the price buy probably 95% the quality.

http://www.parktool.co/product/professional-tool-kit-pk-65

If you buy 3-4 of those tools they add up to almost the whole Kit cost. Matco makes nice stuff as well. And as Butch said Craftsman is nice and cheaper than SNAP ON....

 

[OGRipper]

In my experience, Park is tough to beat for most bike-specific stuff, particularly on cost, but Pedro's is pretty solid too. For ordinary tools, Craftsman makes good stuff and comes with a full warranty, or you can go Snap-On for extra bling. I recently picked up some Beta T-wrenches (hex and torx) that are pretty sweet. And Felco cutters are the best, like "the last one you ever need" best.

 

[FlipSide]

What about wheel truing and wheel building? Is the Park Tool TS2.2 the best option for a home shop or is there anything else worth considering?

 

[slyfink]

A while back I bought Roger Musson's wheel building guide (a pdf book). In it he has plans for making your own wheel building stand. He (and others on mtbr) claim it is better than the Park stand. I just did a quick google image search, and various versions of it come up. Have a look, it looks legit.

 

[Acadian]

Tools are boring - buy beer instead.

 

[OGRipper]

Tools are boring - buy beer instead.

Better yet, go on a beer-fueled tool buying spree.

 

[Acadian]

Better yet, go on a beer-fueled tool buying spree.

I like your thinking

 

[Beef Supreme]

Actually, the only thing I can add is I've have good luck with Bondhus allen keys, and Park cable cutters.

I agree with the Bondhus recommendation. For cable cutters go with Shimano. Park tools are pretty hit or miss in my opinion. Except for anything having to do with a headset, cassette or alinement, there are better options.

Any well stocked shop should have one of these. They are oddly satisfying to use.

 

[MinorThreat]

FWIW, best value on Craftsman tools is the local pawn shop. If that ratchet blows up on you someday, Sears doesn't have to know where you got it. A little trickier with Proto / Snap-On / Mac / etc. if the local route guy doesn't know you.

 

[4130biker]

I agree with the Bondhus recommendation. For cable cutters go with Shimano. Park tools are pretty hit or miss in my opinion. Except for anything having to do with a headset, cassette or alinement, there are better options.

Any well stocked shop should have one of these. They are oddly satisfying to use.

Hahaha, I almost posted that one as my favorite- definitely oddly satisfying.

 

[4130biker]

Building your own bike specific tools is super fun as well if you have access to the right equipment. I've made my truing stand, hacksaw guide, star nut setter, bushing press (another fun one to use), and a couple others.

 

[WestCoastHucker]

i've always thought the brian lopes was a pretty good bike tool...

 

[gemini2k]

Money no object felco cutters for cables and housing all day for me.

C3 or C7? Or something else?

 

[gemini2k]

What about wheel truing and wheel building? Is the Park Tool TS2.2 the best option for a home shop or is there anything else worth considering?

I've got a guy for building (I true like a champ and will get a truing stand). Any money I'd save in not paying him I'd pay for desperately in time, and wasted sh*tty wheel builds I'd do.

 

[allen]

I'd also say to pick and choose from what brands have the best tool for the job. I'd start with a good set of T-handle allen wrenches since that's what most of your fasteners are on a bike. I prefer ones that have the offset T handle where one side is shorter it works great for things like adjusting break calibers. For those I didn't like the pedros brand I found the rubber coated end a little flexy on the smaller sizes. I've got a set of Beta T-handles now which I love. Even with the nice set of T handles i find my self using the park tools 3 way allen wrench most of the time.

Al

 

[Electric_City]

That de-burring tool is only good after cutting a steerer tube and that's it.
Parks Allens are made by Bondhus. At least the Y wrench and the folding ones. They're made in the USA and are top quality.
Strap on earned that name due to their outrageous prices. I priced out 3/8" 6-point short sockets by Strap on, Matco, Cornwell, Mac and Craftsman. Since they don't sell the same quantity per set, I priced them based on 15 sockets I think. Strap on would be the most @ $289! Mac was the least of the sales trucks @$235. Craftsman you can get a 42 pcs set with sae and metric and a ratchet for $99. They always claim the retail is $199. That was probably the retail when they were made in the USA, but anymore they're made in China. Oddly enough, their socket sets without the ratchet are made in China too, but their individual sockets are made in the USA.
The Park TS -2.2 is awesome for truing and even building. If you get it, don't bother with the dishing tool/WAG. Just buy the 1551-4 tool to check that the stand is aligned once every couple months. If you want to get into wheel building, then pick up a spoke tension meter too.
Bike specific tools I stick with Park- truing stand, chain tool, headset press/remover, derailleur alignment tool... Non-bike-specific tools, stay within your budget. But whatever you do, stay the fcuk away from Harbor Freight shi+.

 

[jonKranked]

i've got the ts-2.2 and it's the sh*t.