Basic tool set

[FredS]

Ok, I have been looking for a good basic tool set to work on my bike and came across this: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=14585&style_id=325

[JonB]

That's not bad really, OK it's not professional quality but you won't be paying professional prices so that's to be expected.

[Bill]

Yeah as Jon said you will get what you pay for.
If you are going for a very cheap starter kit here is a cheaper one
http://www.amazon.com/Brand-Home-Mechanic-Bike-Bicycle/dp/B0019J6ZLE/ .
But if you want to start out with a higher quality one which doesn't have everything the above have but will last longer go with this...
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-SK-1-Mechanic-Starter/dp/B001588JRM/ .

Personally I would prefer the Park one because I can add to anything I need in the future. Like per say a crank removal tool? It also has a lifetime warranty too! I'll also say I have used the above one and yeah it did the job but some of the stuff did not even fit. Spoke wrench is total junk. It is up to you.

Cheers Bill

[FredS]

Thanks Jon and Bill, trying to find a good all around tool set for a very tight budget to do as much work on mine and the families bake.

[dave_sd]

I bought one of these types of starter sets when I first started working on my bikes, and I ended up buying better versions of many of the tools that came in the set. The chain whip that came with mine wasn't long enough to generate enough torque to break the cassette lock ring free. The crank puller it came with was worthless, too. I still use some of what’s in there , but if I were to do it again, I'd skip it and buy the tools off of Ebay and Amazon as needed.

[KC-Steve]

Yeah, a starter kit tends to either have cheap tools, unnecessary tools, or both. Other makers of tools such as Craftsman and S-K are excellent quality for working on bicycles. And you can pick up many that work fine for bicycles, such as combination wrenches, adjustable wrenches, aviation wire snips, etc, and can be used on many other projects.

When I began working on bicycles I had a good set of tools but not specifically for bicycles, so I began adding a tool at a time on an as-needed basis making sure that I bought quality tools. I have approximately $300 just in bicycle-specific tools now.

I'm working on a used tool ecommerce website, http://www.junkyardtools.com and will be selling some quality new and used tools at low prices soon. Just a heads up in case you're interested. You can have a sneak peek at this address, http://junkyardtools.com/catalog but it is still under construction and I'm not taking orders yet. Many that are showing right now are actually new-old-stock tools, still at a discount from retail prices though.

Later,
Steve

[JonB]

Really? the tool kits you guys get on the other side of the pond must be pretty poor then. I've had my toolset for two years and all the tools it included have been fine (it was made by B'twin if it's any help). I've added to it admittedly, but that's mostly specific tools such as a Hollowtech spanner and Avid bleed kits.

[dave_sd]

Remember that american businesses and the economy thrives off of planned obsolescence. ...as I type this on my fancy smart phone that I will have to replace in 2 years because its OS will no longer be supported...

But that's a different thread

[KC-Steve]

(01-21-2011, 08:02 AM)JonB Wrote:  Really? the tool kits you guys get on the other side of the pond must be pretty poor then. . . .

Naw, I wouldn't use the word "poor" in describing those tools. There is some difference between "cheap" and "poor." If you do some serious research you will often find that cheap and poor tools both come from China or Taiwan.

I am an admitted "tool freak" as stated in the following thread link (we 'tool freaks" know what that means),

http://forums.bikeride.com/thread-2355.html

. . . and that means that I want to TRY and own high quality tools from the outset, . . . tools that will last for generations, not months or years. If I had bought a basic starter kit in the beginning then I would likely still own the original tools that came with the kit, but would have also likely have lowered their status to "back up" tools in case I lost the good ones that would eventually replace them. Why spend more money on duplicates? I didn't intend any offense or to say that the starter kit was unusable (aka "poor"), but meant to say I prefer better quality tools is all. In addition, I think Park Tools are top-of-the-line in bicycle tools, just initially buy the Park tools you need, when you need them.

Steve

[Bill]

What I meant was if one can save some money for a starter kit then by all means go ahead. However if one can go a little extra and get the better quality awesome. Economical times is totally understandable as I have been there and well still am. 75% of my tools were "used" when I bought them, but after I calculated what I spent for my starter tool kit, then totaled up what I paid for the used park tools it came up quite close if not less expensive for the park tools. Whatever way one goes is up to them.

[RobAR]

Oh man - another Tool thread! I love tools!
Hi there, Steve. I'll be keeping tabs on the site.
I seem to gravitate towards Park just out of habit that stuck back in 1995 or so. I'm open to trying new things, though. Pedros tools are good. As I wrench at a shop, I just get spoiled on the good stuff, though.
I have recently found a brand called XLM that we can get from Seattle Bike Supply (sorry, LBS sales only) and have been very impressed with certain tools of thiers. Particularly the Chain Whip and cassette lockring tools. Almost half the cost of Park. If your LBS has a Seattle Bike account, they may have a few on the wall. Don't hesitate to try them.

[KC-Steve]

(01-22-2011, 10:09 PM)RobAR Wrote:  Oh man - another Tool thread! I love tools!
Hi there, Steve. I'll be keeping tabs on the site.
I seem to gravitate towards Park just out of habit that stuck back in 1995 or so. I'm open to trying new things, though. Pedros tools are good. As I wrench at a shop, I just get spoiled on the good stuff, though.
I have recently found a brand called XLM that we can get from Seattle Bike Supply (sorry, LBS sales only) and have been very impressed with certain tools of thiers. Particularly the Chain Whip and cassette lockring tools. Almost half the cost of Park. If your LBS has a Seattle Bike account, they may have a few on the wall. Don't hesitate to try them.

He-he, yeah we tool freaks need to stick together!

Thanks for the heads up on the other brands. I have some success at getting "dealer" status with wholesalers, about a 50-50 record so far (1 out of 2). But still don't have a bicycle tool wholesaler that I can get tools from yet. The site is really just a part-time thing, but if it gets going well I might just sell the whole business to someone. Who knows. I'll let ya'll know when it goes online.

Thanks,
Steve

[mannyraid]

what if i wanted an on the go kit?

[nfmisso]

(09-03-2013, 01:13 PM)Donald4546 Wrote:  Well dude i have no information about it but one thing i have been realizing about it all the tools have made of aluminium,Am i right dude?????and what do you say about it buddy????????

very very few tools are made of aluminum; most are a steel alloy.

[Gpreet]

There are many online manufacturers’ websites from where you can find tool sets for your bicycle.

I searched on Google and found below mentioned manufacturing company which are providing hand tools kits
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/SubCategory_10052_10551_400154_-1_400005_400036
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/best-tool-kits-for-cyclists-33539/
http://www.venus-india.com/tool-kits.html
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/SubCategory_10053_10052_202586_-1_202334_202376

[michaelcogburn.c]

(01-19-2011, 09:57 PM)FredS Wrote:  Ok, I have been looking for a good basic tool set to work on my bike and came across this:  http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=14585&style_id=325

Link shared above is broken. Just wanna remind you. Do you have any alternative, I would like to check in. I'm about to purchase basic tool set for my bicycle management.

[fulltimerart]

Hi everybody, just wanted to add my 2 cents worth here. I was a certified automotive tech for a lot of years and have used many brands of tools, and believe me, there is NO substitute for quality. Those low prices and pretty "chrome" finishes are OK on "wall hangars" but the first time one breaks while you are using it isn't worth saving all the money you thought you saved. Plus, you cannot grow any more knuckles or other body parts.