i duno, it sounds kind of metro sexual
i duno, it sounds kind of metro sexual
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
Here's another option for portable tool organizing. I added a pouch and the swing-out hex key holder. The folding organizer thing was like $15 at HD and the boxes are really cheap too. With this stuff I can fix or replace just about anything that could go wrong on a road trip. I also carry another box with spare tires, cassettes, cleaners, and a few other things. The whole arrangement stacks nicely and fits in the externally accessible compartment on my RV, along with a mini-compressor, folding table, and tripod bike workstand.![]()
ride bikes, climb, ski, travel, cook, work to fund former, repeat.
PART 2
As mentioned above my travel tool box is not built for weight, no super light tools, no titanium hammers (I'd rather spend $200 on other things), no leaving tools out that might not be needed.
It weighs 13.5kg/30lbs. It's a Rigid Pro Organizer, 22" x 14" x 6.5", with Kaizen foam inserts.
FIRST LAYER PLIERS
First Layer, pliers layer. Left to Right.
-Knipex 250mm Plier Wrench (10", what's an inch?) These open up to 52mm, I like them for suspension top caps.
-Knipex 150mm Plier Wrench (6") These open up to 27mm, I'm thinking of milling down the sides of these to make them into a cone wrench width.
-Park Tool MLP 1.2 Master Link Pliers
-Park Tool CN-10 cutters. Used to cut only cable housing and shifter brake cables, and to reshape using after a cut, and to crimp a cable end.
-Multi size hole punch. For punching new holes in race plates after trimming them to size. Its old, real made of real metal, and some German brand. I have also modified one of the punches to be a crimper/crusher. And I put it in my box to modify if for a special project that I have not got around to yet. (future bling to come)
-Side cutters, dykes, diags. General purpose cutting pliers. for cutting everything but zip ties.
-Needle nose locking pliers, ViceGrip brand, any other brand of locking pliers is junk.
-Fine needle nose pliers, for getting into small/fine spaces.
-Internal straight snap ring pliers, small enough to get into SRAM brake levers. From Hobby Lobby (?).
-Flush mount diagonal snips. For Zip Ties ONLY! My biggest pet peeve is zip ties on a bike that were cut without flush mount snips. These flush mounts don't leave sharp and dangerous ends.
-Park Tool SZR-1 Sisccors. For cutting anything non metal.
-Razor blade knife, spare razor blades.
-Park Tool CT-3.3 Chain Tool. Someone made a joke that it does not belong on the pliers level, but its a chain cutter, and a pin pusher, same function as pliers in my opinion, plus its next to the Quick Link tool.
The silver square beside the Chain Tool is a tool perturbing from the next layer.
SECOND LAYER, BIGGER TOOLS
Second Layer, bigger tools. Left side then Top to Bottom
-Shimano TL-FC32 Bottom Bracket tool. This is the standard 16 notch 44mm size, so original Shimano external threaded BBs, also Campy, SRAM, Chris King, etc. BUT I like this tool for rotor lock rings, I prefer the flat style wrench up against a rotor instead of the round BB cup tool on a ratchet or wrench.
-I also have the 16 notch 41mm adapter for Ultegra BBs (inside the wrench) and the 16 notch 39mm adapter for DuraAce BBs (below the wrench).
-Shimano TL-FC 16 crank arm preloaded tool. I like this cheap little one because you never should put more than finger tight preload on that crank. Other tools that attach to longer levers tend to over torque the preload cap on the left side of Shimano cranks.
TOP ROW
-Park Tool HCW-16.3 Chain Whip/Pedal Wrench Combo. Its strong enough for a chain whip and has a 15mm pedal wrench for pedals that dont have a 6mm/8mm hex opening on the back side.
-Park Tool DAG-2.2 Derailleur Alignment Gauge. To me this is the most valuable tool a home mechanic could own. So many simple derailleur/shifting issues can be easily fixed by straightening a derailleur hanger.
-3/8" drive Torque wrench. 6Nm to 60Nm range. Anything below 8Nm I use my CDI 1/4 drive Torque wrench, this is strong enough to torque BB cups and Cassettes.
- Park Tool 3/8" Drive 15" Breaker Bar, for when you really need to lean on something to loosen it.
-Abbey Tools Socket Crombie for HG lock rings. 3/8" square drive.
-FSA Isis Bottom Bracket Tool, with a 1/2" square drive reduced to 3/8" drive with a KTC Ratchet Adapter.
-Stanley 8oz soft face mallet. I hope I don't need to hit anything on a bike with a hammer bigger than this.
-Park Tool BBT 69.2 Bottom Bracket Tool, 16 notch 44mm size for Shimano and lock rotors. (also most external threaded types like Campy, Chris King, FSA, SRAM/GXP, Race Face X-type, Surly, Wheels, Fulcrum, Hope)
-Park Tool BBT 79 Bottom Bracket Tool, 12 notch 46mm. This fits SRAM Dub and Race Face Cinch (plus others, this also works on SRAM 24 notch Dub BBs)
-Park Tool BBT 27.2 Bottom Bracket Tool, 16 notch 49mm. This fits Wheels Mfg Thread Together, FSA MegaEvo, +
-Wera Zyklop 8000 B, 3/8-Inch Drive Ratchet. This ratchet is basically 5 tools in one. Its a standard ratchet, the head pivots to use the ratchet at any angle, it can be used straight on like a screwdriver, its got a fly wheel to quickly spin bolts in, and it has 5* of fine tooth engagement. It's very nice, one of my favorite tools to use.
-KTC Ratchet Adapter 3/8" drive to 1/4" drive.
-4" 3/8" drive extension.
-3/8" drive bit set. 3/8" drive to 1/4" bit holder, T25, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, also a 16mm hex for Race Face Cranks that slide over top of the 10mm (not in photo).
Thats all for tonight.
That's a dialed kit Hubbs. Good stuff.
Do you have problems with the tools on the lid falling out of the foam during transit? I have the same box and foam and every time I transport it a few tools come out of the foam. Not the end of the world, but definitely a bit annoying.
After seeing your setup I'm thinking about redoing mine and swapping some tools in/out. This would be a good change to redo the cuts and perhaps make them a bit tighter.
I have a few that fall from the top. The next recut will be a bit tighter, or I'll try a different type of foam, maybe a denser brand than Kaizen. I also trimmed some of the boxes plastic strut supports and filled in some of the open support squares on the lid, this way the cut foam sits more flush and does not flex with a void behind them.
I also considered a making skirt that goes behind the cut foam and Velcros in front of tools to secure them before closing/opening.
I still have one more tool layer to show and describe. Maybe tonight.
Do you cut it yourself or have it laser cut for you?
could you sandwich another piece of foam the exact size of the case to go between the top and bottom maybe it would be 1/2 " or whatever to hold things in ?
my tool cases would always shed tools from the pockets if i didnt keep them standing up and so i always transported the case on its hinge end
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
when we had to wear suits it would be any cheap suit that looked OK with dirt grease on it
IME you wanted to look like the instantly recognisable HW guy cuz he gets to cruise right on in,
becuz the HW guy is important
that fucking college boy sales rep can sit and cool his heels in reception till hell freezes over
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
I always liked to have the tools in the pockets, just keeping the case up-right is a habit cuz i havent fixed a puter for money in > 16 yars
When you looked like the repair nerd you could just walk right in anywhere behind bank counters or reception desks
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
They used to give us tool cases that looked like an old cheap suitcase but this looks a little more modern, I have 5 or 6 half dead ones in my shed, still good for storage
Yup thats how I retired at 49 by fixing 10's of thousands of the HW starting at 18, I find it hard believe even tho i was there
i might have been a little spaced
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
My travel tool box is not built for weight, no super light tools, no titanium hammers (I'd rather spend $200 on other things), no leaving tools out that might not be needed.
It weighs 13.5kg/30lbs. It's a Rigid Pro Organizer, 22" x 14" x 6.5", with Kaizen foam inserts.
BOTTOM LAYER
-Bleed Kit for Mineral Oil systems. Liquid proof container to prevent contamination in the rest of my box. Syringe with tips/fittings for Shimano, Tektro and Magura. Bleed blocks and pad spacers, along with a hose vise and barbs and olives. Missing from photo is the 2oz bottle of Shimano fluid (same for Tektro) and a bottle of Magura Blue Royal Blood.
-Park Tool PP 1.2 pad/piston spreader
-7mm and 8mm box wrench for brake banjos and bleed valves
-Shimano bleed cup (missing from the photo in the triangle void)
-The funny c shaped tool is a hacksaw blade holder, and under the foam (accessed when one bleed kit s removed) I have a fine tooth steel blade and a carbon specific diamonds blade for cutting bars and steerers or anything else.
-Above the saw and beside the box wrenches are 2 handle bar grip clamps to be used as cutting guides.
-Missing is the white SRAM Eagle B-Gap measurement tool
-I also have a 150mm round file above the box wrenches up against the box and foam.
-I have 2 Wash buddy/chain bungs/Chain keepers. One is for QR dropouts and one slides over a 12mm axle. They allow you to clean a bike with the wheel off and allow you to keep the chain from sloping around, and you can also pedal and shift though gears with them on.
-Bleed Kit for DOT Brake Fluid systems. Liquid proof container to prevent contamination in the rest of my box. 2 Syringes with tips/fittings for SRAM and Hayes. Bleed blocks and pad spacers, and spare barbs and olives. And a 2oz bottle of DOT Fluid. Also have the 8mm Crowfoot wrench to 3/8 drive to torque the brake line to lever.
-Black fine tip paint pen, white fine tip paint pen, silver Sharpie marker and black Sharpie marker.
-Lezyne digital shock pump
-Lezyne micro floor drive pump
-Plumb bob with sifter cable as string. Used for mike setup and measurements.
Thats all in the travel box.
I'll post a few other items that go to events with me depending on the location and setup.
Awesome set up, thanks for posting. I think I'm going to re-do my Ridgid box to have 3 layers and change out some of the tools.
Do you have problems with the foam bending as you take out each layer? I was thinking of gluing a thin plastic sheet to the bottom of each one and drilling a hole to thread some fabric through, which would act as a makeshift handle.
Also, how do you like the Lezyne Digital Shock Drive? Been thinking about picking one of those up too.
Also curious to hear about the Lezyne Digital shock pump. I've got the digital Fox (aka SRAM aka everyone else) and the rubber hose protector is falling apart. Plus it's a couple inches too long to fit in most fanny packs for trailside tuning.
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