Tool Time

[basinbeater]

What tool kit do I want to get for working with bike hydraulic lines? I need a crimper, and an assortment of olives and ends, a cutter/needle inserter what else? Anybody have a nice assortment of bits? Does the Amazon chinesium cutter/inserter work ok for home duty, or do I need to spring for more expensive tools? Usually the answer is better tools ...

[XXX-er]

IME you can cut that hydraulic line with a razor knife, the old fashioned shifter and brake housing is where the real cable cutters are needed but OTOH I do tend to be a bit of a macgyver

[unitofstuff]

For those doing custom tool box foam, what type are you using and how are you cutting it?

It seems like a lot of power tool companies no longer sell boxes for the tools, you just get a raw tool. I want to keep all my impact wrench stuff together and was thinking of retrofitting a Milwaukee packout or similar with foam. Trying to fit my impact wrench, sockets, extensions etc (mainly so I can carry a single box instead of 3 items).


eta: May have jumped on the gun. Looks like Milwaukee makes foam for this exact purpose.

I've been using egg carton style foam for Packout cases and toolbox drawers. These are a little spendy, but nice and come with a lot of foam: https://a.co/d/gblonMF

[sfotex]

IME you can cut that hydraulic line with a razor knife, the old fashioned shifter and brake housing is where the real cable cutters are needed but OTOH I do tend to be a bit of a macgyver

Looking at the proper tool I have to cut hydraulic lines, I bet a cheap PVC pipe cutter with a blade would do a pretty good job too.

[basinbeater]

Alright, not to worried about the cutting now, maybe all I need is a hose block to throw in a vice and get those needles in that way.

[climberevan]

The AliExpress clamp/inserter is great. The cutter they give you is garbage. I have good luck with careful use of a very sharp, new razor knife.

[XXX-er]

unless you need to cut metal its pretty hard to beat the olfa knife and a pack of replacement blades for cutting all kinds of shit
I use the same knife for trimming climbing skins cuz it does a cleaner job, just don't fuck up the skin shifts on the ski

[Dee Hubbs]

How's this for a ratchet collection?
As seen on a FB group I'm in:



On a personal note I ordered the 2024 Wera Advant Calendar this week.
Dec 1-25 are going to be great!

[EWG]

What the actual fuck?

[Dee Hubbs]

What the actual fuck?

Why you ask? Some people collect baseball cards, some people collect stuffed animal, this dude collected ratchets, that's why.
I had thought about at least 10 comments to make on his post, but many, many people made all the comments that I was already thinking.

[jm2e]

I thought he was asking WTF about the advent calendar ?
Now taking bets on how long until someone spoilers you …..


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Dee Hubbs]

I thought he was asking WTF about the advent calendar ?
Now taking bets on how long until someone spoilers you …..


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I’m staying off TGR until Dec 25, to avoid any spoilers….
But the Wera pieces that come in this box are most likely duplicates to Wera tools I already have, and most definitely other brand tools I already own.
Not “ratchet guy” level, but getting there.

I was on a job project (not bike related) last month and we needed a 4mm Allen and couldn’t find one. I told my buddy “I bet I have 100 at home in my garage”
That’s a saying I use all the time, like when my wife is looking for an iPhone cable, I say “we have 100 in the desk drawer”
It got me thinking and trying to actually count how many 4mm Allen keys I actually have. L-keys, t handles, sliding t-handles, torque handles, screwdrivers, 3 ways, 4 ways, sockets, bits, multi tools.
I later confirmed to my work buddy I in fact easily have over 100 options for a 4mm in my garage.

[rideit]

Not to mention the garbage ones they give you to assemble IKEA crap. For some reason, I simply can’t throw them away.

[Thaleia]

Not to mention the garbage ones they give you to assemble IKEA crap. For some reason, I simply can’t throw them away.

Or all the extra dowel and hardware bits..

[nickwm21]

All those allens go straight into the garbage except for that IKEA tube wrench / cheapo T handle nut driver tool. I wish I had that in every size.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[jm2e]

This is nothing to do with bikes. But I recently bought a 6 pack of basic Kobalt screwdrivers. More impressively, I threw away the old ones. Tool box is happier now.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Lvovsky]

^ this is the way

[MarsB]

Unless they were cheap Chinese garbage or broken, why throw them away? Donate them to your local bike collective.

[thefortrees]

All those allens go straight into the garbage except for that IKEA tube wrench / cheapo T handle nut driver tool. I wish I had that in every size.
.

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Thought i was the only in love with that tool. Many uses for that thing, even in just one size

[meepmoop24]

Anyone have a recommendation for a Air Compressor Tire Inflator attachment? I'd like a digital gauge and it should work with Presta and Shrader.

[VTskibum]

Haven’t used one myself, but prestaflator would be more first look


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bamboocoreONLY]

the prestacycle digital pro looks rad, ordering for the shop now. ha

[meepmoop24]

Just ordered the Prestaflator Digital Pro as well, thanks for the recs!

[Dantheman]

Non-bike tool post. I need to replace a 15+ year old drill/driver, so looking at some tool combo sets on holiday sales. Use is standard basic homeowner shit. I have pretty much narrowed it down to these two:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ON...00K2/317987591
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-A...86D2/322138552

Advantages to the Ryobi kit are cost, a 4 Ah battery, and the circular saw. The Dewalt kit is an extra hundred bucks and doesn't get you the big battery or the circular saw. But, I do not have much actual need for a circular saw, the 2Ah batteries are probably plenty give the lower draw of brushless, and the drivers are *way* smaller.

Open to other suggestions as well.

[dcpnz]

Open to other suggestions as well.

Perhaps ask yourself if you really have frequent use for the recip saw and multi tool?

Having just been down this rabbit hole I found myself tempted by more tools in a kit for just a few dollars more. Then I realized barely ever use some tools and I already have corded versions.

For the most basic homeowner DIY shlt I find the this 2 tool, 2 battery Dewalt kit for $149 pretty tempting.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-A...25D2/322138483

I happened to end up with the below Milwaukee kit for a few dollars more because I got a free 5Ah battery with the Milwaukee and the Dewalt wasn't on sale at this price two weeks ago.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...22CT/325403100

Initial impressions are very favorable - compared to my nearly 20 yr old tools these are crazy compact, unbelieveably light and seems plenty powerful for my needs