Must-have tools for home use?

[little*chicklen]

Okay, so I've been given some degree of freedom with respect to my next major bike shopping excursion, and I was thinking of getting a decent set of tools to work on my bike(s).

Any suggestions for "must-have" items?

I'm already planning to get a work stand. I've got a complete set of box-end wrenches, and the like. I'm just looking for recommendations for those bike tools that I won't realize I need until the time comes.

(For reference: I currently own a Giant Cypress ST as my primary bike, and have a Fuji and a Schwinn frame in the garage for later rebuilding. Next spring, I'll be getting a bike for my wife, and a bike for each kid.)

[britneybabie]

And the requisite "Bike specific" tools, as well, of course.

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

See you on the road.
Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

[Clip]

Depends what you think you'll work on - not all of these are
"must have " - until you need one.....

Allen wrenches - set of eight(?)
Cassette removal tool (and appropriate wrench to fit)
Spoke wrenches
Cone wrenches (two of each size you think you'll need)
Cartridge BB removal tool
Crank puller (with insert for splined cranks)
Chain breaker
Headset wrench
15mm wrench for pedals
Chainring nut key (holds the nut while you turn the bolt)
Tire levers
Cable cutter (although you can get away with a saw for outers and a sharp chisel/steel plate for inners) - or buy a 'Dremel' tool
Rubber hammer....................... )

For older bikes.....
Freewheel removal tool - at least the splined version
BB pin spanner
BB lockring wrench
BB fixed cup wrench (if you even need to remove/reinstall one)

[fC]

Well, the others have mentioned just about everything. I think a good tool to have around is a headset press used for pressing races into the head tube. A very inexpensive alternative is to buy a seven to eight inch long 7/8" bolt w/two matching washers and nut.
7/8" washers will cover any size headset. I've done this and it works quite well. I paid $3 for this hardware at home depot.

[Clip]

A headset press is expensive - it's unlikely you'll be doing many. Same is true for headset removal tools. Easiest to take it to your LBS if you ever need either of these services - cost me $10 at REI for a headset and BB fixed cup removal. The DIY bolt/washer/nut approach works for headset assembly if you're careful.

[britneybabie]

This may sound like spam, but if you do a lot of work on friends's bikes as well (and as soon as they find out you know how to fix bikes, they'll ask!), and they happen to be department store machines (which they usually are). you may wish to invest in the promo wrench kit offered by
Metrinch (http://www.metrinch.com).

Even if you don't tackle SAE bolts and nuts, the wall drive of this set is everything the infomercial says it is (I know, I have two sets, and have put them through all the same tests), They're especially useful on alloy bolt heads, as it wont "turn" the corners, and your bike's hexes stray nice looking.

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

See you on the road.
Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

[Tiesel]

I miss the Third Hand catalogue, too.

But the company is still in business as Loose Screws (formerly the Third Hand)
and offers tools, just without the wonderful pictures and comments.

http://www.loosescrews.com

Perhaps they'll get the old catalogue going again.

[jojo]

I stripped a Cannondale this afternoon and used:

Lots of Allen keys (I have a full set from 1.5mm to 10mm)
Shimano bottom bracket tool
Shimano crank puller (get the "mushroom" adaptor too if you have
Hollowtech cranks)
Big adjustable spanner for use with the above two tools
Cable cutters
Two headset spanners of the right size - if yours is threadless you don't need these
Pedal spanner

On older bikes with cup-and-cone BBs you may need a full set of bottom bracket tools - expensive and large!

For servicing, as opposed to dismantling whole assemblies, you also need:

Two hub cone spanners
Various small spanners (for things like pedal bearing locknuts)
Spoke key
For grease something like Castrol LM automotive bearing grease is fine. I've used the expensive bike-specific ones but they're no better.
Anti-seize compound is better for seatposts, stem quills, pedal threads etc and is vital on any titanium threads. I use threadlock on crank bolts and a few other places. It has some anti-seize properties too.
I've never found anything that works better than 3-in-1 oil for chains, if "works" is defined as a quiet smooth-running chain.

The truly obsessive will add headset fitting and removal tools, but these are so expensive that you might as well get the bike shop to do the job.

A wheel jig and dishing stick are useful, but you can do basic truing in the bike frame.

And on the road I carry:

Tyre levers
Spare tube
Puncture repair kit
Multi-tool (which can even be used to tighten 14mm crank bolts)
Hand wipes
Pump or, if I'm on the racing bike or MTB, a CO2 canister. I've had to use CO2 twice - it works provided you have large low pressure tyres or narrow high pressure tyres. If you have fat high pressure tyres like some MTB slicks, avoid drain covers and potholes on the way home or you'll feel the rim hit the tarmac (ouch).

[Pinkbelle]

Check out www.biketoolsetc.com. Their print catalog is great. I think they bought the tool business from the Third Hand.

[jammancubfan]

A torque wrench that goes down to about 25 inch-pounds.

I've found that bolts rated below 100 inch pounds are *really* easy to shear off....OTOH, maybe I'm a klutz... but I'm at the point now where I never tighten one of those little puppies "by hand".