Best Tools I Ever Bought

[Gtpulse]

A couple of items that were a revelation when I bought and started to use them.

Shimano CT-11 cable cutter, better than all others I’ve ever used even their own CT-10 which just aren’t as good! Clean, crisp and easy cuts on inners and outers. As a kid I used to use a pair of pliers and a hammer to cut cables, the pliers usually degrading over time the more they got bashed with the hammer!



Then Park CT2 chain tool. I’ve got the usual screw in type chaintools, I find these better as they don’t twist around on the pin, it’s just straight force on the tool pressing out the pin. Again thinking back to my early teens when I first started spannering on bikes I used to position the frame on the floor so I can lay the chain over a brick. The pin would be hovering over an appropriate sized nut, I’d hammer the link out with an old drill bit!

 

[Canuk]

A couple of items that were a revelation when I bought and started to use them.

Shimano CT-11 cable cutter, better than all others I’ve ever used even their own CT-10 which just aren’t as good! Clean, crisp and easy cuts on inners and outers. As a kid I used to use a pair of pliers and a hammer to cut cables, the pliers usually degrading over time the more they got bashed with the hammer!

View attachment 916389

Then Park CT2 chain tool. I’ve got the usual screw in type chaintools, I find these better as they don’t twist around on the pin, it’s just straight force on the tool pressing out the pin. Again thinking back to my early teens when I first started spannering on bikes I used to position the frame on the floor so I can lay the chain over a brick. The pin would be hovering over an appropriate sized nut, I’d hammer the link out with an old drill bit!

View attachment 916390

Did the same with my dad's best hammer and a rusty nail. Happy days. The Shimano really better than the Park? My Park tool is done, need an upgrade.

 

[Canuk]

VAR 303 'Derive chaine', simple, but deadly! Paid 30 quid for it.

 

[jim haseltine]

Suntour cable cutters. Mine are 50 years old and spent 5 years as the go-to cutters in a cycle workshop. The return spring broke (not unusual for them) years ago but even after all these years they'll cleanly cut anything up to a 5mm cable.

 

[27motorhead]

Shimano TL-CT10
These have never missed a beat and have never been adjusted. Perfect cut every time.
Bought back in 1991 I think.


SNAP-ON Metric allen set AWM7K
Kindly given to me by a Land Rover mechanic back in 1989 when I did some work experience in their workshop. Was also given some Cardiff Land Rover branded mechanics overalls which now fit me properly and keep me clean/warm during winter months out the garage. Allen keys are still in use today and are used alongside ball ended,T-handled and 1/4" drive allen sets. You can never have enough flavours of allen keys!!!

 

[Gtpulse]

View attachment 916423
Shimano TL-CT10
These have never missed a beat and have never been adjusted. Perfect cut every time.
Bought back in 1991 I think.

View attachment 916424
SNAP-ON Metric allen set AWM7K
Kindly given to me by a Land Rover mechanic back in 1989 when I did some work experience in their workshop. Was also given some Cardiff Land Rover branded mechanics overalls which now fit me properly and keep me clean/warm during winter months out the garage. Allen keys are still in use today and are used alongside ball ended,T-handled and 1/4" drive allen sets. You can never have enough flavours of allen keys!!!

To be fair those do cut as well as the 11s, I think it’s the grip I prefer so end up picking those up instead!

 

[Gtpulse]

Did the same with my dad's best hammer and a rusty nail. Happy days. The Shimano really better than the Park? My Park tool is done, need an upgrade.

May just be personal preference, I’ve used both and just prefer the Shimano one. As above it could be the grips, sausage fingers etc!

 

[Gtpulse]

Not the best tool I’ve ever had but for lots of reasons is my hands down my most used tool in the garage! I’ve got the T-handle ones, individual ones even a couple of Park ones identical to this but this one is always to hand.

 

[sunympholepsy]

I too like my tools, and managed to buy a fair few decent offerings from VAR, Hozan, Campagnolo et al over the years. Hozan cutters, Var BB thread tool, big Record vise, old Facom hex keys, and Hozan ratchet spanners are probably the ones I’ve used the most and are therefore most cherished. Recent purchases that are very solid and satisfying to use include Hozan chain tool and cable end crimpers from Elvedes:

 

[Canuk]

Tidy Hozan chain tool, looks indestructible