Papa Tom

While doing a roadside service favor for a friend, I lost the BT-2 I had bought in 1998 for about $30 and had to replace it with this $50 one. I chose another Park because all I hear is how the "Made In USA Quality" is well worth the premium price. I can't believe how cheap and flimsy this thing feels, and I can't imagine how poorly made the ones that are twenty and thirty dollars cheaper must be.

Crankycrank

Are you sure it's not some fake Park Tool? You can contact Park to check if it's the real deal and if it is let them know you're not happy. I've never had one of these in my hands so can't say if anything has changed with them but from the photos of the current tool it looks pretty solid. Just askin'.

Papa Tom

I just called Park and, surprisingly, they didn't seem surprised nor apologetic about my concerns. I think I will try to return this item, as it's definitely not a fifty dollar tool.

Hit Factor

What will you replace it with?

aggiegrads

I was unimpressed with the park tool. I had the opportunity to use the Hozan 4th hand, and that is now what is in my toolbox. I gave the Park BT-2 away.

mrblue

Park makes stuff in the USA? Wow. I thought everything was made in Asia. Except Campagnolo.

I have the BT-2, too, and I guess it feels kind of flimsy, but then again, I have nothing to compare it to. Suffice to say, it does what it's supposed to do. I mean, I'm just pulling on bike cables with it. I'm not trying to rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge or put cables on telephone poles.

Papa Tom

The Park BT-2 is on its way back and the Hozan is what I chose to replace it with. It doesn't have the locking feature, but that appears to be the weakest link on the Park version, anyway. The Hozan looks more like the original Park Fourth-Hand tool that I lost and need to replace. I will let you know how it works out.

aggiegrads

Agree. The Hozan is more of a "third hand" tool. But losing the locking feature has not been that big of a problem. If it was, I would have tried to find a Unior. The locking mechanism seems less fiddly.

dsbrantjr

My Icetoolz 4th hand works just fine, at about 1/3 of the cost of the Park.

Papa Tom

I'm sure there are many that work just fine. In fact, from the pics online, my guess is that half of them are exactly the same, made in the same factory by the same slave labor. I've chosen the Hozan for now. Feel free to post any additional recommendations, but please don't be offended if I don't comment every time someone suggests another model.

Miele Man

I had two different Park bicycle tools break and when purchased were sold with a lifetime warranty. Park would not replace either tool. I no longer by Park if possible.

Cheers

Tandem Tom

I have a Pedro and it is pretty good.

aggiegrads

I am a complete tool nerd and generally assume that everyone knows what is available from Park, Pedros, Icetoolz and Birzman. I usually don’t chime in unless I know of something that is superior to the other offerings. I will seek out Hozan, Stein, Var, Unior or Cyclus options if they make what appears to be superior than what is commonly available. I have and have used “boutique” brands like EVT and Abbey, but don’t recommend them unless someone specifically asks for a premium tool.

I also seek out the best “general” tools from brands like Felco, Knipex, Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss, etc. Life is too short to use crummy tools, and I am lucky to have the means to buy good tools. Happy wrenching.

veganbikes

Hozan makes great tools. I love Park, but not for all things. I look for the best tools in the bunch rather than just stick with one manufacturer. I will say I love their Big Blue Box but I am a sucker for anything with gas assisted struts but it is a fantastic box beyond that and have a few other tools from them that are great. Their derailleur screwdrivers are so nice and they make some other stuff that is great but also a good deal of decent but not great tools.

Papa Tom

Follow-Up From The OP: I received the Hozan C-358 Fourth-Hand Tool today and it feels just like my original Park cable puller. I am grateful to know that, even though Park's current version feels cheap and poorly-made, there are still some quality tools out there to be had from other manufacturers.

Thanks for all the input.

aggiegrads

Thanks for the update. I really appreciate people following up so those folks giving advice have a clue if their guidance was valuable.