What unlikely tools or products do you keep in your bike repair/restoration toolbox?
#1
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What unlikely tools or products do you keep in your bike repair/restoration toolbox?
We all use things off-label when we discover they work really well for an unintended use. What do you all keep in your bike repair toolkit that wasn't intended for the way you use it?
I'll give an example:
Nail polish - I keep clear UV-resistant nail polish base coat as an all-purpose sealant for protecting decals and for coating rusty hardware after oxalic acid treatment and cleanup. It does a great job at preventing rust from re-forming on flaking chromed parts.
I'll give an example:
Nail polish - I keep clear UV-resistant nail polish base coat as an all-purpose sealant for protecting decals and for coating rusty hardware after oxalic acid treatment and cleanup. It does a great job at preventing rust from re-forming on flaking chromed parts.
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I don't know if it is unusual, but I have several X-Acto knives throughout the house and work. Downstairs toolbox. Garage toolbox. Work-at-home desk. Pen cup next to this computer. Desk at work. Several in the toolbox at the lab at work.
Cutting, cleaning, positions things. Can't imagine doing a job without them.
Cutting, cleaning, positions things. Can't imagine doing a job without them.
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I asked my dentist and she said "Sure" and shoved a box full of old picks at me - lifetime supply. They're awesome for cleaning crevices like fine threads and bearing-seat corners and stamped/engraved details, and you can grind their tips for special purposes.
Often used with loupes - get one if you don't have one, they're great for checking bearing races and looking for cracks. A cheapie will do fine.
Supermagnet - stick it on the screwdriver shank somewhere near the tip; reduces swearing.
Often used with loupes - get one if you don't have one, they're great for checking bearing races and looking for cracks. A cheapie will do fine.
Supermagnet - stick it on the screwdriver shank somewhere near the tip; reduces swearing.
Last edited by oneclick; 02-05-21 at 04:37 PM.
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Something I learned here: feeler gauges to use as metal shims. Cheap and effective.
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I am a tool grinder by trade so I always have my “Optivisor” handy. I also use dental picks and very small bottle brushes.
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#6
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Ha, that's a great idea for when you need to dial in just the right thickness. I keep a few small aluminum and brass sheet stocks of different thicknesses as shims, I get them at Blick Art Supply, but it's not always possible to dial in the right thickness!
Last edited by southpawboston; 02-05-21 at 06:29 PM.
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Rubber nipples in assorted sizes. You just never know.
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Because every fixed cup always comes out, period.
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Dental picks! Also I have an older couple of thin walled sockets in 14mm, 15mm that can remove old crank bolts. Most sockets these days are too thick for it.
#10
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
#11
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I keep a bearing cup, a large fender washer (or 2), an crank bolt, or crank nut (depending on the spindle) on hand. They all hold the fixed cup wrench in place and is a bit more refined than merziac’s method. I also remove the fixed cup first with this tool. I found that works better than doing the adjustable cup first.
Other items I use: A syringe and basting needle for injecting water under grips to slide them off. I also have a spoke with a sharpened tip as a pokey tool. As we say at my co-op, it’s for “poking stuff”. I also have empty Gatorade bottles that I use to clean chains. I put in mineral spirits, the chain, agitate for 30 seconds or so, and then fish out the chain. The chain comes out clean as a whistle.
Other items I use: A syringe and basting needle for injecting water under grips to slide them off. I also have a spoke with a sharpened tip as a pokey tool. As we say at my co-op, it’s for “poking stuff”. I also have empty Gatorade bottles that I use to clean chains. I put in mineral spirits, the chain, agitate for 30 seconds or so, and then fish out the chain. The chain comes out clean as a whistle.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 02-05-21 at 11:56 PM.
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#12
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I keep a bearing cup, a large fender washer (or 2), an crank bolt, or crank nut (depending on the spindle) on hand. They all hold the fixed cup wrench in place and is a bit more refined than merziac’s method. I also remove the fixed cup first with this tool. I found that works better than doing the adjustable cup first.
WD40 aerosol works a treat; the trick is slide the little red tube in by itself, then attach and squirt.
#13
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A ball of butchers twine I stole from the kitchen and never returned (my wife is vegetarian, so I don't get to use it that often anyway!), I prefer it zip ties for lashing things together temporarily.
I've also have a basting needle from the kitchen (again, vegetarian wife) which I've used as pick/small drift pin.
I've also have a basting needle from the kitchen (again, vegetarian wife) which I've used as pick/small drift pin.
#14
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Old toothbrushes.
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Lineman’s pliers and pipe cutter, and instead of dental picks I use these cheap sculpting tools I upgraded from many years ago.
#16
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I use this syringe with luer-lock fitting from a lab HPLC for adding oil to a Sturmey Archer IGH.
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WD40 aerosol works a treat; the trick is slide the little red tube in by itself, then attach and squirt.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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A ball of butchers twine I stole from the kitchen and never returned (my wife is vegetarian, so I don't get to use it that often anyway!), I prefer it zip ties for lashing things together temporarily.
I've also have a basting needle from the kitchen (again, vegetarian wife) which I've used as pick/small drift pin.
I've also have a basting needle from the kitchen (again, vegetarian wife) which I've used as pick/small drift pin.
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A couple of nickels for adjusting brake calipers/pads.
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An awl, a larger version of the spoke "pokey tool" for rounding crushed ends of cable housing. Bits of left over inner cable to insert into housing when I cut it so I don't need to use the awl.
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#21
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Yeah, a simple scratch awl is an oft-used tool in my shop. In a pinch it can also deburr drilled holes. I used to use it for cable ends too, until bought a Pedro's housing cutter with built in awl for that purpose.
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#23
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OK well I have an air compressor that is very handy. Like removing grips or putting them on. Just stick the nozzle under the rubber and the grip floats off.
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Would 3.5mm hex for Campi Delta brake maintenance count as unlikely?
Or those tiny hex sizes for some vintage tt cable guide bolts.
My father's vintage screw clamp (with rag covering metal surfaces) makes a great '3rd Hand' brake holding/repairing tool. One clamp fits all brake sizes.
Or those tiny hex sizes for some vintage tt cable guide bolts.
My father's vintage screw clamp (with rag covering metal surfaces) makes a great '3rd Hand' brake holding/repairing tool. One clamp fits all brake sizes.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
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I keep waiting for someone to say a condom. Hopefully, not a used one.