Tool cases: Whaddaya got?
Discussion
I have collected a load of bike-specific tools over the years. In fact, I've collected a load of car-specific tools, computer-specific tools, home-DIY-specific tools AND bike-specific tools.
I like to keep them apart from each other. Yes, I might have a touch of the "obsessive" about me.
My car tools are semi-permanently located in a heavy box in the garage where I work on the car (not often since the Cerbera and Caterhams went). The DIY stuff is in the shed (where I hope to never use them again - I hate DIY). The computer tools are in my work bag (little more than a Leatherman and some odd accessories these days).
My bike tool collection needs to be portable, so I can take it wherever we go cycling. I was thinking of one of those Stanley Tote boxes with a removable "small parts" tray on top, like this:
The small parts tray will hold the various BB and cassette sockets. The bottom will hold the larger stuff but I have the full selection of Park Tools cone spanners. I'd have liked a set of drawers for these yet keeping the other features and portability.
Portability means "in the car" by the way. I don't need to carry this stuff when I'm actually on my bike.
What do you have?
I like to keep them apart from each other. Yes, I might have a touch of the "obsessive" about me.
My car tools are semi-permanently located in a heavy box in the garage where I work on the car (not often since the Cerbera and Caterhams went). The DIY stuff is in the shed (where I hope to never use them again - I hate DIY). The computer tools are in my work bag (little more than a Leatherman and some odd accessories these days).
My bike tool collection needs to be portable, so I can take it wherever we go cycling. I was thinking of one of those Stanley Tote boxes with a removable "small parts" tray on top, like this:
The small parts tray will hold the various BB and cassette sockets. The bottom will hold the larger stuff but I have the full selection of Park Tools cone spanners. I'd have liked a set of drawers for these yet keeping the other features and portability.
Portability means "in the car" by the way. I don't need to carry this stuff when I'm actually on my bike.
What do you have?
I've got a bunch of my bike tools stored in a big orange 'suitcase' which used to be a defibrillator case, but was getting slung into a skip at work. Car tools are in various metal toolboxes finished in a natty 'olive drab' colour because they were getting scrapped too. Then there's the big red, ex-US Air Force, wheeled tool chest for all the spares, and stuff like the torque wrenches and oils/grease.
I really ought to thin out all the crap in the garage. It'd fit into fewer toolboxes, but I'm really bad for hoarding...
I really ought to thin out all the crap in the garage. It'd fit into fewer toolboxes, but I'm really bad for hoarding...
I've got 3 tool boxes, just the homebase own brand jobies. One huge one for DIY stuff, one portable smallish one for all the bike tools not big enough to take a park chain whip and a slightly bigger one for rarely used bike tools, headset installation tool and headset removal thingy etc.
Drills etc have there own boxes so they don't count
Drills etc have there own boxes so they don't count
I needed more storage space for my bike tools and bit so started the hunt once again for a bargain Snap On box and this came up for sale. Once home I attacked it with thinners to remove the rattle can paint and used a hairdryer to remove the decals (original Snap On paint is extremely hard and the thinners does not harm it if care is taken)
After a couple of hours work I now have a tidy old box
I was offered a daddy toolbox at a price I couldn't refuse, big enough to hold all my bike parts and tools
After a couple of hours work I now have a tidy old box
I was offered a daddy toolbox at a price I couldn't refuse, big enough to hold all my bike parts and tools
All - thanks for the suggestions. I especially like the Snap-On kit.
I already have quite a large collection of car tools in a massive steel drawer unit in the garage. I was after something I can throw into the boot of the car when we go out somewhere for the day - as well as keeping the bike tools all together.
I found that Stanley one cheap from ScrewFix, so picked it up. It's larger than I imagined (even though I'd seen the measurements) which turns out to be perfect for containing all the tools, tubes, hydraulic fluid & syringes, multi-tools, spare lights & batteries, various screws, and uncatalogued "bike stuff" all neatly segregated so I can find what I want without having to rifle through the other tools.
The lower compartment comes with no dividers but it does come with a piece of card cut to the right shape, so that you can make your own if you fancy. I do fancy so I'll sort something out regarding that in the next few days.
Your suggestions have made me think though - I have a load of bike related spares like handlebars, pedals, and other stuff you just wouldn't need as a portable tool kit but which needs storage, so I'm now looking at something bigger for the garage.
I already have quite a large collection of car tools in a massive steel drawer unit in the garage. I was after something I can throw into the boot of the car when we go out somewhere for the day - as well as keeping the bike tools all together.
I found that Stanley one cheap from ScrewFix, so picked it up. It's larger than I imagined (even though I'd seen the measurements) which turns out to be perfect for containing all the tools, tubes, hydraulic fluid & syringes, multi-tools, spare lights & batteries, various screws, and uncatalogued "bike stuff" all neatly segregated so I can find what I want without having to rifle through the other tools.
The lower compartment comes with no dividers but it does come with a piece of card cut to the right shape, so that you can make your own if you fancy. I do fancy so I'll sort something out regarding that in the next few days.
Your suggestions have made me think though - I have a load of bike related spares like handlebars, pedals, and other stuff you just wouldn't need as a portable tool kit but which needs storage, so I'm now looking at something bigger for the garage.
Watchman said:
Looks like it might be a shade small for my purposes however I do like the cantilever shelving. What make is it? I might find a use for one.
It's amde by Stanley. It's wide enough to take Park pedal and BB spanners so not too small.You can get it from Screwfix.
It's also strong enough that I have used it as a step without it even flinching.
I've just had a look - it *is* a decent box.
There's also one like mine but with a slightly different removable top-box which I also covet. My wife thinks I have a problem. She might be right.
Mine's 24" and slightly too short to attach my stirrup pump to it without it hanging over the ends and interfering with the handle. I might see if I can install a couple of terry clips to the back of it without compromising its integrity. Should be OK.
There's also one like mine but with a slightly different removable top-box which I also covet. My wife thinks I have a problem. She might be right.
Mine's 24" and slightly too short to attach my stirrup pump to it without it hanging over the ends and interfering with the handle. I might see if I can install a couple of terry clips to the back of it without compromising its integrity. Should be OK.
That was my problem. I had it all in a holdall which contained it but meant I had to remove everything to get to the one item I wanted.
Mine's a 24"er, M'Lady.
Inside it I've got:
Mine's a 24"er, M'Lady.
Inside it I've got:
- ~10 tubes of different sizes (I look after a lot of bikes)
- 1 litre Shimano hydraulic brake fluid, small drinks bottle for when I'm bleeding brakes, tube of red grease, small container of GT85
- Couple of spare front lights (superceded by the Ebay CREE lights but I keep them in case anyone else needs them)
- Couple of multitools
- Tyre levers
- Chain splitter
- Brake bleed syringes, fittings/couplings, hoses
- Full set of cone spanners
- Air fork pump
- Large adjustable spanner - big enough for old-style headset bolts
- Chain whip
- Selection of cassette and BB removal tools
- A few choice-sized spanners (7mm for brake nipples, 13mm for some seatposts and bike trailer bolts, 15mm for pedals)
- Full set of ball-ended allen keys
- Pliers and brake cable cutters
- Spoke keys
- A few odds and sods like tyre valve caps, washers, gromets
- Can of carb cleaner - cleans everything but beware of painted surfaces.
Thanks
Not sure I'm after something I'll carry with me, just something to keep all my tools in the same place and not have to go through drawers to find my tools when I need them I wouldn't keep spare tubes in there but I think I probably have most of the other things you have so sounds like something in the region of 18-20" could be sensible.
Not sure I'm after something I'll carry with me, just something to keep all my tools in the same place and not have to go through drawers to find my tools when I need them I wouldn't keep spare tubes in there but I think I probably have most of the other things you have so sounds like something in the region of 18-20" could be sensible.
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