Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...
Discussion
Sway said:
Qualified by the fact I worked as a bike shop mechanic in my youth...
I wouldn't bother. At that torque level, any shifts in calibration will have as much effect on outcome as learning what the common torque ratings feel like.
For me, 6N/m is a 'gentle finger squeeze' on a standard Allen key. Very little on a bike needs any form of 'proper' tightening.
Like when I took mine in for a service and the chap asked me who the hell had been stupid enough to tighten everything (seat clamp... Quick release wheels... Etc) like Samson on a mission. My innocent whistle didn't fool him.I wouldn't bother. At that torque level, any shifts in calibration will have as much effect on outcome as learning what the common torque ratings feel like.
For me, 6N/m is a 'gentle finger squeeze' on a standard Allen key. Very little on a bike needs any form of 'proper' tightening.
Sway said:
gazapc said:
Perhaps one for the cycle forum, but what torque wrench for bicycles? My 3/8ths torque wrench goes down to 20 N/m so is way too big. Or do I just buy a few pre-set tools? Not looking too spend mega money....
Qualified by the fact I worked as a bike shop mechanic in my youth...I wouldn't bother. At that torque level, any shifts in calibration will have as much effect on outcome as learning what the common torque ratings feel like.
For me, 6N/m is a 'gentle finger squeeze' on a standard Allen key. Very little on a bike needs any form of 'proper' tightening.
6N/m to me is the knuckle on my little finger turning white
gazapc said:
Perhaps one for the cycle forum, but what torque wrench for bicycles? My 3/8ths torque wrench goes down to 20 N/m so is way too big. Or do I just buy a few pre-set tools? Not looking too spend mega money....
Mechanical torque wrenches will at best have a range of 10x in which they give reliable precise limits. Ie. when the lowest value is 2.5Nm, the highest will be 25Nm. There's offers that promise 1Nm to 25Nm, but these are not physically feasible with enough precision that justify its use. At the same time, these offers never mention their tolerance for the upper or lower limit.
That said, for a bicycle you will practically need values from 1Nm to 70Nm. That will require you to have two torque wrenches for a bike - when you already have one that goes down 20Nm, you might only need one that goes up to 25Nm. Look for a 1/4" with <5% tolerance across the whole range.
I like this simple little thing for tightening fasteners into carbon frames…
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-combo-torq-wrench?...
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-combo-torq-wrench?...
Accelebrate said:
I like this simple little thing for tightening fasteners into carbon frames…
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-combo-torq-wrench?...
I have one of those and gave up on it in the end. It is nowhere near accurate, which can be a disaster from fasteners into carbon frames, spend a bit more and get a proper torque wrench.https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-combo-torq-wrench?...
RedWhiteMonkey said:
I have one of those and gave up on it in the end. It is nowhere near accurate, which can be a disaster from fasteners into carbon frames, spend a bit more and get a proper torque wrench.
I always felt it was accurate enough for the intended application, a good enough indicator if your fingers aren’t calibrated. gazapc said:
Perhaps one for the cycle forum, but what torque wrench for bicycles? My 3/8ths torque wrench goes down to 20 N/m so is way too big. Or do I just buy a few pre-set tools? Not looking too spend mega money....
In the spirit of the thread I suggest this: https://silca.cc/products/t-ratchet-ti-torque-kit-...
I got a v1 version when they did their crowdfunded startup thing and it is a lovely bit of kit. No idea how accurate it is, but carbon tarts with expensive bikes seem to rate them. May just be buyer self-validation after spending so much though
Rail square for my track saw.
https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/rail-square
Knew they existed, but put it off for years as they're quite expensive and not 100% necessary for what I usually do.
I bought one previously when in the sale, which made it a bit easier to justify & just had an email saying there's a sale on.
15% off for the bank holiday weekend for everything, not just the rail squares. No affiliation, just know a lot of people on here have track saws.
https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/rail-square
Knew they existed, but put it off for years as they're quite expensive and not 100% necessary for what I usually do.
I bought one previously when in the sale, which made it a bit easier to justify & just had an email saying there's a sale on.
15% off for the bank holiday weekend for everything, not just the rail squares. No affiliation, just know a lot of people on here have track saws.
bennno said:
dickymint said:
Huntsman said:
My Makita LXT hedge trimmer arrived, its bloody brilliant!
I was amazed at the thickness it will cut. I zip tie the safety lever for that extra one handed reach when up the ladder doing the tops 
I used to think my angle grinder was the most dangerous thing I owned until I got a chainsaw on the end of an 8ft pole!
On top of a ladder it feels sketchy as hell!
Slagathore said:
Rail square for my track saw.
https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/rail-square
Knew they existed, but put it off for years as they're quite expensive and not 100% necessary for what I usually do.
I bought one previously when in the sale, which made it a bit easier to justify & just had an email saying there's a sale on.
15% off for the bank holiday weekend for everything, not just the rail squares. No affiliation, just know a lot of people on here have track saws.
I've looked at them before, in context they aren't silly money but they've really overengineered the things for no good reason beyond 'shiny' and driven the price up well past where it should be.https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections/rail-square
Knew they existed, but put it off for years as they're quite expensive and not 100% necessary for what I usually do.
I bought one previously when in the sale, which made it a bit easier to justify & just had an email saying there's a sale on.
15% off for the bank holiday weekend for everything, not just the rail squares. No affiliation, just know a lot of people on here have track saws.
A big speed square will give you basically the same thing for most uses, if not quite so tied together. Or in my case I'd just buy the Bosch/Mafell angle guide track and use that as it's cheaper (£90 on Amazon) and does more.
98elise said:
I have a Ryobi long reach hedge trimmer and chain saw which is effectively just that.
I used to think my angle grinder was the most dangerous thing I owned until I got a chainsaw on the end of an 8ft pole!
On top of a ladder it feels sketchy as hell!
On the upside unlike most chainsaws (or angle grinders) the business end is 8ft away so you'd have to be really stupid to hurt yourself with it. It just *looks* sketchy. I used to think my angle grinder was the most dangerous thing I owned until I got a chainsaw on the end of an 8ft pole!
On top of a ladder it feels sketchy as hell!
pquinn said:
98elise said:
On the upside unlike most chainsaws (or angle grinders) the business end is 8ft away so you'd have to be really stupid to hurt yourself with it. It just *looks* sketchy. It’ll have stopped spinning long before it hits you (so wear a proper chainsaw helmet!).
It is a bit iffy to wield when up a ladder, but depends on what you’re taking down. Works well for us!
Also have the hedge trimmer attachment.
loudlashadjuster said:
Zumbruk said:
Torque wrenches? Just tighten it until it strips and then a bit less. 
The 'traditional' approach sadly doesn't work with new-fangled carbon fibre, it goes more like 'just tighten it until you hear a crack then spend £3k on a new frame' I have an apology to make. Couple of months ago when all the talk in here was about mini mattocks and shovels I derided them! Fast forward to last week when Wifey said she wanted the Bamboo Jungle finally removed (she had a go last year and gave up) can you help? So thanks to amazon next day delivery..............
The area to the left, where Nelly is now, she cleared a couple of days ago. Fair play she's getting the hang of it
The area to the left, where Nelly is now, she cleared a couple of days ago. Fair play she's getting the hang of it
dickymint said:
I have an apology to make. Couple of months ago when all the talk in here was about mini mattocks and shovels I derided them! Fast forward to last week when Wifey said she wanted the Bamboo Jungle finally removed (she had a go last year and gave up) can you help? So thanks to amazon next day delivery..............
The area to the left, where Nelly is now, she cleared a couple of days ago. Fair play she's getting the hang of it
It looks like you have tied her left arm to her left leg. Is this to stop her using the finished tunnel and getting away?The area to the left, where Nelly is now, she cleared a couple of days ago. Fair play she's getting the hang of it
That's baby bamboo...
I've been thorough all that - mini mattock, full size f
k off mattock, etc. Have all been employed in the battle.
Recently, I've got a digging pole. Combined with a handy 'legendary half brick' as a fulcrum I can now lever out lumps the size of the average labrador in one go.
I've been thorough all that - mini mattock, full size f
k off mattock, etc. Have all been employed in the battle.Recently, I've got a digging pole. Combined with a handy 'legendary half brick' as a fulcrum I can now lever out lumps the size of the average labrador in one go.
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