Confessions of a tool junkie

[Jurek]

I can't quite read the name on that. How would I come across one?

It is Facom.
I think you'll struggle to find an unused one.
Tourette's Tools used to ship them into the UK  - but they've been closed for a good few years now.
It identifies as a 114.8
Good luck with finding one.

[pcolbeck]

Inspired by a discussion elseweb, and the fact that my current solder sucker has a gnarly tip, I've just taken delivery of one of these: https://www.engineertools-jp.com/ss02

It oozes quality, is actually hand-sized, and in a brief test on a scrap of veroboard (which is admittedly optimal conditions) seems to suck at least as well as my existing one did when new.  Very much not barakta-friendly in terms of thumb-strength required, thobut.

In the words of the now legendary Marty McFly, all the best stuff comes from Japan...

Everything I have from Engineer is lovely. Their screw removal pliers are awesome.

https://youtu.be/R7eDNkFFAII?si=iPR0c4Hqgbvr9S9M

[Kim]

Everything I have from Engineer is lovely. Their screw removal pliers are awesome.

https://youtu.be/R7eDNkFFAII?si=iPR0c4Hqgbvr9S9M

I have a set of those, after someone (possibly you) mentioned them on here.  They're basically magic.

Can also recommend their PA-09/PA-12 crimp tools.  Not because they're the best at crimping, but they're a sensible price for light use and when used with care can achieve a acceptable result on a wide range of small crimp connectors (JST, Dupont, Molex, small spade connectors, etc).

[JefO]

My friends astounded me at lunch today. They bought me a lovely bicycle bearing press kit. 'Tis a thing of beauty. Gobsmacked
Looks very similar to this -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314238035925

[robgul]

My friends astounded me at lunch today. They bought me a lovely bicycle bearing press kit. 'Tis a thing of beauty. Gobsmacked
Looks very similar to this -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314238035925

Pretty cool, but I wonder how many of the collars you would actually use?

[JefO]

Pretty cool, but I wonder how many of the collars you would actually use?

...Or my son when I depart this mortal coil

[Kim]

Pretty cool, but I wonder how many of the collars you would actually use?

...Or my son when I depart this mortal coil

Don't be silly.  The bike manufacturers will have come up with incompatible bearing sizes by then.

[JefO]

Pretty cool, but I wonder how many of the collars you would actually use?

...Or my son when I depart this mortal coil

Don't be silly.  The bike manufacturers will have come up with incompatible bearing sizes by then.

But my family will continue to maintain obsolete technology way into the future! 

[robgul]

Pretty cool, but I wonder how many of the collars you would actually use?

...Or my son when I depart this mortal coil

Don't be silly.  The bike manufacturers will have come up with incompatible bearing sizes by then.

But my family will continue to maintain obsolete technology way into the future! 

Wheels Manufacturing has a useful "multi-stepped" collar that fits every BB bearing I've come across (altough a pair costs as much as the blue mega-set) . . .  and it's a really nice RED colour

[Hot Flatus]

Bang for buck, this is my favorite tool.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285340357873?chn=ps&_ul=GB&var=587219577903&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1ySOyDBGoSnqXfX1EiHVXaQ16&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=587219577903_285340357873&targetid=1647205088800&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045629&poi=&campaignid=19926849521&mkgroupid=147378848803&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088800&abcId=9311021&merchantid=527412213&gad_source=1

Yes, doesn't get used that often, but when it does it saves muching around with a vice and those silly little yellow plastic blocks

[TimO]

This is a YouTube video made for this thread!

     10 Ridiculous Bike Tools You Do NOT Need (but want...)

Actually they're not all ridiculous, or ridiculously expensive, but some are!

I really want the Abbey Tools Truing Stand, but I wouldn't spend the money needed for the Park one, let alone this model! Very nice and shiny, but stupidly costly. 

[Jurek]

This is a YouTube video made for this thread!

     10 Ridiculous Bike Tools You Do NOT Need (but want...)

Actually they're not all ridiculous, or ridiculously expensive, but some are!

I really want the Abbey Tools Truing Stand, but I wouldn't spend the money needed for the Park one, let alone this model! Very nice and shiny, but stupidly costly. 

If you want to see some really sexy tools for wheel building, pay a visit to Arup Sen in Byne Road, Sydenham.
He built all of the wheels I've had on the Pompino.
He uses a German-made P&K Lie Special250 truing stand. It knocks the Parktool and Abbey Tools ones into a cocked hat. 
He also has a hand operated machine which cuts blank spokes to length before cutting a thread onto them in one operation.
He is a self-confessed wheel building nerd.
As well as being a really nice guy.

[JonBuoy]

This is a YouTube video made for this thread!

     10 Ridiculous Bike Tools You Do NOT Need (but want...)

Actually they're not all ridiculous, or ridiculously expensive, but some are!

I really want the Abbey Tools Truing Stand, but I wouldn't spend the money needed for the Park one, let alone this model! Very nice and shiny, but stupidly costly. 

If you want to see some really sexy tools for wheel building, pay a visit to Arup Sen in Byne Road, Sydenham.
He built all of the wheels I've had on the Pompino.
He uses a German-made P&K Lie Special250 truing stand. It knocks the Parktool and Abbey Tools ones into a cocked hat. 
He also has a hand operated machine which cuts blank spokes to length before cutting a thread onto them.
He is a self-confessed wheel building nerd.
As well as being a really nice guy.

Hopefully rolling.

[Jurek]

This is a YouTube video made for this thread!

     10 Ridiculous Bike Tools You Do NOT Need (but want...)

Actually they're not all ridiculous, or ridiculously expensive, but some are!

I really want the Abbey Tools Truing Stand, but I wouldn't spend the money needed for the Park one, let alone this model! Very nice and shiny, but stupidly costly. 

If you want to see some really sexy tools for wheel building, pay a visit to Arup Sen in Byne Road, Sydenham.
He built all of the wheels I've had on the Pompino.
He uses a German-made P&K Lie Special250 truing stand. It knocks the Parktool and Abbey Tools ones into a cocked hat. 
He also has a hand operated machine which cuts blank spokes to length before cutting a thread onto them.
He is a self-confessed wheel building nerd.
As well as being a really nice guy.

Hopefully rolling.

No. It's a 2 part cutter that encircles the spoke in two separate halves.
I suspect that the cutting jaws for it are a) very, very hard and b) very, very expensive.
I think it might be one of these.

ETA - I think it probably was rolled - formation of the thread is achieved by pulling a lever which (I'm guessing) rolls the spoke between the cutting heads.

[Ham]

He As well as being a really nice guy.

And an excellent wheel building tutor.

[Jurek]

Not strictly speaking a tool, but then again it is, I bought some Black Tack yesterday.
Its like weapons grade Blue Tack.
When Guy Martin rode the wall of death on a motorcycle, the camera was stuck to his helmet using Black Tack.

[Efrogwr]

A spin off from the lastpost; is Sugru available anywhere? Tesa has sold out and the only "suppliers" that I have seen recently are Ebay sharks.

[Jurek]

A spin off from the lastpost; is Sugru available anywhere? Tesa has sold out and the only "suppliers" that I have seen recently are Ebay sharks.

There have been supply chain issues with it for some months now.
ETA - Depending on what you are using it for, Milliput could be a possible alternative.

[Efrogwr]

A spin off from the lastpost; is Sugru available anywhere? Tesa has sold out and the only "suppliers" that I have seen recently are Ebay sharks.

There have been supply chain issues with it for some months now.
ETA - Depending on what you are using it for, Milliput could be a possible alternative.

Thanks. I will investigate. Meanwhile, Black Tack looks useful.

[Jurek]

A spin off from the lastpost; is Sugru available anywhere? Tesa has sold out and the only "suppliers" that I have seen recently are Ebay sharks.

There have been supply chain issues with it for some months now.
ETA - Depending on what you are using it for, Milliput could be a possible alternative.

Thanks. I will investigate. Meanwhile, Black Tack looks useful.

Main difference with Milliput is that its 2-part and sets rigid - it lacks the rubbery feel of Sugru.

[Kim]

On a related note, there seems to be a shortage of Blackmorph.  (The white stuff is more readily available.)

[Cudzoziemiec]

Sugru used to be available from Wilkos. I know this is not a useful answer.

[jsabine]

I got some from Robert Dyas a few months back - this may or may not be useful information, depending on your location and their stock levels