While many of us dream of a kitted-out workshop with a fully laden tool chest, hydraulic scissor lift and suite of welding equipment, you don’t have to spend a fortune to be able to work on your pride and joy. We’ve handpicked a few bits of key gear that’ll make basic bike maintenance a doddle, without breaking the bank.
I want to kit out my shed. What do I need?
What you need to think about is what are you thinking of working on? If the only thing you’re going to do is check and inflate tyres and maybe clean, lube and adjust the chain, you don’t really need a £19,000, 1115-piece Teng tool kit and storage, plus a hydraulic lift!
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Fair enough. But what are the essentials?
No matter what, even doing very little, these are worth it. You never know when you’ll find something has come loose.
– Torque Wrench – the best ones let you set maximum pressure
– Socket/Spanner set
– Screwdriver set
– Hex keys
– Pressure gauge and good-quality pump (minimum two cylinder – your leg will thank us for this)
– Work light
– Gloves
– Fluids (chain cleaner and lube, penetrating fluid as a minimum)
– Hand cleaner
They’ve got most of this stuff in the local pound shop…
I wouldn’t inflict cheap tools on your pride and joy. Get the best-quality tools you can afford; If you’ve got the money for Teng/Snap-On then go for it, if not, look at professional ranges.
Quality tools are made of better grade metal to much higher tolerances. Cheap metal flexes and bends, plus they don’t fit as well so they’re far more likely to mangle the bolt/nut or simply break the tool (I’ve seen it happen, spanner head snap and shoot across the garage! Thankfully, no one got hit). Same goes for screwdrivers. Cheap ones don’t fit well, and the tips distort so you end up destroying the screw head, especially if the screws are cheap, too.
Anything else?
The most useful spanner/socket you will own is the 10mm. No matter how many 10mm spanners you own, you WILL lose them. Get more than one. Aside from anything it’s handy when tightening to have one to hold, one to tighten.
If you have the space (and budget) to be organised, it’s well worth getting a rack where the tools can be stored, clearly marked with their own space. That way, when they’re being put away you can easily see if you have mislaid one (looking at you, 10mm spanner).
Over the next few days we’ll feature some related stuff we’ve tried and tested. Be sure to check back!
