Framebuilding Tools

[ToddFarr]

Hello all,
I am getting ready to tool up a bit.

Here is what I am thinking I need:

ST Reamer
BB Tap/facer
Crown Race Cutter (I do have access to a lathe, can I just use this? What do I turn the diameter to? Is it easier to buy the tool?)
H-Tools
Derailleur Hanger Adjuster

Any important ones I am missing? Also I made the mistake of buying a Icetoolz HT reamer. I am going to use it until it's completely worthless. But how is the Cyclus stuff, or the Park? What are your recommendations for brands on these things? Also on the ST reamer should I get individual sizes or should I buy one of those universals? 27.2 is the most standard right? XL uses 30.9?

Thanks,
Todd

[Jacob_Curtis]

I have always used the Chadwick adjustable reamers for seat tubes.

The newer park tool BB tap/facer is OK, I would love to find an old VAR, Cobra, or Campagnolo set I could afford.

I prefer to use a lathe to cut crown race seats, Cane Creek has a great page with specs for all modern headsets. http://www.canecreek.com/resources/p...s-straight.pdf
That link shows crown race dimensions at the bottom, there is another more comprehensive pdf hidden somewhere on their page.

I like the older versions of the park H-tools, the newer ones I have used tend to creep out of the dropouts worse than others, again the Campagnolo H tools are a cut above other options.
Stein tools makes an interesting looking version, quick release attachment. They look like you could get some real leverage with them, but they are also pricey.

The park DAG is a great tool, hard to beat for the price. I have seen some great homemade versions. I use an older Campagnolo tool with no integrated indicator, just a 6" scale to measure the gap.

As for a HT reamer...anything but the icetoolz. Campagnolo, VAR, Bicycle Research, Park. They'll all get the job done. Park likely has the best availability for oversize cutters if you plan to use big head tubes.

Hello all,
I am getting ready to tool up a bit.

Here is what I am thinking I need:

ST Reamer
BB Tap/facer
Crown Race Cutter (I do have access to a lathe, can I just use this? What do I turn the diameter to? Is it easier to buy the tool?)
H-Tools
Derailleur Hanger Adjuster

Any important ones I am missing? Also I made the mistake of buying a Icetoolz HT reamer. I am going to use it until it's completely worthless. But how is the Cyclus stuff, or the Park? What are your recommendations for brands on these things? Also on the ST reamer should I get individual sizes or should I buy one of those universals? 27.2 is the most standard right? XL uses 30.9?

Thanks,
Todd

[Eric Estlund]

Anything Jim Stein makes is great. His Htools work with (or without) the rest of his alignment system. Very nice- an update on the VAR tool that Park copied.

The better Cyclus cutters are great. Others to consider:
-Cobra
-VAR
-Campy
-Silva
-Bicycle Research
-Strawberry (and Marchetti)
-Bringheli

The Park stuff isn't my favorite, but the cutter selection is great, and replacement parts are prevalent.

Personally I'm running a Park head tube set up (I got it cheap), Bringheli crown race cutter and Cyclus combo BB tap/ facer. The nice thing about the Cyclus is it is actually designed to CUT threads, rather then just chase them. Similar class to the Silva and Marchetti in that regard. At BF we did hundreds of frames a year with the VAR BB taps.

I am also using the Cyclus seat tube reamer with fixed sized cutter. I find it smoother then the Chadwick (and much smoother then the clones). The cutters are fairly cheap, last a long time, can be sharpened, and can be reground by any tool guy worth his salt for oddball sizes.

[ToddFarr]

Thank you! This is really helpful. The H-tools from Stein look awesome! Pretty pricing but I like the Right Angle design with the QR's.

Where can you source Campy and VAR stuff? Is it all just NOS?
Thanks.

[steve garro]

What I have (so far)
BB = Park - just OK
HT = Bicycle research, but they are pretty much gone. I am borrowing a park 44mm so far and it's "OK"
crown race = Bringheli - very nice!
ST = Chadwick & thehefethen = so far so good, and I have a cyclus in some sizes too.
H tools I have a Stein - I worked for Jim for a little while - ALL good tools.
Jig = HJ access 65
Alignment table = Bringheli
SS, CS & Fork fixtures = Anvil
The tip of the iceberg.......
I have over $70,000 in tooling here & there.....
Noy much to some but quite allot to just build diamond frames it seems.
Lots in bending aparati.......
assembly tools, too.
Been collecting bike tools since 1985.
then there's A-O stuff.........
- Garro.

[Eric Estlund]

Campy stuff I'm not sure on, but Mel Pinto sells the full line of VAR in the US.

Cyclus stuff can be had from a few sources, but the biggest selection I am aware of is from United Bicycle Supply. They have probably the single largest selection of bike tools in the industry (US).

Silva, Stawberry (LAN) tools and Marchetti can be had through Andy Newlands.

Silva and Cobra (and some Cyclus?) can also be imported from Peter at Ceeway.

I believe Cobra, Silva and Campy tools can be had from Euro Asia as well.

I hope that helps-

[devlin]

Wiki?

[afwalker]

Only made 2 forks so far and with the nice looking Cyclus crown race cutter, but both a 1" and a 1 1/8" crown were cut slightly off center. The fit on the steerer tube seems a bit loose so I've tried metal foil wrap. I think the lathe would be better, maybe finish with my cutter.
An Ice bb face/reamer broke a tab after 3 bikes, now I got the Cyclus from Ceeway:) Way nice

[ToddFarr]

What Cyclus did you get? I was looking at the one under Economy tools but was thinking about spending the extra $ for the Cobra. Thoughts? I may just spend the extra extra money and get the top of the line Cyclus BB tap and facer. I don't know yet.

[afwalker]

The top of the line is such a high quality product. When the 2 pieces are put together the tolerances are so tight that it holds air pressure. No slack there.

[ToddFarr]

That's the one you picked up?

[afwalker]

Yes the first one on the best page, L433 for outside UK.
Only done one bike with it so far, but it's a way better made tool.
cheers

[ToddFarr]

Yeah, I expensive as hell. I figured you get what you pay for, and it seems like you and Eric over at Winter would agree. I have a hard time not buying the best even if I will only use it as a hobby tool, I figure I can resell it for more later than if I buy a piece of junk that ends up broken after a few frames.
Thanks,
Todd

[Eric Estlund]

For comparison, the pricing below is from Ceeway as of 9/19/12:

The Cyclus tap facer combo is 530 GBP.

The Cobra tap is 274 GBP, and the facer is 230 (total of 504GBP).

For not a whole lot of monetary difference you can do it all with one tool with no change over, and all 4 cutters are indexing off the same shaft. No fuss, no muss. It's a similar price comparison to the Park of VAR tools. Silva are another price level above (by a healthy margin).

No way around it- this stuff isn't cheap. And just wait till you drop a cutter on the cement floor and have to order another one (no I haven't, and yes, I have seen it).

[steve garro]

And just wait till you drop a cutter on the cement floor and have to order another one (no I haven't, and yes, I have seen it).

I've had a friend do this for me.
I've seen one shatter in a bike shop.
- Garro.