Wrench Tool kit suggestions

My son-in law has a birthday coming up and would like some tools to start to do some of his own bike repairs. He is looking for shop tools, not the small carry -with -you multi tools. Is there a big difference in the quality of tools between brands? I know the Park brand is much moren expensive than say Nashbar or Pyramid. Is it better to start with fewer of the more expensive brands or an entire set of the less expensive ones?What kinds of things are essential to have in this home kit. Any suggestions as to what tool kit would be good for him? I'd like to keep the price under $100.00. Also, any suggestions on a repair book? What would you recommend for a work stand as an alternative gift? I think at least one of his bikes is carbon. Thanks for your suggestions.

Truthfully, if you don't know what tools he already has (lots of tools are interchangeable) I'd go with a gift certificate. He can do an inventory and see what else he could use and spend the money more specifically.

Park is more expensive, so is pedro's.

I bought a pedros shimano bottom bracket set off chainlove.com that's been extremely handy - given that it was on chainlove it was discounted enough that I was fine with the price. I could maybe have bought nashbar brand or avenir brand for cheaper, but the pedros came with this really big wrench that's excellent for leverage. I've seen a more complete tool kit come up on chainlove every so often, but since you don't know if you'll see it before his birthday...

Sometimes amazon has good prices on pedros or parks tools. Avenir seems to be priced well on there as well.

I've sort of found that no matter how many tools I have, I invariably seem to run out and buy another one because somehow one of the ones I have doesn't work with whatever type of bottom bracket or crank I'm trying to pull out despite already having 3 crank extractors.

You don't really mention what sort of repairs he wants to do... Definitely he needs a set of allen wrenches. Some small screwdrivers for derailleur adjustments. Tire levers.

If he wants to start changing cassettes or cranks himself - then he does need a chain tool, a chain whip, and a cassette lock tool thing (whatever you call that tool that lets you unlock the lockring from the cassette and pull it off). These all seem to be fairly universal. If he wants to true his own wheels, a wheel truing stand is useful, as are spoke wrenches - again, which size spoke wrench he needs depends on which wheels he has, so a variety of these can be helpful.

Now depending on what kind of bikes he has and what age bikes he has, which bottom bracket tools or crank extractors he needs might vary.

this is a good starter kit:
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...-Tool-Kit.html

If you use coupon code 38M-1-GGDSP, it will give you 50% off the MSRP on that kit, which will bring you under $100. They give free shipping on over $50, and they have a 100% satisfaction return policy, so return it whenever for whatever reason, and they'll return your money. If you go through live.com and use the cashback feature, I think they're currently giving 12% cashback for backcountry.com - so 60 days from now, they'll paypal you 12% of your purchase price.


I have this one, that's been really handy:
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...train-Kit.html

Thanks, Catrione. Lots of good information to ponder. I'll let you know what I decide to purchase for him. He's not one known for doing his own car or household repairs, but I guess bike repairs must be calling to him. I can't blame him. I have yet to find a bike shop in which I have been 100% satisfied.

I'm a tool snob and would rather have few excellent tools than a lot of crappy ones. Which is mostly because we have the latter and I'm sick to the death of them. We do have most everything we need, though... but still I'm quietly assembling my own toolbox of excellent tools :cool:

I'd say a work stand is an excellent gift. Tools you can buy one at a time, but a work stand is more expensive and more of an investment. It's incredibly handy once you start working on your bike. I have one of the Park Tool ones, it's good.

It depends what he wants to do/already can do, but I'd suggest that after a work stand he needs the basics to fix a flat, but he probably has that, then the basics to clean+lube his bike, probably has that too, then the stuff to adjust gears and brakes- allen wrenches, a couple of small screwdrivers, needlenose pliers are handy, a good book on repairs? Then come the tools you need to change your drivetrain and remove bottom brackets and suchlike.

Hrm... A work stand, something I haven't bought yet.

I generally just put my bike on the trainer and work on it on there.

After all of your helpful suggestions I wanted to let you know that this is the tool kit I bought for my son-in-law. It was half price last week. I sure hope he learns how to make good use of this. I could use a good low cost bike mechanic at times.
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...-Tool-Kit.html

I say keep an eye on Chain Love too. The Pedro's kits have been showing up a lot lately. They have a big one that I think goes for around $80 that is awesome. I want one so bad. No clue what will become of me when I can't mooch tools from my roommate.

ooh, just gotta say - I broke my rear derailleur wire on my way to work yesterday (which meant 30 km with only 2 gears, oh, my aching thighs) but it also meant I got to use my spanking new Park Tool wire cutter when installing a new wire yesterday evening. Oh my... Plink! and a perfect clean cut and no squashed wire ends. Gotta love good tools! :p

How did your son in law like the kit?

Thanks for asking. Son-in-law seemed to like the tools really well. He changed his pedals this morning and said it went good with his new wrench. I got to see the tools in person today. They sure seem to be sturdy. I think I'd need a class to figure out how to use most of them though. Son-in-law was talking today about doing just that. Sounds like a good idea to me.