Bicycle tools.

[Grant Gunderson]

Today I happened upon a special tool that’s no longer made to my knowledge, but is one of the best tools I have ever used for it’s task at hand. It’s a VAR 17 cable end crimper. It was made by VAR tools in France in the 70’s and leaves a perfect crimp on the cable ends of your bike every single time. Plus it fits into really tight situations such as remote levers for droppers etc, unlike most ferrule crimpers. The quality of it is right up there with any of the tools that I own from Abbey. From my research, apparently VAR made both a spoke cutter and cable crimps. Both had the same VAR 17 designation as the handles appear identical. The only difference is the cutting / crimping heads are different. But are easily replaceable and most likely interchangeable. In the catalog I found, the cable crimpers had “BIS” added to the designation.

If you haven’t heard of VAR tools before think of them as a European version of Park Tool.

let’s see if we can compile a list of other top end bike tools such as Abbey, EVT, etc.

 

[Retroman]

Trying to get the courage up to order the EVT EZ lift Repair Stand. Nice tool but a chunk of change.

 

[pfaustus]

The best thing I've ever found for crimping ferrules was a pair of old Bell System crimpers. The ELDI pedal wrench has anything from Park beat. In fact, I suspect that almost anything from VAR or Hozan beats the Park substitute. But I clearly qualify as a retrogrouch.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, crimping cable end ferrules can be 'hit or miss' without a good tool. I've had very good luck with other Park Tool brand bicycle tools (I don't have a CE crimper from them tho).

 

[slowtwitch73]

They made much more than those two tools.

Many tools can crimp a cable end.. even dikes.. just go soft. Needle nose, etc etc.

I have a pair of Eldi lock ring pliers that I like to crimp with.

 

[minke]

Instead of using ferrules I wrap some solid copper wire (~22 gauge) tightly around the cable and solder it. The copper takes the solder and the cable doesn't but the solder is form-fitting in the cable. You still need to dull the sharp edge left from cutting the cable.

 

[dscheidt]

Instead of using ferrules I wrap some solid copper wire (~22 gauge) tightly around the cable and solder it. The copper takes the solder and the cable doesn't but the solder is form-fitting in the cable. You still need to dull the sharp edge left from cutting the cable.

I've silver soldered the ends of cables before. solder before you trim, and then trim through the solder. Perfect ends, no fraying, and if you're reasonably careful soldering, they can be removed and reinstalled in housings.

 

[FMB4]

I'm pretty sure that the OP is talking about vinyl covered cables.

 

[minke]

I'm pretty sure that the OP is talking about vinyl covered cables.

If you look at the first picture you'll see a cable with the crimped end fitting. That is a brake or a derailleur cable.

 

[CallumRD1]

If you look at the first picture you'll see a cable with the crimped end fitting. That is a brake or a derailleur cable.

Yes, many of those cables (especially on high-end groupsets) have a slick polymer coating on them to get smoother shifting. Heating the cable would ruin it.

 

[slowtwitch73]

There's something odd going on because a VAR 17 is also a spoke end trimmer. You attached the drawing showing it crimping a cable end.. but it's small so I cant see any detail. It does seem way over size and beefy for a simple cable crimper... I would never use it for such a purpose as it's large and unwieldy. But for nipping spokes it seems about right... curious.

 

[FMB4]

The cables are covered none the less.

 

[Meursault74]

I heard of VAR tools before. I used to get the print version of the catalogue in the mail from bike tools etc back in the day. They used to have VAR tools in there for sale. https://www.biketoolsetc.com/
Looks there are still some on the website

 

[acer66]

Trying to get the courage up to order the EVT EZ lift Repair Stand. Nice tool but a chunk of change.

Yeah pricy and I never heard about them about just recently.
On the other hand I am a sucker for small domestic companies.

 

[p00p]

c'mon, everyone knows vise grips & a bfh is all a bicycle ever needs.

i use a JIS and Pozidrive screwdriver that I received from someone as a gift that was sold at Kfarts bitd. Might be a benchtop brand or sub brand.

 

[Meursault74]

Trying to get the courage up to order the EVT EZ lift Repair Stand. Nice tool but a chunk of change.

WOW!. I saw that for $600 and thought that looks well made for that price. I wouldn't buy it though. Then I saw that $600 is only the deposit. You'd need seriously big balls to buy that for your home use. So big in fact you'd have trouble riding a bike with balls that big

 

[Retroman]

WOW!. I saw that for $600 and thought that looks well made for that price. I wouldn't buy it though. Then I saw that $600 is only the deposit. You'd need seriously big balls to buy that for your home use. So big in fact you'd have trouble riding a bike with balls that big

Ya, that's why I don't have one. But nice to dream, maybe if I add a second E-bike to my fleet I can justify it. But I doubt I will ever have one.

 

[acer66]

WOW!. I saw that for $600 and thought that looks well made for that price. I wouldn't buy it though. Then I saw that $600 is only the deposit. You'd need seriously big balls to buy that for your home use. So big in fact you'd have trouble riding a bike with balls that big

Holy moly, I did not see that.
I was already cringing a bit about the thought of $600.

 

[FMB4]

If you look at the first picture you'll see a cable with the crimped end fitting. That is a brake or a derailleur cable.

You're right. I was thinking cable housing rather than the cable.