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The Makita compact impact wrenches are superb - the 3/8" XWT16z and 1/2" XWT14z are the same body and motor, just with different anvils. Light, small, and strong, that 1/2" would probably do a majority of what you need, but my preferred combo is the 3/8" version for most under the hood stuff...

Speaking of bears, I thought you all might appreciate this one - it’s tool adjacent and pretty neat. Our shop owner’s husband 3D prints these bear spray holsters for direct mounting to water bottle cages or strapping onto the frame: https://bearclawholster.com/

Big fan of the Onyx hubs, no long term personal experience either but all the ones we've had come through have been in great shape and the silent running is sweet. We're in grizzly country though so loud hubs are a necessity. DT Swiss are definitely a solid workhorse hub that will keep on going...

We're starting to see more quick-connects too on gravel bikes with internally routed forks and others. Here's a great dry-break version that doesn't require rebleeding. https://www.ticycles.com/components/hydraulic-brake-line-coupler-2m7fy

Yeah, if you're at the bike park and can keep an extra hose in your car, replacing the whole line is best. But Ti Cycles also makes this coupler which could be a great trail fix (but you'd still have to carry fluid). https://www.ticycles.com/components/hydraulic-brake-line-coupler

Great perspective on hot waxing @duneslider, when your'e doing that many chains in bulk it makes a lot of sense to treat them all at once. How do you keep track of which chains go back on which bikes? I think for individual riders who just lube as needed the liquid delivery makes sense, but the...

We have them on our benches at the shop. They are really nice, great for everything from older hub adjustments to CushCore installs. Just be careful about leaving QR skewers in the vice, I've almost put my eye out a few times! 🤪

I really like the Jagwire/Sram barb press tool (same tool, different color), it's simple and robust. The Shimano one is not as user friendly or as well made. I have the paired Sram pro hose cutter too, the two tools together are a great professional set.

I never thought I'd see a bike chain lube discussion on GJ with how famously often it pops up on other forums :ROFLMAO: 😜 . There's a terrific article here that explores the science of each lube, kindly concluding they're all equally good at doing exactly what each was designed for. I always...

There goes my theory about European vs. US. I checked out Eight Tools from the previous posts, it looks like theirs are relatively short too. But those tapered ball-end hex keys really do look great!

That may just be a Bondhus thing. Wera, Wiha, and PB Swiss I know have long versions equivalent to their hexes.

Ironically most Park Tool professional equipment for bike shops like work and wheel truing stands are built with SAE hex bolts, despite bicycles being completely metric. Any time we need to service something it takes forever to find a wrench that will fit :ROFLMAO: .

I took them in for a shift today - overall I think they're excellent at doing what they're designed to do :ROFLMAO: . They have a good solid fit and don't feel much looser than other high quality keys despite the extra range of movement. Breaking a bolt loose or torquing down felt great at 90...

Were these historically made for Craftsman by Eklind or Bondhus? Or maybe Western Forge had a hand?

If you don’t need a true “thin” wrench, the Stahlwille 10 series double open end wrenches are quite thin but with standard working strength - same ends as the 13 series combos. Otherwise +1 for the Facom 31s, I have the old version and they’re good. Snap-on has their Slimline series too but...

I’m using mostly sliding t and “p” handles from PB Swiss in the home shop, but wanted a spare set of hex keys that offered something else to supplement for those odd jobs that require them. I just picked up these 90/100 deg. stubby keys that range from standard to 100 deg. clearance angles, I...

A lot of insightful conversation here, thanks @Dave455 for starting it. There have been a few comments about new innovations - I just picked these up from PB Swiss, their new 90/100 deg. stubby keys that allow a range of standard to 100 deg. access without losing strength like a ball end. As...

Shigura's are always cool, I'm doing the same with some MT6 calipers we recovered from a customer's bike and XT levers a friend had some extras of. p.s. @Grant Gunderson, I'm always blown away by your home shop organization and the quantity of high level tools you run!

They're notoriously famous for this. A lot of trial and error, you'll get there eventually. There are a few useful Youtube videos with some decent tips, but Magura's have always been fiddly.

Bottom brackets tighten by design in use through mechanical precession (except Italian threads), plus they see some of the most weathering of any parts so it's common for them to seize up. Grease, torque to 50Nm and you're good. Just get the blue single-end Park cone wrenches, they're much...