trdtaco
Well-known member
they make bicycle tools but some of there stuff looks good, any garagejournal reviews?
http://www.parktool.com/
http://www.parktool.com/
anyone ever use any "Park Tools"
- Thread starter trdtaco
- Start date
JeremyManning
Well-known member
I have a bunch, they are high quality, I would recommend them.
thinking about picking up one of the frame vices/stand and somne more general stuff.. reall like there adjustable wrench haha.. alot of the stuff looks nce but ill have to give them a call and see what exactly is made in the US.. does not say on the website..
also need a new pump.. mine got flooded in a basement and the inside is pretty nasty now
also need a new pump.. mine got flooded in a basement and the inside is pretty nasty now
Big-Foot
Well-known member
Agreed that they are good stuff.. My son is/was into cycling very heavily and he had this equipment. It's not cheap by any stretch though...
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Much like most of the bicycle industry, i doubt most of their tools are made anywhere but Taiwan or China these days, but they ARE quality tools.
Ive got a few drawers full of Park Tools and find them worth the money no matter the tool.
Happy cycling from someone that currently owns 8 bicycles of my own.
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4xdog
Well-known member
Park makes good specialized tools, many of them in the USA (at least up until a couple of years ago). A few of them belong in any bicycle mechanics tool chest.
The Park wheelbuilding stand is the worlds reference standard and can be used to build terrific wheels. The spoke tension and wheel dishing tools are nice. Tools like the Park "Y" wrenches are good and convenient. Their cone wrenches have been improved over the years.
I've never been impressed with their chain tools. I use either the Shimano professional tool or more likely a Wippermann Connex link.
In place of a bike stand I use an old toe clip strap looped over a pipe in the ceiling of my garage. I hang the bike from the nose of the saddle and it gives me 360° access, the ability to rotate the bike, spin all the wheels and cranks, remove wheels and chain -- in general anything I need, better than a vise, for about three bucks.
Don
The Park wheelbuilding stand is the worlds reference standard and can be used to build terrific wheels. The spoke tension and wheel dishing tools are nice. Tools like the Park "Y" wrenches are good and convenient. Their cone wrenches have been improved over the years.
I've never been impressed with their chain tools. I use either the Shimano professional tool or more likely a Wippermann Connex link.
In place of a bike stand I use an old toe clip strap looped over a pipe in the ceiling of my garage. I hang the bike from the nose of the saddle and it gives me 360° access, the ability to rotate the bike, spin all the wheels and cranks, remove wheels and chain -- in general anything I need, better than a vise, for about three bucks.
Don
Park tools are nice, but slightly over priced. I bought a nashbar tool set and it works just fine. I can't find it on their site but it was the middle sized set. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.
I do have a park pcs10 stand and it is nice.
I do have a park pcs10 stand and it is nice.
4xdog
Well-known member
Park ain't cheap, fershure, but have you ever priced Campagnolo tools?! They're pricey, but wonderful to use and appreciate. I got most of my Campy stuff many years ago, and they're the last tools I'll part with.
I'm guessing not, if you're a Nashbar tool user... I bought a number from Arnie many, many years ago when they were still Bike Warehouse and found they were soft ****. Some of their tools are OK now, but mostly of a class lower than the best from my experience. Maybe they're sourcing better stuff than I've come across...
Park is best for tools that nobody else makes, of course. If you can get the tool from one of the big pro companies there isn't a lot to recommend Park.
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padronanniversary
Well-known member
park is great, especially their stands. specialized tools, but i would not buy a socket. The handiest tool so far is the hex wrench that has different sizes shaped like a triangle. I used that thing so much when I was building bikes.
kc-steve
Well-known member
I have some, but since they are relatively expensive, I only buy the bicycle-specific tools from them, like cone wrenches, spoke and tire tools. The usual stuff I buy from mid-range and lower USA tool makers. I even made my own bicycle stand.
Steve
Steve
I'm a bit of a Park fan but not all of their stuff is US made. The hex wrench set is very nice and uses Bondhus bits. I would also recommend their I-beam mini multi tool as its saved me a long walk a few times on the road. Their chain cleaner works slick with SimpleGreen. They also make a pretty reasonable torque beam wrench, and a very nicely durable cable/housing cutter, and I am very satisfied with the PCS-10 bike stand. Outside of those, the usual bottom bracket, freewheel, and cone wrench tools are all very decent as well. MOST Park stuff is pretty nice and is the standard in just about every decent bike shop I've ever been in.
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Park Tool....highly recomended. You can buy a tool kit to service your bicycle. The portable bike stand is great too. Shimano cable cutters are expensive but better than the Park cable cuttes. The Shimano cable cutters ais the only tool I like better than Park.
RegalX
Well-known member
I use it everyday all day long, nice stuff. A lifetime warranty would be nice tho as I've worn out pedal wrenches, cone wrenches, broken screwdrivers, stripped freewheel tools and worn out allen wrenches
fomocoforrester
Well-known member
- Joined
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- Messages
- 3,061
I think they can be thought of as the "Snap-on" of the bike world - sometimes they are the best available for certain jobs, but most of the time I can find a cheaper tool to do the same job just as well.
Buy selectively! ....
Buy selectively! ....
montanafordman
Well-known member
This is how I view park tools for the most part. I do all my own bike maintenance and I wish I could still call myself a die hard rider but I'm far from a bike builder or professional. I have not yet graduated to wheel building either. I do have a few park tools though and have been very happy with them. Funny a few people have dissed on the chain tool and the cable cutter - I have both and I think they're great! I have only used my park chain tool a few times and only have a Rivoli chain tool to compare it to, and the park tool was far superior in my mind. The cable cutter I have used several times and replaced cables and housings on a few bikes and love it. I also have a park tools spoke wrench and allen wrench set I keep in my saddle bag for roadside repairs. Park tools are like craftsman tools in their widespread brand recognition in the bike world and are used by casual bikers and pros with slightly better than craftsman level quality (IMO). I would love to have a park tool bike stand for my garage but I guess time, $$, space, other priorities and my 31 Model A have trumped that so far. I hang my bikes from the ceiling with a locking rope/pulley system which makes working on bikes fairly easy and adjustable to any height so I can turn the crank/wheels but it does rock back and forth some so its not as sturdy or convienent as a stand. On the other hand it also works full time keeping my bikes out of the way and its cheap!
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I have one their 15mm Cone Wrenches. Old School (before the weird cut out).
Not cheap, but good quality.
Not cheap, but good quality.
firebox40dash5
Well-known member
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- Mar 19, 2012
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- 4,185
I agree with everyone saying don't bother unless it's bike specific. Their stuff is great, but it's always seemed way overpriced to me, and interestingly the more general stuff seems more overpriced than the specialty tools. Crank pullers? BB sockets? Headset press? Hell yes. Hammer, combo wrenches, hex keys? Not so much. 
Slight side note, I like the Crank Brothers multitools. Sturdy, pretty easy to use, and not a bunch of gimmicks like some others. I like them enough I bought an M10 to keep under the seat of my motorcycle, saves me from having to carry a hex key set and 2 more screwdrivers.
Slight side note, I like the Crank Brothers multitools. Sturdy, pretty easy to use, and not a bunch of gimmicks like some others. I like them enough I bought an M10 to keep under the seat of my motorcycle, saves me from having to carry a hex key set and 2 more screwdrivers.
onewaydave
Well-known member
IIRC Park started as a cheap alternative to Campy. In the beginning they were what we think of as Harbor Freight, today. Now they are about the only alternative to home-made for some situations.
I bought a work stand for penny's on the dollar because the owner didn't understand the concept of a split nut. With a little tinkering it now works perfect.
I would of loved to have had Campy tools.
Dave.
flippin
Well-known member
As a former bike mechanic (RAAM crew chief) I whole heartedly agree with what has been said thus far. Now my perspective is old (as I am as well) but can't help but think it would still apply. Their professional shop stand is essential if you are going to seriously work on your bikes and build bikes from bare frames. Their alignment tools are also hard to replicate with anything else. Never was a fan of their fixed cup tool but with the advent of cartridge bb's it may be a moot point. There are better truing stands, but they are still good even in a professional environment. Cup presses and the like are really hard to justify given that headsets and bb's can and should be installed by the frame manufacturer. The cone wrenches and the other specialty tools are not that expensive and are certainly worth while. Freewheel tools are no longer necessary unless you are working on really old stuff.
Like anything else, if you've got the bucks and can justify the value then you won't be disappointed. But for general maintenance other than a shop stand most of the tools are pretty reasonable which makes the decision easier.
Good Luck
Like anything else, if you've got the bucks and can justify the value then you won't be disappointed. But for general maintenance other than a shop stand most of the tools are pretty reasonable which makes the decision easier.
Good Luck
Rezeppa
Well-known member
My father has a few sets of the park tools he is an avid cyclist and as a mechanic I have borrowed many tools I always return but I don't want to. I actually think Snap-On and/or MAC have made things for Park Tool in the past. As said earlier park tool in the cycle industry is pretty highly regarded.
Exceller8
Well-known member
I have their metric cone wrench set and I really love them. They come in real handy when you need a really thin wrench. 
y20dth
Well-known member
wise
Well-known member
I have a bunch of specialized park tools stuff... I had a set of Metric Speed-Hex T-Handles that were really nice to use. I have a few multi-purpose trail tools (three or four) which are all great quality and well designed for different types of biking. My trail tire pump is really small but pumps really nicely and came with a few different frame mounting options. Stands are the best I've used, but you can make your own that will last a lifetime which just mount to any vise, so they tuck away when not in use.
The frame guage is called the ***-1, which I thought was funny a few years ago.
The frame guage is called the ***-1, which I thought was funny a few years ago.
Requin6
Well-known member
I have a Park stand with vise. It is great to have when I need to fix anything on my rig. High quality for sure.
I van putski
Banned
I am into old bikes. I have many park tools. I have their repair stand, trueing stand and hand tools. My sae cone wrenches are schwinn though.
firebox40dash5
Well-known member
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- Mar 19, 2012
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- 4,185
Also, I strongly suggest picking up one of their specialized tools...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tool-T...204?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53f4f81f44
I don't even ride (pedaly) bikes anymore, but you can't help but admire the sheer, complete overengineering present there. It's a thing of beauty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tool-T...204?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53f4f81f44
I don't even ride (pedaly) bikes anymore, but you can't help but admire the sheer, complete overengineering present there. It's a thing of beauty.
Boyd
Well-known member
I came across this small Park box while on eBay and remembered this thread. Seems like a good deal.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111012058377
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111012058377
thedeatons
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2011
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- 372
Park makes excellent tools... To name a few that I highly recommend:
Their cable cutter
Their blue tire levers (I have broken every other kind)
Their glueless patch kits (the standard for patch kits)
The triangle hex wrench set (4mm, 5mm, 6mm)
Their bottom bracket tools
Their pedal wrench
The only times I have deviated from Park was to get the following:
Ultimate repair stand
Spokey (yellow) spoke wrench (it grips on 4 sides)
James
Their cable cutter
Their blue tire levers (I have broken every other kind)
Their glueless patch kits (the standard for patch kits)
The triangle hex wrench set (4mm, 5mm, 6mm)
Their bottom bracket tools
Their pedal wrench
The only times I have deviated from Park was to get the following:
Ultimate repair stand
Spokey (yellow) spoke wrench (it grips on 4 sides)
James
Park's shop quality stuff's descent. Stuff like headset presses, starnut setters, alignment gauges, truing stand, cone wrenches, spoke wrenches, cutting guides, the awesome FFS-2... but their other stuff like screwdrivers, combo wrenches, hex bits, sockets, torque wrenches (more general purpose stuff) are maybe like duralast quality. Nothing to write home about. For stuff like freewheel/cassette lockring/bb tools I think of park to be a little nicer than pedro's but wear faster and don't fit as well as the oem tools. It definitely helps to get everything at cost though...
tankd0g
Well-known member
I have most of their hand tools, an older version of their PRS-3 repair stand and their TS-2.2 truing stand and it's all comparable to Snap-on quality. I've never had one of their pumps, I've always had Blackburns myself and they worked great but I'm sure Park makes a good pump too.
Blackburn makes real nice pumps. I haven't used the new park pumps that just came out but the previous gen ones were pretty crappy. My personal favorites the topeak joe blow pro. Stands up to shop use, autoswitching head, high volume, and fully rebuildable with cheap kits straight from topeak. Names fun to say too if you're a little dyslexic like me.