Park Tools (bicycle tools)?

[1982fxr]

I was aware of this company and had a chance to handle a bunch of their stuff recently. The blue handles on the wrenches and adjustables are kind of nice. They would get eaten alive on cars.

No coo on any of it. Generally speaking the stuff felt like typical "decent" Chinese tools. I think they get a premium for what the stuff really is.

I'm not a bicycle guy and wouldn't think the tools would need to be super tough but what do I know? I googled them and was surprised guys on forums made it sound like bike shops used top quality stuff like Snap-On.

 

[rijndael]

Park tools hold up just fine, and they stand behind them. I've warrantied their wire rope / cable cutters without any fuss on their end. Unless you're cutting spokes with them, they tend to hold up well.

There are plenty of shops who use tools other than Park too, like Abbey.

Wrenching on bikes is far easier on tools than vehicles.

 

[Blt2Lst]

I have a few Park specialty tools that I use when working on bicycles, I think they are good quality for their intended use.
I have had these tools since the early eighties and have never broken any, not sure of the COO but don't think they were made in china back then, now, it's anybody's guess.

 

[Rickster]

Any time I see them at garage & estate sales I grab them up! They sell fast and for good money too!!

 

[Polo_Karl]

All the Park tools I own have held up really well, and most of them are the newer offshore production. My Dad also uses some Park tools but on his snowmobile. The cone wrenches come in handy on the tracks.

 

[acer66]

They make great tools.

 

[1982fxr]

Bike people are funny about Park tools. They're as snobbish as guys here are about Stahwille, Wera, Koken, Snap-on and similar. My daughter reads all kinds of stuff on the net and watches youtube videos, and refuses to let me use Snap-on tools on her bike. She's afraid it will strip out fasteners, that she believes only Park are good enough to touch. Uses a folding hex key set like Eklind makes, in preference to a 1/4" drive ratchet and Snap-on bit socket.

That's funny. The one thing that stuck out to me as low quality was the long reach hex key L set.

If someone is not a tool person I can see thinking they are tops. The blue handles are especially nice on the combo wrenches. Great color choice from a marketing perspective IMHO.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I have a hex key set that looks like it was made by Bondhus.

 

[californiaHank]

Bike people are funny about Park tools. They're as snobbish as guys here are about Stahwille, Wera, Koken, Snap-on and similar. My daughter reads all kinds of stuff on the net and watches youtube videos, and refuses to let me use Snap-on tools on her bike. She's afraid it will strip out fasteners, that she believes only Park are good enough to touch. Uses a folding hex key set like Eklind makes, in preference to a 1/4" drive ratchet and Snap-on bit socket.

The Park folding hex keys are re-badged Bondhus, so they're decent quality.
I don't use folding keys much, but if I wanted a new set, I'd save some money and buy 'real' Bondhus rather than pay bike store prices for the ones wth the Park name on them.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Park is kinda the SnapOn of the bike industry. They used to be mostly made in USA, but have started to offshore more and more stuff. Like others have said, they rebrand a lot of tools, which can be expected out of any manufacturer with a broad line. One of my favorite Park products is their shop apron. I bought it when I was taking machining classes and I still use every time I fire up my mill.

 

[mautotech]

I have been collecting Park tools all my life and they are really good. I have used them for quite a few interesting things on cars as well.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Park tools is the Snap off of bicycle specialty tools. They have a good amount of USA made tools.

 

[Coasterbuilder]

Great thing about Park is that they have all the special tools you could never find anywhere else for that unusual bottom bracket or a special tool for spreading disc brake pads. I have a drawer full of them, but not the common hex wrenches, screw drivers, etc., I use what I have.

I do view them as the Snap On of bike tools.

 

[M6erfan]

Park Tool also bleeds over a bit to motorcyclists. PT makes several handy small, lightweight tools that are perfect for a trail or dual sport rider's tool kit.

 

[Shark Pilot]

Campagnolo is the Snap On of bicycle tools.

 

[bonneyman]

Any time I see them at garage & estate sales I grab them up! They sell fast and for good money too!!

I'm agree here - Park Tools are nice quality! I always grab them when I see them as I do repair bikes on the side for extra $$$ and having the right tools makes it easier.

 

[anndel]

I work on bikes when I need to and have a bunch of Park Tools. They're lighter then the comparable automotive tool because they're not subjected to automotive stresses. If I used them on cars they would surely break or deform. If I can, I would use my auto tools on a bike.

 

[f121]

Good video about Park tool

Park typically are the first to make the special tool you need for a specific job, which is then copied by the budget manufacturers. I've got a few bits of theirs I picked up over the last 20 years, it has the same solid feel as the snap on kit that I've had for years.

 

[acer66]

Campagnolo is the Snap On of bicycle tools.

Yup, I have just a very Campagnolo tools and their quality is outstanding.
If I had the money I would try to find one of their boxed tool sets.
Not sure if they even still make tools.

These guys are also making pretty nice tools.
https://www.abbeybiketools.com/collections/tools

 

[driftpin]

The Park Tool for setting steering head bearing cups is a good tool, it's 'way-overbuilt, and can be used on motorcycles too.

The slim form-factor of specific wrenches (like cone wrenches) is good for working on wheelsets of bicycles, where you need the narrow thickness to do work.

 

[HenryAZ]

Too bad they no longer carry their inch-pound beam torque wrench. It is ideal for checking preload on bearings by turning slowly and observing the inch-pound reading. I've used it for checking pinion bearing and transfer case rear shaft preload.

 

[1foxracing]

I use mostly their motorcycle specific tools today but own a few of the older made in USA bicycle stuff as well.

 

[Mecha]

This is a brand I know a bunch about. I'd say a lot of there tools are quality made in the USA stuff, there are things like multi-tools that are Chinese or Taiwanese made. Definitely some stuff is rebranded, Bondhus does make a lot of their hex wrenches, I think Heyco (Wiha) may make their combination wrenches. An awful lot of it is USA made though.

 

[Mecha]

That said look them up on YouTube they have a vast array of helpful instructive videos that are how to's for every bike related repair you can think of. They are like a tool truck brand for bikes and attempt to sell every conceivable tool needed for bike repair and assembly.

I don't like all their stuff, some tools bend/smear too easily but some are incredible. I have a chain breaker that is their little low end portable one and have used it for 20 years and have yet to replace the pusher pin and they still make replacement pins. I have their truing stand and two repair stands and everything is top notch. I'm not a fan of their cone wrenches or multi-tools, but they're not bad. Lots of videos visiting their factory/warehouse too.

 

[BajaScout]

I have Park and Titan bicycle tools.

No issues with either.

Don't seem to be able to find Titan bicycle tools anymore. The online retailer I bought them from closed down a few years ago. I like them as much as the Park tools. Plus they were cheaper.

 

[trytochaseme]

im not a big fan of park tools stuff. seems cheap. abbey is the good stuff. ive been happy with some stuff from birzman but feels kinda cheap aswell

 

[BajaScout]

Bought this Kingsbridge come wrench at an estate sale in Fort Wayne IN last summer.

 

[Minnesota Steve]

I don't really think of Park Tools as a typical tool vendor. I have bought tools over the years to fix bicycles I have owned. I have a toolbox full of various pieces I've bought as needed. The thing is you buy a new bike and they change technology over time, and Park usually has the custom tools needed.

I think I have a set of allen wrenches, and yeah they're probably just rebranded bondhus. I have their cable cutters and they may be a rebrand as well, wouldn't surprise me. Everything else I have are pretty specific to bicycles, like wrenches to crack cassettes, or take off bottom bracket, pedals, bearing cones on wheels, etc.

 

[Can I try?]

I consider Park Tool to be more akin to OTC than to Snap-on.

 

[CarBikeGuy70]

In the 70s and early 80s Park tools were very good at supplying the bicycle industry with decent tools and were very supportive, not the case today. Not in any way or shape should you think of Park as the Snap On of the bicycle business. Their products work but not at the level you would think they should. Their small hand tools are ok at best- items they rebadge are for the most part better. If you want to see some great tools look at a Campagnolo frame kit- the one in the brown wooden case, none better in the world. If you have ever tapped or faced a bb shell you know Campy is the only way to go. Other than a cone wrench, chain tool, cassette or freewheel tool their are many other options than Park Tool to consider. I've been in the bike biz for a long time- too long to admit to sometimes.

 

[Mecha]

The Taiwanese stuff is usually rebranded Lifu like IceToolz, Advent, or DiamondBack or others. They make great stuff. Campagnolo makes great stuff but it's mostly for road bikes. I like old Trek WrenchForce stuff which was mostly made by SnapOn actually. I just liked it though for excellent cone and spoke wrenches.

 

[Notgrownup]

I just bought a generic brand kit for my Trek Madone, it works fine. Park is nice but I saved a bunch.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I own a ton of their tools. Their shop grade stuff is really good. Their home grade stuff is garbage. For example their home grade bike stands are horrible while their shop level ones are the best out there other than EVT. Park’s hex wrenches are horrible so are their sockets (very sloppy). So like any tool brand they do a lot right and they also totally miss the mark on somethings. Most guys I know that wrench on bikes at a high level use a combo of Park, pedros, EVT, abbey, Pbswiss, Beta, Snapon, Knipex, Felo, Wera and Beta.

 

[garandman]

Mostly buy their tools to use onboard motorcycles. They tend to be light and compact because so many cyclists are “weight weenies.”

 

[Polo_Karl]

Love that ceiling mount bike stand!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Love that ceiling mount bike stand!

Yeah, that is cool!

 

[Meursault74]

That said look them up on YouTube they have a vast array of helpful instructive videos that are how to's for every bike related repair you can think of. They are like a tool truck brand for bikes and attempt to sell every conceivable tool needed for bike repair and assembly.

I don't like all their stuff, some tools bend/smear too easily but some are incredible. I have a chain breaker that is their little low end portable one and have used it for 20 years and have yet to replace the pusher pin and they still make replacement pins. I have their truing stand and two repair stands and everything is top notch. I'm not a fan of their cone wrenches or multi-tools, but they're not bad. Lots of videos visiting their factory/warehouse too.

I've had their shop grade chain breaker as well for many years and many chains without replacing the pin. Of course I finally bought the Park model after I broke 2 "off brand" chains tools, one on the very first use.

I also like their spoke wrenches and that 4,5,6mm 3 way Hex wrench. I didn't need that 3 way wrench as I have many Hex keys in different configurations, but that one is so easy to reach for and use that is my go to for bike work. Yes it is expensive for what it is, but I'm glad I have it.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Love that ceiling mount bike stand!

Thanks. Got tired of tripping over the old stand and when Park wanted $200 for the base alone I figured I’d mount it to the ceiling with left over scrap from hanging my airlines. Only modification was to drill a new hole for the safety lock pin and mount the tool tray upside down.

It now telescopes up completely out of the way and then lowers to the ideal work height for me.

 

[anetode]

Some Park Tool products are great, their cast and machined spoke wrenches, bondhus-sourced hex/torx keys, etc. Plus some specialty bike tools you won't find anywhere else. A lot of their stuff is regular import quality.

But for the price of PK's upper tier stuff, it's worth looking at Unior
https://uniorusa.com/unior-bicycle-tools/shop-bicycle-tools/
https://uniortools.com/eng/category/940333/bike-tools
With the exception of maybe the hex/torx, the rest of their stuff is higher quality.

 

[davewo]

Having remembered Park tools from my bmx days, I bought a Park inch pound torque wrench to do my own differential set ups. That was 14 years ago. A few years ago I finally bought the full set of cone wrenches. They are very thin, but well made from hardened steel. A must have for when tappet wrenches are too thick.

Park cone wrenches