Mini tools

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RIP
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Re: Mini tools

Post by RIP »

"what you take is capable of fixing what you are likely to be able to handle trail-side then it is what it is" - wise words to remember, ta.

"metal = heavy" :wink:. I lurv my steel P7 at 11600g.

I guess it helps that my oxygen/carbon/hydrogen/nitrogen/calcium/phosphorus/potassium/sulphur/sodium/chlorine/magnesium/etc mind-carrying structure isn't bad at 63502g as well...

Someone let us know if they pick up any of those 20g pliers please.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
jameso
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Re: Mini tools

Post by jameso »

Mini tool an obvious, but do others also pack compact pliers?
Yep, a tiny leatherman copy that came in a cracker (a posh one!). Stainless steel, prob about 25g. Same as this -

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... RB0bbL.jpg
chris n
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Re: Mini tools

Post by chris n »

jameso wrote:
Mini tool an obvious, but do others also pack compact pliers?
Yep, a tiny leatherman copy that came in a cracker (a posh one!). Stainless steel, prob about 25g. Same as this -

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... RB0bbL.jpg
That's a copy of a SOG Micro Toolclip, not a Leatherman. :ugeek:

Leatherman Squirt PS4 or Style PS, or a Gerber Dime would also be a good pair of mini-pliers. I normally have a larger pliers multi tool in my toolkit, mostly because I like having one around. :grin:
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psling
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Re: Mini tools

Post by psling »

RIP wrote:Just weighed my workshop out of interest. Multitool 167g (incls can/bottle opener and megasharp knife & chainbreaker which does work), Boardman tinypump 85 (takes ages but gets you home), ducttape 22, chain wire hand thing 3, mech hanger 14, pliers 45, patches/levers/boot 20, zipties 5 = 361g.
Oh, and a Conti Supersonic tube of course, at 100g.
Surprised you don't carry a 'Cool Tool' Chris, I still occasionally carry mine in case there are any nuts need adjusting.

As others, I carry a (rusty now) Topeak of early vintage. Amongst other things I also now carry some new-fangled air canister tyre blowing-up things.
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
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Re: Mini tools

Post by RIP »

"Cool Tool" :smile:. I remember passing on those in the day. They were certainly, er, rugged. Should've got one really. Probably got put off by the lack of bottle-opener :wink: . There's one on ebay at the moment. You've got a collector's item there Peter :smile:.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
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whitestone
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Re: Mini tools

Post by whitestone »

A Cool Tool was my wedding present to my wife :-bd
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Re: Mini tools

Post by RIP »

"There's no answer to that!" :smile:

Image
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
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Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Mini tools

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I had a little look at mini pliers yesterday after Michael mentioned the angling ones. I found hobby / craft places sell some nice small one's.
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ianfitz
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Re: Mini tools

Post by ianfitz »

As ever multi use is worth considering. And knowing about.

Pedros tyre levers work to push back brake calipers if swapping pads.

The chain tool on a lezyne multitool is a spoke key and the other bit at the far end is a tubeless valve core remover.

This bit - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_fitz/38239916254/
Image
AlasdairMc
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Re: Mini tools

Post by AlasdairMc »

I bought a Syncros Matchbox 16 multitool in the US as I needed a specific Torx wrench to remove a shifter. The only thing it’s missing is a 6mm hex, but I’ve loads spare in my tool box.

I also tend to carry a Leatherman, until recently always a Skeletool CX but I bought an OHT quite cheap and the pliers are excellent - albeit much heavier.
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Alpinum
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Re: Mini tools

Post by Alpinum »

padonbike wrote:Mini tool an obvious, but do others also pack compact pliers?
Can't get the locking off the tubeless valve to put a replacement tube in without one. Or get the presta valve core out to add a shot of sealant in case of a less severe tyre mishap. :geek:
Got mine as a giveaway.
I saw them on display in outdoorshops in Scandinavia, but can't remember the name. Something monkey something.



All I need (ed so far)

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Not shown, duct tape, sewing kit (3 needles - make sure they're not rusty) super glue, zip ties, wire.
edit: tube in the blue glove

A little, topic related story from my 2016 Iceland trip:

I treat tyres well on my first crossing. Basically from Reykjavik to Akureyri by hiker & horse riding tracks, also the full Kjalvegur (including the lesser known northern extension).
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On the second crossing of the interior I ride from Myvatn on old jeep tracks to Laugardalur, from there into Askja and from Askja to Landmannalaugar. It was actually meant to be a recce trip and now I some how ended up riding across the country in deep state of piece with myself.
The regular rhythm of the pedalstrokes, the hours of riding in the often void landscape, have put me where I belong.

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Some couple of 100 km later my rear tyre goes flat real slow. In quite a bad spot. I need to move to stay warm - I'm working with mother nature on the verge of stupidity and when she shrugs, I'll be in trouble.
Fixing flats on the move is not something I have mastered yet.
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I found the side wall to have a small tear, likely just from rubbing on the rim (!).
I've never been so calm while fixing a flat. Tubeless is not working any more so I throw in a tube. Little later I'm off and ride hard to get warm again.

250 km later...
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I'm in the middle of nowhere on the Sprengisandur (a track that see's some traffic), it's about 19:00 and I was hoping to ride a very long day right into Landmannalaugar. I make the decision to quickly bodge it together, find water and camp and fix it properly when I feel like it. Landmannalaugar it shall not be tonight, but another night in the "desert".

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I ride up a hill from where I see moss - yay! I steadily cruise downhill and meet a bloke who seems to roam the Icelandic highlands in undies. Meet Morgan, a Polish guy who wants to cross Iceland to the south east on foot on a similar route I did some years ago. His tent is close by. I make camp next to his. We chat about route choices, life and stuff and drink whisky and smoke.
Like animals in the wild at the water hole.

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Another night with lights!

Not long into the next day my quick fix fails. It fails here:
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HELLO! IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? It's soo good to be selfsufficient. I have time, fair weather (cold wind) and full of good spirits. Calm as ever.

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I lay out all my tools to see my options. Whilst I'm at it I clip my nails too. This is how laid back I'm still feeling.

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Three needles are found in my sewing kit. All rusty. They have been on seakayaking and packrafting trips and I've never checked them - mistake...
Two are rusty at the eyelet and break as soon as I try to work with them
The only one left is only rusty at the tip - lucky me.

Soon it too breaks but...
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with my mini swiss pocket knife I make it pointy again. With this little knife I cut two entangled sheep free from an old fence prior on this trip. It's a bloody life saver.

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Before I start I check how I need to stitch to make best use of the thread, as it isn't that long. Next time I'll take 2 meters or so. I would have liked to sew it in a tighter Fashion, but am happy with the result.

A super jeep and two old tractors - Massey Fergusons go past. They ask if I need help.
"Nope, I'm just fine thanks."

Next up, protect the seam.
I roughen up the rubber and use vulcaniser. Nope... doesn't seem to work. I try again. Nothing.
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Then I try it with super glue - it works immediately,

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I appreciate my work of art (not less) and am really happy to see what my little tools and self are capable. A good team.

I hammer down the Sprengisandur, loosing more height than gaining it and close in on the tractors. We have a fun chat and they love my art work.

I hammer on. The track can be ridden quite fast, but it's well rough - washboard, big rubble, sand. A short Stretch of tarmac and of towards the colourful Fjallabak.
70 km later and 20 km before Landmannalaugar my fix fails:
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20 km. Another 60 min or so. I'll give it a quick fix and ride on.

500 meter before the inviting hot streams of Landmanna, my tube and tyre go kaputt beyond (reasonable) repair. No bodging. I ride into Landmanna on a flat.

Next time, besides the checking the needles before leaving home, I bring some webbing along, to support the seam.

I never stopped believing that I would ride into Landmanna that same day under own steam. I had visualised it so much, anything else wasn't probabilistic...
Thank feck I had those tools with me.
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Re: Mini tools

Post by RIP »

Great tale of triumph over adversity there Alpinum, some superb multiple "bodging" (big compliment), one admires your calm mid-flap demeanour too. I entered Landmannalaugar 3 decades ago from the southern side, doubt it's changed much. Nothing worse than lava for tyre shredding. In a knee-jerk reaction I'm now adding some needles and twine to my kit :smile:. I've also replaced my tyre boot with two of the "new" £5 notes - double usage :smile:.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
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