Author Topic: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?  (Read 11772 times)

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Offline walks.in2.trees

Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« on: May 21, 2017, 09:44:08 am »
While I've found some website sources for Titanium tools, they're designed for and sold to MRI mechanics  (search "non-magnetic tools"), which means the price is seriously inflated, like any specialized medical tools. I could probably put together a set over time from one of these websites, but really these tools wouldn't necessarily be optimal for cycling. For instance, some cycling applications require a wrench that is thinner than standard wrench widths, while other tools are completely specialized. 

I'd think if they were going to be found anywhere, Park Tools would be right on that, but a search of their site was fruitless. Looks like they're primary focus is on shop tools, which don't need to be light weight. They make a Premium Rescue Multitool that looks good in the video, but having used numerous Multitool sets over the years, I think it's better to list out the specific tools needed and make a kit of full sized tools... For instance my bike only uses 3 sizes of hex wrench, while the Multitool has all the sizes  and while the ones on my multitool are adequate for many things, they aren't long enough to provide enough leverage in some cases, and too bulky to use in tight spaces like when adjusting the caliper on the rear wheel.

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Offline zerodish

Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2017, 07:41:53 am »
Bondhuh and others make hollow hex key wrenches. These are called security bits or tamper resistant bits.

indyfabz

  • Guest
Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2017, 03:49:00 pm »
Perhaps it's because titanium is relatively expensive and most people don't care to spend the extra $ for weight savings in that area. Just look at this example:

https://www.amazon.com/PocketToolX-Mako-Titanium-Bike-Tool/dp/B005TOI36K

Also, would titanium make a good choice for something like a screw bit?

Offline DaveB

Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2017, 05:23:36 pm »
Also, would titanium make a good choice for something like a screw bit?
No, it wouldn't.  Given the proper alloy choice, Ti is strong and relatively light but it's strength and hardness doesn't even approach that of good quality tool steel that's properly heat treated.  There is a reason no one makes Ti tools for routine use.  As noted Ti is used for the specific job where a non-magnetic tool is essential and beryllium-copper is used where a non-sparking tool (oil and gas well service or other flammable atmospheres) is essential but where their expense and poorer strength isn't required no one uses them.

Offline RussSeaton

Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2017, 05:11:15 pm »
There are a couple companies that make titanium parts for bikes.  Search for them.  You could contact them and ask them to make a custom tool for you.  They would know what cone wrenches are so making a custom bike tool would be something they are familiar with.

Offline zzzz

Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2017, 10:15:06 am »
This may or may not be of interest to you.

I bought it before I left for the GDMBR this year. It's much more useful than the multi tool I had and its a whole lot lighter then a full size set of tools. With the pounding the bike was getting I was checking all the parts regularly to see if anything had loosened up and there wasn't a bolt I could not reach and turn w some combination of pieces in the set. And if you have any parts that need a specific torque setting, I checked the torque wrench in the kit against the very precise torque wrench at work and it's very close.

I don't know how far down into the hole you want to go in being totally prepared for any eventuality (cassette tools? bottom bracket tools?) It's just allen tips, torx tips, and a phillips head so it doesn't take care of everything but you can add cone wrenches which are pretty light and flat and you may consider that to be enough.

https://silca.cc/collections/silca-tools/products/t-ratchet_ti-torque_kit

pm

Offline TransAM2010

Re: Has anyone found a source for Titanium bike tools?
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2017, 11:19:58 pm »
Here a pic of what I took on my Trans AM ride several years back. I modified a few of the tools to make them a bit more functional while keeping the weight down. I made a mini chain whip using a cone wrench that I could also use to tighten my pedals as well as repack and adjust cone bearings if necessary. I drilled a hole through a standard cassette tool so I could turn it with a 6mm hex key. I wouldn't want to be using these tools for these jobs in a shop every day but for emergency repair on tour they were functional enough. Other than a headset or bottom bracket issue or frame failure there wasn't anything else I could think of that I wouldn't have had a better than even money chance of repairing road-side if necessary.   

Offline DanE