It's a warm summer week here in the hills of Western MA. I don't dare complain too much about heat though because I'd always rather see it hot than what we go through at the opposite time of year.
Projects are humming along nicely. Once the decks are cleared of the current offering I will be turning my attention to finishing those T Wrex tools and sending them off to heat treat later this week. Then I'll start grinding the Mini Wedgies after that. SEVERAL totally unexpected little surprises came up last week so stay tuned for more info on those, but I can tell you right now that there's going to be a LOT of happy Atwoodites later this summer if I can get all these done. Hint, one's a metal that begins with T and another that begins with a letter that's later in the alphabet. ;)
So today I finally have the Wheelman Bike Tools finished. This is a minimalist version of the old model. While I liked the originals very much, I felt they were quite huge and heavy. Plus, the dual over and under bits were a little too much for the O-rings to handle. So, I went back to drawing board and came up with something a bit simpler.
The Wheelman tools are designed to ride on the keys as a key fob. They feature a 15mm axle wrench, all three common spoke wrench sizes, a cap lifter, a 1/4 hex opening, a tire lever/pry tip and a lanyard or key ring attachment point. In addition, I have given these aggressive side grips. The material is .160 (5/32) titanium and they measure 3.75 inches long by 1 inch wide at the widest end so they are fairly substantial in size.
This first batch is all titanium and as usual with my ti batches the colors vary widely from solids to color fades. There a ton of variations here. Another much bigger batch in steel will be coming later this summer or early fall once I get my lazy butt in gear and start grinding them.
The Wheelman tools will run $70 plus shipping. It's a one per customer sale for this run please and the order link is below. Thanks for stopping in, and also for your endless patience and enthusiasm for my little creations!
Wheelmen are gone for now, thank you everyone!
13 comments:
Bummer, missed it. The 15 mm is a Godsend for SSers/fixies. I kept my Funnybone in my bike bag for emergency flats because it was the only 'small' tool that would work.
looks just like brian's tool
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/173577827/bike-and-beer-tool-stout-with-holes?ref=pr_shop
Cool, first I've seen those. Great minds think alike. :)
Looking forward to the steel version - missed out on the Ti - . I really like the spoke adjustment notches, that tool will/would end up in my bike tool pouch right away!
ah, a tiny version of what i pitched to you in 2007.
good luck getting enough torque out of it to wrench a track nut tight enough.
so, random apparently-snarky person "OpenID 60734522-29b4-11e5-8934-537c5d945527"
are you trying to take credit for a design from 8 years ago? If so, maybe a non-anonymous post would further your cause? (plus some proof?)
or, if you're criticising the design itself, again - not hiding behind anonymity might give you more credence
just trying to help...
*****
"ah, a tiny version of what i pitched to you in 2007.
good luck getting enough torque out of it to wrench a track nut tight enough."
Thats a cool looking tool. Makes me wish I rode more.
Brian Coffey himself is a fan of of Atwood tools, by the way.
Link
Man can't seem to catch one!! Keep up the good work bud
soooooooooooooooooooo bummed i missed this!!! argh!!!
if anyone has one they want to trade/sell, i have a rollbar + $$ that I am willing to part with.
Another run for us bike types? maybe, please :-)
Very nice! First time I saw these. Well done!
wow I wish I would have seen the wheelman, That would be a perfect tool for a wheelchair would have replaced the bike tool I lost in a sprint a few years ago after working on a wheel. It's amazing how few tools help those of us on two wheels of the non bike type (lol)
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