Out. Of. Shape.

Just got in from a 35 mile ride - only my 3rd road ride in three months since moving to Dallas. Too much wrenching and not enough riding these days. However, things at the shop are looking up, and they have some bike-specific tools I can use to get my Rockfish Formula One BMX into shape. So far I've gotten the chance to use the Park FFG-2 dropout alignment tool. I had been contemplating building one out of scraps I have lying around, but sometimes it's easier to use what's already available than rebuild the wheel. However, there are many home-brewed methods to make this tool instead of buying that rarely-used $80 tool. All you need is a 10mm axle, two axle nuts, and a stiff piece of metal with a hole in it for a leverage arm:

A photo & design from Mark @ BikeSmithDesign.com

Pretty ingenious. Then there are those tools that are necessities if you want to do a job correctly. I'm specifically referring to cutting tools. I've already added threads on the fork for the Rockfish, but now I'm planning on using two additional cutting tools while I have access to them at the shop.

CRC-1 headset crown race seat milling tool
&
HTR-1 headtube facer

The CRC-1 is a $400 tool that will allow me to take my 1" fork that is intended for a 27.03 ID crown race and mill it down to accept a 26.43 crown race... that will make it compatible with my new CHRIS KING headset! w00t. If I didn't have access to this tool, then I would take a file to the crown race seat... a laborious and imprecise method. However, the file method will work, and I suggest using a retaining fluid with this method to keep the crown race seated.

The HTR-1 is another $400 tool that will allow me to face the top and bottom surfaces of the head tube in order to make each surface planar and in parallel. Supposedly Chris King headsets require that this is done, and I will be cautious and follow their suggestion as I have already repaired the dented head tube. I cannot think of a way to make a tool that can do this accurately.

Alright, enough of this pro-tool business. These tools are not necessities for the home mechanic, and are rarely used even in the shop.  If you are doing a fresh build or have a damaged frame and need cutting services done, I highly suggest getting them done professionally for personal economic reasons.