DIY bike tools?

[Psylock1045]

Anybody have advice for how to make your own bike tools, particularly the fourth hand cable stretcher tool? That bastard is expensive ( cheapest I found was $32 ) and I'm kinda broke.

 

[callmeG]

I've never used one of those things. I use needle nose pliers (or my hand) to pull the cable tight and hold the brake arm in, and then tighten the screw with my free hand. There's a hozan you can get for like $22 shipped on ebay, but I've always been too cheap.

 

[Psylock1045]

I've tried holding the brakes in, pulling the cable tight, and tightening the nut....it seems impossible and I can never get it tight enough.

 

[Durp]

You just need more practice. Pliers do the trick.

 

[Durp]

Try pulling the cable tight, using a small vice grip clamp the cable so it cant slip, then tighten. What are you doing just adjusting your breaks? If so it just takes a little practice, but all you need is the proper size wrench. Look up how to tighten breaks. I think doing derailers is trickier, I usally pull it a little tighter than I would actually want, but when its all tight its right where I want. It is truly just all in the feel and that just takes practice to gain.