We’re a sucker for a good toolbox and Brad Kelly has a very tidy one that has won the 2019 Toolbox Wars competition. Check it out inside.
Check out our toolbox tour tag if you’re into pro toolkits.
Brad’s Toolbox – Video
Brad Kelly (@IG Bee_Kay77) has been a bicycle mechanic since 1993 so he’s spent some time to fine tuning his craft.
He has been a mechanic for Jill Kintner for the 2017 and 2018 World Crankworx series. In order to finish first, you first have to finish and Brad certainly helped her bike work well during that time. Kintner did quite well taking wins in many races and the overall Queen of Crankworx title both years.
Photo: James Stokoe | Crankworx – Whistler Pump Track 2019
Bradis the 2018 toolbox wars world champ and recently won the 2019 toolbox wars toolbox of the year titles.
He has raced downhill from 1996 to approximately 2015 where he has taken DH state round wins and titles including many National DH round podiums and wins.
His current bike is a 2020 Specialized Enduro Comp S4
- Canecreek double barrel CS 205 x 65
- Fox 36 180mm grip2 damper
- Magura Raceline brakes 203mm rotors
- Hand built DT/Stans EX3 wheels
- 10sp Shimano drivetrain
Which brings us to the topic of his latest mobile toolbox. This man is meticulous and enjoys his craft. Many professional bike mechanics have to work at remote venues to support their riders so it’s important they have the right tools for the job. Many of them use Pelican style cases toorganize and transport their tools. Brad’s setup uses a customized gun case that he’s clearly spent a lot of time curating and refining.
It features pneumatic lifts, trays, and custom foam cut-outs to house each tool he has elected to have in his mobile toolkit. Each tool has a place and he designed the cutouts to allow tools rock inward in lieu of finger holes. Some of the tools on the back board are held with magnets or clips.
By layering the EVA foam he is able to get good support for the tools to stay in place but they can rock inward when needed to allow them to be removed easily. The lack of finger holes also lets him get more tools in his layout. It’s a labor of love.
As you can see there are a lot of tools here. The top panel is ribbed with aluminum and folds forward to reveal additional tools on the back side like a hole puncher, lockring tools, tire trimmer, du bushing tool, zip tie tool, and more.
Many of these tools aren’t cheap but many are available through your local bike store or Amazon. The Powerbuilt T-handle Hex wrench set at $59 is one of many items we’ve seen in many recent mechanics box builds.
Full tool list
TOP LAYER
- Abbey “Toolbox wars world champion 2019” custom titanium hammer
- Abbey pedal wrench
- Abbey H.A.G (hanger alignment guage)
- Abbey crombie dual sided cassette lockring tool
- Abbey whip-it chain whip
- Effetto Mariposa 2-16nm torque wrench
- Park tools grease gun
- Park tools CT-3.2 chain breaker
- Park tools piston press
- Topeak Smart Guage digital tyre pressure gauge
- Rigid mini pipe cutter
- PB Swiss scribe tool
- Cane Creek digital shock pump
- Knipex side cutter pliers 70 02 160
- Knipex bull nose pliers 03 02 180
- Knipex cable cutters 95 62 190
- Knipex needle nose pliers 26 12 200
- Knipex 180mm plier wrench 86 05 180
- Knipex 250mm plier wrench 86 05 250
- Park tools utility knife razor blade
- Park tools digital vernier calipers
- Park tools heavy duty tyre levers x 2
- Wera Zyklop 3/8 ratchet handle
BOTTOM LAYER
- Abbey 16 notch BB socket (Hollowtech2/GXP)
- Abbey 12 notch BB socket (Sram DUB)
- Mini Maglite torch
- Enduro bearing press with full set of drifts
- Stanley hacksaw blade handle with metal and Park tools carbon blades
- PB Swiss 90mm file handle with Nicholson 2nd cut half round file
- Park tools BBT-9 16 notch hollowtech2/GXP and locking spanner (mainly for
- centerlock rotors)
- PB Swiss pin punches 4,6 and 8mm
- Abbey suspension socket set 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32mm
- 54mm 2 metre measuring tape
- Park tools spoke tension gauge
- Park toolshydraulic hose barb press
- Park toolshydraulic hose cutter
- Syringe with light grease (mainly for gear cables)
- Syringe with carbon paste
- Stainless steel oiler pen
- Park tools IR 1.2 internal cable routing kit
- Marvis black tooth brush
- Round and flat needle files
- Scalpel
- Wera 3/8″ bit holder
- Bleeding syringes and fittings
- Park tools BBT-10.2 adjusting cap tool (hollowtech2)
- Assortment of spare bolts, washers, shims, valves/stems, brake hose fittings, headset
- spacers, star nuts, saftey pins, razor blades, batteries, cable ties ect
- Bic lighter
- Wurth super fast glue
- Loctite 242
- Smoove chain lube cable ferrules, crimps, bleed blocks
TOOLBOARD TOOL LIST
- Knipex scissors
- Blue Point mini needle nose pliers
- Blue Point mini flush cut snips
- Custom made rotor tool for adjusting brake contact point
- Hex Pro swivel hex keys 3,4,5,6mm
- Wera torx key set 8,9,10,15,20,25,27,30,40
- Park tools SPANNERS 6,7,8,9,10mm
- PB Swiss picks straight, 90° and hook
- PB Swiss spinning bit T handle
- Powerbuilt torx Sliding T handles 10,25,30
- Powerbuilt hex sliding T handles 2,2.5,3,4,5,6mm
- Wera hex key set 1.5,2,2.5,3,4,5,6,8mm
- PB Swiss 50mm bits 2,2.5,3,4,5,6 and T25
- DT Swiss spoke wrench
- Stans no tubes valve core tool
- PB Swiss replaceable screwdriver handle
- PB Swiss #2 small flat head screwdriver blade
- PB Swiss PH2 Phillips blade for screwdriver
- PB Swiss #4 large flat head blade for screwdriver
- PB Swiss bit holder blade for screwdriver
- PB Swiss mini replaceable blade screwdriver
- PB Swiss small flat and phillips blade for mini screwdriver
- PB Swiss 1.5 and 2mm hex blade for mini screwdriver
- PB Swiss 2.5 and 3mm hex blade for mini screwdriver
- Wera Zyklop mini 1/4″ bit ratchet
- Wera 50mm 1/4″ bit extension
- Park tool Flare nut wrench 8,10mm
- Topeak preset 4,5,6nm 1/4″ bi torque fittings
You’ve made it this far.. you’re clearly a fan of a solid tool setup. Give a follow to Bee_Kay77 and toolboxwars. Abbey Bike Tools is also running a toolbox contest as well!
Check back daily throughout the month of December as we post more content in our 25 days of Sickness!
