General Bike FAQs & Info

Any DIYer will find years of usefulness for an array of gear and home projects, repairs and maintenance out of Big Gator Hand Drill & Tap Guides. They can be used on flat surfaces (like skis & snowboards), corners and round items (like ski poles and bike frames). With or without clamping, these handy guides should be in every DIYers toolbox.

Big Gator Tools was established in 2005 and is now marketing the most universal patented drill and tap guides ever sold. Guides are made from a special nickel alloyed steel that is heat-treated and ground along bottom surface to assure stability and accurate perpendicular alignment on flat surfaces. All guides have a 90 degree V-groove along the bottom that allows perpendicular alignment on round parts as well as corners.

TAP GUIDES: Holes are sized for ANSI Standard and Metric Ground Thread Taps.

Standard V-TapGuides can handle tap sizes: ( 0-80, 1-64, 1-72, 2-56, 2-64, 3-48, 3-56, 4-36, 4-40, 4-48, 5-40, 5-44, 6-32, 6-36, 6-40, 8-32, 8-36, 8-40, 10-24, 10-32, ¼-20, ¼-28, 5/16-18, 5/16-24, 3/8-16, 3/8-24, 7/16-14, 7/16-20, ½-13, ½-20, 5/8-11, 5/8-18)

Metric V-TapGuides can handle tap sizes: ( 1.6mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.5mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm)

STI TAP GUIDES: (Screw Thread Inserts)

STI-UNC V-TapGuides can handle standard ground STI hand tap sizes: (Unified Coarse Threads: 9/16-12, 1/2-13, 7/16-14, 3/8-16, 5/16-18, 1/4-20, 12-24, 10-24, 8-32, 6-32)

STI-UNF V-TapGuides can handle standard ground STI hand tap sizes: (United Fine Threads: 5/8-18, 9/16-18, 1/2-20, 7/16-20, 3/8-24, 5/16-24, 1/4-28, 10-32, 8-36)

DRILL GUIDES:

Standard V-DrillGuides are made for 17 standard drill sizes: (1/8 to 3/8 in 1/64 increments) Covers all the drill sizes in a standard 3/8 drill index except drill sizes smaller than 1/8”. Heat treated for durability like drill bushings. It’s like having a portable drill press anywhere! Straight perpendicular alignment wherever you go.

Metric V-DrillGuides can handle drill sizes: 3, 3.3, 3.5, 4, 4.2, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 6.8, 7, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9, 9.5mm

Here is a video from Tom Hintz, owner/publisher of NewMetalworker.com made this video as part of an independent review of the Big Gator Drill and Tap Guides. (Please note that the tap guides do not need to be clamped in place like in the video to hand tap.)

For additional information also see: Drill and Tap Guides for Hand Drilling

After many years using (and storing in the off-season) a typical bike repair stand sitting on the floor, we mounted a Bicycle Bench Vise to a base and our bench T-Track system.

Our t-track system (inspired on the Tools4Boards Terminator Tuning Stand) and first introduced in 2006 thanks to Lou Dawson at Wildsnow, the T-Track system works great for skis and snowboard repairs, tuning and waxing, while keeping your bench or stand still very usable for other household or shop needs.

Rather than permanently mounting a bike repair stand to your bench, which gets in the way of other tasks, a T-track system allows for quick swaps (or simultaneously) between various projects that pop up during active and busy lives.

Due to larger rotational forces generated by bikes versus skis & snowboards from the weight and center of gravity location, the t-track requires additional screws and possibly bench reinforcing. By drilling and countersinking the t-track every 6″ or so, a base block with t-bolts and knobs or hex bolts and nuts may be more than enough support help you to bang out your bike maintenance and repair tasks more quickly and efficiently on a base that can easily slide, even with a bike in the clamps.

If you feel the need or need to perform serious torquing on your bike, adding a support is highly recommended. In this example we cut an old aluminum tent pole to 24″ and added base block, screwed on to a bench support leg.

Additional blocks can be mounted in other locations on your bench to increase work locations or even add additional bike repair stands if needed.

With the addition of a proper support leg, the sliding, bench mounted repair stand will rival permanently mounted floor or bench repair stands with the benefit of swinging it out of the way or removing it altogether in seconds.

The base block, t-bolt and knob approach allows the ability to easily transfer and utilize the bench mount repair stand in any number of other locations, including camping trailers and secondary bench set ups.

Another advantage utilizing a bench mount system, is that you can easily layout and access tools and supplies on the surface and/or in drawers/shelves.

From France, VAR is internationally known for their vast range of fine bike tools and supplies for the very discerning to the novice bike mechanic. SlideWright has a good cross section of available VAR Bike Tools in stock with the ability (like many of our products) to custom order others not found in stock. Here is the VAR Product Catalogue for 2012 (10MB pdf) which we bookmarked so you can use it as an easy reference.

If there are items you need from the catalogue, not shown on our site, please drop us a line and we’ll order it for you.

ParkTool has an excellent bike repair resource library. It is a great reference for the DIYer to learn and apply the numerous techniques while maintaining your bike(s). Check it out and gain more confidence tackling an array of tasks which are easier than you may think.

You can also purchase the Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair and keep it on your bench as a quick reference. The book can also handle grease stains better than your keyboard when you run into a problem and need a quick answer.

We are happy to announce that we have made a major move and commitment to the sports, activities and life styles relative to the bicycle. As with Ski and Snowboards we are, and will be, offering an array of bike tools, parts and supplies, along with tips and techniques, to help you keep your bike or bikes rolling along and extend their useful life.

Please let us know if there are any items you need or help on dealing with bike maintenance issues. As with Ski, Snowboard, backpacking, Hiking, Paddling, Camping, etc, we have access to a virtually unlimited supply of tools, parts and supplies. If we don’t show it in the store, it doesn’t mean we can’t get it for you.

Following is our list of new Bike Tool. Accessory and Supply vendors:

• Delta Cycle
• Finish Line Premium Bicycle Lubrication
• IceToolz for Bicycles
• Orontas Sustainable & Biodegradable Lubes and Cleaners
• ParkTool Bicycle Tools
• Pedros Bike Care, Tools & Accessories
• Topeak Bike Tools, Stands & Accessories
• Tri-Flow Cleaner, Protection & Lubricating Products
• VAR Fine Bike Tools & Supplies
• White Lightning Clean Riding Lubricants & Cleaners