The more experience I get with Pedro's tools the more I like them, I recently had a cassette that was so worn out it was nearly impossible to remove it with a regular chain whip, I was wishing I had this tool!
Hi Danielle 😊 neat two in one vice grip for cassette work, looks heavy so maybe workshop use only ?, new cassette socket is an improvement also, thanks for the video, Atb, Stuart UK.
About as heavy as similarly sized vice grips. A lot of the "go kits" use the cassette wrench style since they are so light. I don't prefer them functionally, just depends what you're going for!
I never was a chain whip enthusiast in the first place. I have been using cassette pliers from the start and think they are quite fast and reliable. I don't see myself using the "vice whip", seems like a bit of an overkill although it might come in handy when you have to grab a really worn cog.
I would say, similar to other comments, a really worn cassette is where this tool really shines. Having confidence that you aren't going to slip off the teeth is valuable to me!
I think I will stay with the lowly chain whip, because of its simplicity. Maybe I am missing out by not giving the Vise Whip a chance, but it seems slightly more fiddly to use. The upside is that it undoubtedly will work better than a chain whip on a really worn cassette. If only I could try one for free for a week or two.
I do think there are instances where a chain whip is just downright a pain 😅 But they've also done the job for a while. I don't see a lot of track cogs anymore, but I wish I'd had this back when I did.
I bought two of these in case I need to undo multi piece cassettes that are stuck to wiggle it off. No hammer needed then. But not tested that out yet.
I had a customer that would bring in a bunch of vintage Uniglide equipped bikes and have me swap the cassettes for him - double vice whip would have been great 😁
Tool price: $70 Being able to ask a colleague to pass you the "vice whip" in front of a customer with a worn drivetrain: priceless! :) On a more serious note: It doesn't look too promising in terms of saving time (or space & weight for that matter) compared to a simple chain whip. It also doesn't look too promising for fixed gear sprockets (and Uniglide cassettes), but hipsters have gone extinct so who cares?! :) Relja
I have been in contact with Pedro's and they did mention they at least have plans for making a more comfortable grip for their chainwhip. I'm still on the fence about getting that Vise-Whip simply because it's just yet another tool for the same job, and I just wish I could've tested it before buy(not really possible without knowing someone who owns one) I'll just have to see what I'll end up with eventually... My main issue with cassette removing tools is: 1: All metal and often to thin and also shaped to dig into your palm 2: Too short, so you just lack leverage(I believe they do this because they somehow imagine all customers are traveling world cup mechanics with a shortage of space) I got the Park Tool FR-5.2H and other companies make similar one's which will suffer from the same faulty design. It's just too short. Less leverage means you have to apply more force and you have to do it on a thin metal rod. I'd like to have a few words with those designers to be frank, because that's unclever. Personally I got that tool for free because a webshop had done some mistakes, but I have still not used the thing because it's at least 7.5cm too short, and lacks a cushioned grip. That being said, I feel that vise whip is too short, made of just metal, and not really done much to unload your palm. Personally I just love to use tools with a high function value, because when all tools are just fighting you it's just a pain in the end. The vise whip may be ok-ish, but I personally feel it could be a lot better. Leverage is king.
I haven't had leverage trouble with the vise whips / chain whips. I do prefer to use a long breaker with the cassette tools though. I don't think anyone makes a cassette tool built onto a handle that I like. Always gravitate toward the socket style so I can use a longer tool.
I prefer the security of the whip or the vise whip personally, but there are some cool wrenches out there. I have the Unior one in one of my go-boxes - a previous watcher recommended the Decathlon version which looks pretty nice. The engagement point with the teeth is basically the same, there is just less keeping the wrench in place than the other two options (the side plates of the chain on the whip, or the back place of the vise whip behind the other cog, etc.).
Decathlon Chin Whip. Bar None the best & simplest piece of Art tool. Chin Whip no chin, no moving parts to fail. Will pretty much last 4ever. Compatibility: 10-11-12-13-14 cogs and 7 to 11-speed cassettes.
I love how it sits in my hand, not massively wide grip if clamping on the big cogs like the Parktool cassette plierd, easy to adjust, grip size does not change. I had Lezyne chainehip, which had a flat rounded off handle, it's awful to hold and easy to mess up I you are not experienced, but even so it's wiggly. This tool is not.
The more experience I get with Pedro's tools the more I like them, I recently had a cassette that was so worn out it was nearly impossible to remove it with a regular chain whip, I was wishing I had this tool!
I started my wrenching/tool journey with the first version of the Vise Whip and I swear by it.
Hi Danielle 😊 neat two in one vice grip for cassette work, looks heavy so maybe workshop use only ?, new cassette socket is an improvement also, thanks for the video, Atb, Stuart UK.
About as heavy as similarly sized vice grips. A lot of the "go kits" use the cassette wrench style since they are so light. I don't prefer them functionally, just depends what you're going for!
Good wrenchs. 3 in 1
I never was a chain whip enthusiast in the first place. I have been using cassette pliers from the start and think they are quite fast and reliable. I don't see myself using the "vice whip", seems like a bit of an overkill although it might come in handy when you have to grab a really worn cog.
I would say, similar to other comments, a really worn cassette is where this tool really shines. Having confidence that you aren't going to slip off the teeth is valuable to me!
I think I will stay with the lowly chain whip, because of its simplicity. Maybe I am missing out by not giving the Vise Whip a chance, but it seems slightly more fiddly to use. The upside is that it undoubtedly will work better than a chain whip on a really worn cassette.
If only I could try one for free for a week or two.
I do think there are instances where a chain whip is just downright a pain 😅 But they've also done the job for a while. I don't see a lot of track cogs anymore, but I wish I'd had this back when I did.
I bought two of these in case I need to undo multi piece cassettes that are stuck to wiggle it off. No hammer needed then. But not tested that out yet.
I had a customer that would bring in a bunch of vintage Uniglide equipped bikes and have me swap the cassettes for him - double vice whip would have been great 😁
Tool price: $70
Being able to ask a colleague to pass you the "vice whip" in front of a customer with a worn drivetrain: priceless!
:)
On a more serious note:
It doesn't look too promising in terms of saving time (or space & weight for that matter) compared to a simple chain whip.
It also doesn't look too promising for fixed gear sprockets (and Uniglide cassettes), but hipsters have gone extinct so who cares?! :)
Relja
I have been in contact with Pedro's and they did mention they at least have plans for making a more comfortable grip for their chainwhip. I'm still on the fence about getting that Vise-Whip simply because it's just yet another tool for the same job, and I just wish I could've tested it before buy(not really possible without knowing someone who owns one)
I'll just have to see what I'll end up with eventually...
My main issue with cassette removing tools is:
1: All metal and often to thin and also shaped to dig into your palm
2: Too short, so you just lack leverage(I believe they do this because they somehow imagine all customers are traveling world cup mechanics with a shortage of space)
I got the Park Tool FR-5.2H and other companies make similar one's which will suffer from the same faulty design. It's just too short. Less leverage means you have to apply more force and you have to do it on a thin metal rod. I'd like to have a few words with those designers to be frank, because that's unclever.
Personally I got that tool for free because a webshop had done some mistakes, but I have still not used the thing because it's at least 7.5cm too short, and lacks a cushioned grip.
That being said, I feel that vise whip is too short, made of just metal, and not really done much to unload your palm. Personally I just love to use tools with a high function value, because when all tools are just fighting you it's just a pain in the end.
The vise whip may be ok-ish, but I personally feel it could be a lot better. Leverage is king.
I haven't had leverage trouble with the vise whips / chain whips. I do prefer to use a long breaker with the cassette tools though. I don't think anyone makes a cassette tool built onto a handle that I like. Always gravitate toward the socket style so I can use a longer tool.
What are you’re thoughts on using a cassette wrench?
Like the one from Pro and Unior?
I prefer the security of the whip or the vise whip personally, but there are some cool wrenches out there. I have the Unior one in one of my go-boxes - a previous watcher recommended the Decathlon version which looks pretty nice. The engagement point with the teeth is basically the same, there is just less keeping the wrench in place than the other two options (the side plates of the chain on the whip, or the back place of the vise whip behind the other cog, etc.).
I love my vice whip. No more busted knuckles. Hard to get stability of whip on 12 speed. The vice tool is so much easier.
Decathlon Chin Whip. Bar None the best & simplest piece of Art tool. Chin Whip no chin, no moving parts to fail. Will pretty much last 4ever.
Compatibility:
10-11-12-13-14 cogs and 7 to 11-speed cassettes.
Their current listing includes 12 speed on the compatibility 🤘
I love how it sits in my hand, not massively wide grip if clamping on the big cogs like the Parktool cassette plierd, easy to adjust, grip size does not change.
I had Lezyne chainehip, which had a flat rounded off handle, it's awful to hold and easy to mess up I you are not experienced, but even so it's wiggly. This tool is not.
Sold!
Just saved me from buying Park 😂
'promo sm'