Listers- It's not the cost of the tool that counts. How many of us use $1 Allen wrenches? Yet we trust ourselves to tighten the handle bars properly, and the consequence of a loose HB is far greater then skewed drop outs.
If you were to use a couple of QR axles for the alignment rods, held in the drop out with axle nuts, you could sight through the axle's QR holes. This increases the length of the alignment gauge and increases the accuracy. The whole length of the "sighting tubes" would be used to judge the drop out's alignment, not just the 10mms across an axle's end. I have also slid a rod through the axle's QR hole to judge the two axle's alignment (instead of sighting through them).
A similar axle can be threaded into the derailleur's hanger hole, secured with nuts on each side, and be used as a hanger tool.
I haven't had to use these basic methods for years but they are still as valid and accurate as the person using them. The second half of that sentence applies to any tool be it low or high cost.
Andy Stewart
Raleigh, NC
>
> Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:38:51 -0700
> From: Phil Brown <philcycles@sbcglobal.net>
> To: CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Subject: Re: [CR]anyone made a dropout alignment tool?
> Message-ID: <ddcbe1619c1a658b616da9dfb327fd46@sbcglobal.net>
> In-Reply-To: <48DCA7CE.6000802@xtra.co.nz>
> References: <48DCA7CE.6000802@xtra.co.nz>
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>
> On Sep 26, 2008, at 2:13 AM, Wayne Davidson wrote:
>
>> Hi all, has anyone made there own, I was thinking about doing so using
>> a Campagnolo NR RD mounting bolt. Anyone with any pix?, please feel
>> free to send any to me direct..........regards wayne davidson Invers
>> NZ........
>>
>>
>
>
> You can make your own with threaded rod and nuts and washers but would
> you trust a $100 hub to a $3 tool? There are excellent alignment tools
> made that aren't very expensive.
> Phil Brown
> Uses Joe Bringheli's in Berkeley, Calif.