Hot take: frame alignment gauges are mostly a waste of shop money

I was talking to this older mechanic, Dave, over at the co-op in Portland last Thursday. He said he's never used a dedicated frame alignment tool in 30 years, just his eyes and a string. I've always thought those Park Tool gauges were essential, but he made me realize that for the majority of steel frames we see, a string and a caliper catch 90% of the issues. Has anyone else ditched the fancy tools for the simple method?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakota_miller9311d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, Dave at the co-op in Portland? Not the same Dave who builds those crazy track frames in the back? @val974, that guy would rather use a bent coat hanger than break out a Park Tool gauge.

val97415d ago

Are you Dave's apprentice or something? Because I totally get his point, that string and caliper method has saved my ass more times than I can count when the fancy tool wasn't around.

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