Dropper Buddy Version 1.2 - Dropper Post Cable Installation Tool 

So rad seeing a Kyle Cyclery shirt! Love James and the shop so much!

This might be something good to 3d print. A nice hunk of metal is nice for a tool but it’s way easier to 3d print than it is to mill, cut, and drill out.

I want a dropper buddy in my tool box!

Are the jaws on the lathe reversible? I couldn't tell from the video. If they are, reversing them might have made it possible for you to part using the cutter. Clever that you machined it to size with multiple passes instead of using a saw. #lesswork

That was probably faster than trying to cut through it with a hacksaw.

I'm interested in your ingenuity, though I've installed countless droppers and I've never had this problem myself... If there's difficulty to seat the housing, could you not simply hold the exposed tail-end of the cable with pliers and then operate the lever? This would tighten the housing against the pliers and squeeze everything into place. Afterward, if it's still difficult to get enough initial tension in the line, you could use a finger to pull the trigger mechanism of the dropper into action ever-so-slightly, at the same time as you fasten the cable-clamp. Once you clamp the cable and let go of the trigger, the dropper trigger's spring would then tighten any initial slack in the cable. If you find it's now too tight at this point, it's easy to then loosen the clamp and let the cable out very slightly to reach the perfect tension, before cutting off the extra tail length.

Love it. I mean I hate the dropper design that finds it acceptable to route cables that direction, but enjoyed the design/manufacturing process. Would be cool to see a video going over the new machine tooling purchase/decision process

My issue is more the design of my frame where I just struggle so much just installing a new cable. There's too much "stuff" and angles and what not around the bottom bracket area that it's a total pain trying to route the cable(I use the park tool magnet cable thingie tools) through here. My cable was pinched on two spots from the factory, so there were two kinks on it which does not make for smooth operation. The other issue is I got a Fox dropperpost and most people struggle with its action not being consistent, so very often it just won't raise up again by itself. It's been like that since new, and lots of others got the same issue. I just wonder if I have to bite the bullet and purchase the overpriced electric droppers in an attempt to whack 2 flies in one go. I like the tool you crafted though. Personally I have no workshop exactly, so no heavy machinery to do these kind of things, so maybe it would be better to get a hockey puck to make the dropper puck, and just go to town with a dremel. 🤔

This is awesome. :) It is cool that you showed all the thinking process - along with the (inevitable) mistakes (only those who never do anything never make mistakes). I also highly appreciate the "free open source" approach where you shared all the dimensions without trying to "mistify" it as some manufacturers do. It's been a year now since the video - how is the tool holding up? Stay cool and keep up with the great videos. For what it's worth, I really enjoy your work. Relja No-Lathe-For-Now Novović