I had a conversation a few summers ago at a WI bike shop with a veteran builder from the Waterford Schwinn Paramount days (up through Gunnar) who now owns his shop and does custom builds. Cool guy. When assessing my bike mechanics skill levels he asked, "Do you have a vice grip in your tool kit?" A "yes" answer is apparently a bad indication. When I answered "no" he was willing to continue conversing (after winking at his co-worker).
+1 on proper tools, but I admit to starting with a cheap kit. I started by taking apart old wheels and cleaning/regreasing/re-assembling hubs. It gives you a feel for bearings and races and loading, etc. And it doesn't require a stand or awkward bending over.
That story about the veteran builder and his vice grip pass/fail test says more about him than about you.
Vice grips are used by some poor mechanics, but they're also used by some of the best mechanics. For example, if you know how to use one properly, no tool is better than a vice grip for delicate, precise bending of metal fittings. It's the mediocre mechanics who think that they're too good to use vice grips.