I'm my on mechanic as far as bikes go. I tend to be able to fix most problems myself but looking to make things easier on myself by having better tools to work with. Right now I just us my general tools (no bike specific stuff) to work on bikes. So, i'm looking for suggestions on a which tools are the core, must have type of tools as far as bike specific tools go.

Or if there are any kits worth looking at. I'm not looking to drop $600 on bike tools right now but want to have some of staple tools that a home mechanic should have.

I try and do my own work on my bikes. I have just added tools as I need them. I bought a crank puller, bottom bracket tool, and cassette tool when I took apart and greased everything.

The work stand was money well spent. Having the bike at eye level and not having to bend down made things a lot easier.

Yeah, I've been eyeing a good stand because it gets hard on the back without it.

A few years ago when all bikes had standard bottom brackets and headsets, you could get away with a basic tool kit, now with each BB type needing unique tools, and many other parts needing specialist tools, it's often easier to buy the tools you need as you need them.

For basics, a set of Hex & Torx wrenches, pliers and chainwhip, tools for your specific cassette & bottom bracket will get you going.

Check out Park Tools How To's for what you need for each job Park Tool Co. » ParkTool Blog

+1, buy tools as you need them and are ready to put them into service. Whatever discount you realize on a kit will be offset by the cost of tools you don't need or use, so the actual pro-rated cost of those you use can end up higher.

When you look in your tool box, and find you don't have a specific tool that you need, that's the one you should consider buying.

Yeah, probably good idea to buy as you need them.

I think I'll probably get a chain tool and chain whip now, since they seem to be useful for most any setup you have. I have pretty much all the common general tools but haven't really bought much of any bike tools. I will wait until I break something or I need to service the crankset to worry about getting more than that I think.

I did pick up a copy of the Park Tool Big Blue Book and that's a pretty amazing book.

The chain tool is a good example of buying just what you need at the time. Chain tools have evolved along with the specific chains they are designed to work with. Be sure to buy a chaintool that will work well with your chain(s). The biggest changes have been from 9-speed to 10-speed to 11-speed. Each generation of chain has become narrower.

Not trying to hijack this thread, but along the lines of getting a tool as needed, I have found that my regular cutting pliers do not cut stranded cables cleanly. I know there are bicycle specific tools for cutting cables and housings but no LBS in my area carries them. Is it worth it to order one of these online, or is there a hardware store variety of cable cutter that would do?

After using various non-specific cutters for years, I finally got a pair of Park CN-10 cutters. There's no comparison in performance for cutting bicycle cables. They can be had for about 30 bucks online. If you're thinking of buying something that might sort-of work, just spend the little extra and get the right tool.

The CN 10 is what I was looking at getting as it seems to get good reviews. A guy at one LBS told me to just go to a hardware store but I was leery of that advice so I came here for a second opinion. Thanks for the validation.

I tend to buy tools as I need them and/or can afford them. I typically lean toward Park tools while Pedro's is my second choice. The best tool I ever purchased would probably be my Park PCS-10 Work Stand. Of course it's not a necessity, but it sure makes life easier. Ooooh, but even more useful/important than that, now that I'm thinking about it, are tire levers--without a doubt!

the bigger tool boxes with all the shallow drawers will let you lay out the tools in a easy to keep organized manner ..

Ive been a jumble in a small tool box mechanic .. since I've never had a garage..

though a proper Apron has pockets in it to stow the ones i'm using for a specific job..

I have a Nashbar cable cutter in my traveling tool kit, it is a bit bare-bones compared to the Park but the steel is tempered properly and it has been holding up.
Product: Nashbar Pro Cable Cutter

I also am using a Bovidix wire rope cutter in my home shop and it works fine, again the steel seems to be properly tempered. The Bovidix has longer grips with softer vinyl on them. I honed both cutters a bit with diamond slip stones.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EDMEGH4/..._M3T1_ST1_dp_1

Both of these cutters have the Park type jaws meant to cut stranded cable without fraying and are meant for steel cable, not just copper wire. The cutters you find in home centers are not generally tempered to cut high-tensile steel cable and have jaws that will fray stranded cable.