Yes, those are precisely the lockring pliers you want to get and they are definitely worth the higher price over a conventional hook style tool. Also, that Amazon price is very good for those Hozan pliers.

Do I need them for initial assembly? Or when would they be needed? Just planning on prority of parts.

Also is the a collection of how to's that relate to assembly and maintance?

It is hard to say whether the wheel will come with the cog in place or not. Since you may very well want to change your gearing lockring pliers or a lockring tool are good to have. You can also do this if you've got an old channel lock wrench:
http://cdn.instructables.com/FD9/N28...FEI.MEDIUM.jpg

Probably. Although the cog and lockring will probably be installed on the hub, they will not be tight enough to prevent the lockring from loosening as soon as you ride the bike and the cog tightens up. As the cog tightens, it pulls away from the lockring, causing it to become loose. Then as you back pedal or skid, the cog unscrews until it contacts the lockring, and eventually through several cycles of forward and backward pedalling you will end up stripping out the hub threads and will need to replace it. So, IMO, a lockring tool is essential from the git go, although you don't necessarily need a chain whip to tighten the cog.

Well, if you're so concerned with a wheel being centered you're not going to figure out that by using just a truing stand and a spoke wrench. You'll need a dishing gauge, too, or something to confirm your truing stand is perfectly calibrated. I think Park Tools makes some overpriced piece of aluminum that is suppose to act as a perfectly centered wheel in order to calibrate their truing stands. For what it's worth, I have a Park TS-2.2, a Park dishing gauge, and a that silly Park centering gauge. The centering gauge is useless.

I picked up the lower end park wheel truing stand (TS8) for around $50 bucks off of CL -- already had the spoke wrench. I cant tell you how much I've actually needed to use it over the past few months due to having a number of bikes and SF roads are generally poor. Get a stand -- it'll last a lifetime and save you $80 a pop at the LBS.. Just my $.02

I called the local bike shop and they charge 25 per wheel to true them if they are bad. Thinking I will take the wheels in to have them checked and while they are they have them check the cog and lockring. The tool is not super expensive but for 35 and I really only need it when I change cogs I cant see abig use for it off the bat.

Best tool I ever bought was this:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=439982

I actually don't like the lockring pliers and much prefer the hook type. I use Amazon.com : Pedros Trixie-Fixie Tool : Bike Repair Tools : Sports & Outdoors

I highly recommend a stand too. Makes working on a bike so much easier Feedback Sports Pro-Ultralight Bicycle Repair Stand - Modern Bike

Thats next on my tool list. Working on bikes upside down sucks

Yeah it does, for sure.

How well does that trixie tool work? I would pick that up for the lock ring.

Not very well.

I'm not a huge fan of most of the Pedro's tools, personally. They feel really cheap, like a toy. Try not to buy cheap stuff. Cheap tools reeealllyyy suck, and will usually, eventually destroy whatever you are working on, by either failing, or driving you crazy, I'm talking, "chimpanzee beating on everything in sight", crazy. Cheap tools, small spaces(like an apartment) and the middle of summer will drive you mad.

It's the axle wrench that I ride with. The lockring tool works well enough but I do not use it if I have the Hozan around. I have never used the little allen wrench that pokes out the side because I also carry a folding set. I thought I would never use that multi-sized-nut-wrench-thing that is cut out of the middle but I did the other day - to tighten a nut on a fender stay.

I have one of those, too, and I love it!

It's my only lockring tool. Again, I prefer that style to the wrench kind. Plus it's great to keep in your saddlebag with all the other extras it has.