Originally Posted by smd4

I guess I was referring to box/open end wrenches and such. Screw drivers and hex wrenches…absolutely.

Originally Posted by smd4

I'll preface this by saying you may already have a lot of these tools in your home tool box (and I see that you do from the post above). Anyway...

--Set of metric open/box end wrenches up to 17mm;
--12" adjustable ("Crescent") wrench;
--Ball-peen hammer;
--Metal shop ruler (to measure chain stretch, etc.);
--Needle-nose pliers (to grab the cable when adjusting derailleur cable tension);
--JIS (Japanese) Phillips head screwdriver, probably No. 2 will cover you in most instances;
--Hex/Allen Tri-wrench in 4, 5, 6 mm;
--Socket Tri-wrench in 8, 9, 10 mm;
--Torx Tri-wrench (I have one but don't use it, because I don't have any Torx fasteners);
--Pedal Wrench (I have an older (Verma?) model that has both 15mm and 1/2" at either end);
--Set of good quality cone wrenches (I use Park);
--High-quality spoke wrench to fit your spoke nipples. Park makes these. Get the kind that looks like a hot-air-balloon with rubber grip. Don't cheap out on this tool!;
--Headset wrench specific to your headset if you use one. Park makes these as well;
--Chain Whip;
--Cassette lockring tool depending on cassette manufacturer (This will be used in conjunction with your chain whip and adjustable wrench);
--Bottom-bracket tools, depending on what you're using and the era;
--Fourth hand (Hozan makes an excellent one);
--Quality bike-cable-specific cable cutters (I use a discontinued Shimano version but the newer Park one seems quite capable);
--Metric Allen key set (the "L" shaped ones);
--Chain Tool (type depending on what you use--rivets, quick links, etc.);
--Tools specific to your bike--I need an extra long 6mm Allen key for my stem and a 8mm Allen for my cranks. I also have a specific tool for my chainring bolts and crank dust caps, and one to adjust my pedal bearings;
--Good quality oil (your choice; I use Tri-Flow);
--Good quality grease (your choice; I use Shimano Special Grease. Phil is good too);
--Good quality floor pump including good-quality chuck for your particular valves (I use a Silca Pista Plus with Hiro chuck for Presta valves);
--Tire valve core tool (I think these would be used if you are tubeless and need to remove the valve core);
--Decent floor stand if your bike can be lifted into one;

Fun tools but completely unnecessary: Angle gauge; digital bike (expensive) or luggage (cheap) scale.

This list is what I can think of off the top of my head, but should be a good start for most home shops. YMMV. There are of course very specialized tools like dropout alignment tools, headset cup and race removers/installers, etc. These can be pricy and not used very often, but many can be fabricated at home. I may add to this list as I think of things.

Originally Posted by sjanzeir

Wise people once told me to buy the quality tools that I specifically need for the bikes I have as and when I needed them. That advice has never let me down. I say take an inventory of the components of your bikes and match your toolkit accordingly. And yeah, buy the quality stuff: Park Tool (of course,) Pedro's (no-nonsense,) IceToolz (a bit underappreciated,) Uniche (look them up; their stepless tool is really great and they make a bunch of other great stuff.)

Originally Posted by mlau

FWIW, I don't know enough to know which companies are "quality" for BIke tools.
For instance, I was agonizing over what 4th hand (cable puller) tool to get, and ended up with a Park Tool.

Originally Posted by mlau

FWIW, I don't know enough to know which companies are "quality" for BIke tools.
For instance, I was agonizing over what 4th hand (cable puller) tool to get, and ended up with a Park Tool.
For anything that's not bike specific, I love Knipex or Wera/Wiha.

FWIW, I'm more familiar with woodworking stuff, as I used to (hackishly) build acoustic guitars.

Originally Posted by smd4

I found the Park fourth hand (and the copy-cat Pedro's) to be difficult to use at best. They use thinner metal, which makes grabbing the cable more difficult. The Hozan is identical to the tool we used in the shop in the late 1980s (and for some reason, I thought it was Park-branded back then as well--at least I remember blue rubber hand grips).

Originally Posted by mlau

Thanks for the tip.

I may return it and get the Hozan