A bit of background here: my dh was a pretty avid biker (commuter) when I met him, and he loves tinkering around with all things mechanical. He's also a packrat, so over the years he's accumulated a large and messy collection of bike tools, doo-dads, spare parts, bits and pieces and little broken things that "might come in handy".

This drives me nuts In fact I'd rather hand my bike over to my lbs than search around in the mess described above. But - I'm now at the point of doing a lot more of my own maintenance, since I now have 3 bikes to maintain and am biking more so the wear and tear is greater. And I want my own toolbox!

And I am a total snob when it comes to tools. Tools last forever, and I can't stand using bad stuff that bends or breaks or is sloppy. I'd much rather pay for the good stuff.

So does anybody have any favourite tools/brands, or any good tips when it comes to putting together a good toolbox? So far I'm looking at enough stuff so I can clean+lube my bike, switch tires, fix flats, adjust the derailleurs and brakes, change brake pads and cables and housing, and replace the drivetrain. I think I know what I need, but I'd like tips as to what works, well - best...