Tire puncture/what to do?

[McG99]

So I got new tires on in Feb.  Just got a screw in the rear tire two days ago.  Called around to the local shops and no one does patches!  So instead of taking weeks or who knows how long to find some one to patch it I bought a new tire and had it changed out.  Kept the "old" tire so I can hopefully patch it at some point and use it on the spare bike once I get it up and running and can take it to a track now and then.  So the deal is I've been told I could just get some reverse plugs and patch it myself.  What's the down side of doing that if done poorly?  I'm not really that concerned but it seems the local shops don't want to for some reason. 
I'm running with balancing beads so I could deal with balancing no problem.  If I'm going to commit to patching this one I'll probably want to get a decent tire remover/installer of the smallish sort so I can do this in the future for my wife's bike and mine if it happens again.  I have had it patched before in years past but that shop isn't around any more so no go there.  Do you guys patch/plug your own punctures?  Thanks in advance.

[Bob H]

It all depends where the puncture is located.
90% of the time it is OK to patch, as long as it isn't near the sidewall.

I have patched 4 motorcycle tires and run them to the wear bars.

There are theories that you have to patch it from the inside (you already pulled the damaged tire).
I have done so many "rope - string" patches (many on cars and trucks as well as the MC) that I have complete faith in them. I just replaced my NH tires last month that were totally worn out and noted a patch I had done. The small visible "rope" that meets the road is small, but the rest of that rope inside the tire is fatter and is not going to come out on its own.

I'll probably want to get a decent tire remover/installer of the smallish sort so I can do this in the future for my wife's bike and mine if it happens again.

I bought a used Harbor Freight bead breaker 12 years ago for $20 but I see they have a newer design now and want $80 for the new one https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/auto-shop-tools/tire-wheel/bead-breaker-58769.html

For that price I would just hold out for a used No Mar (which I got later).

Breaking the bead is only half the battle in changing tires. By the time you invest in tire irons then realize that sucks and you need something better, you will realize that you may as well have gotten a better tool in the first place.

The HF tire changer, even with the motorcycle attachment, is bad enough that most people have to modify them and a company sprang up with parts to make them decent (Mojolever).

The No-Mar / Cycle Hill has been around for a very long time, there is a newcomer Rabaconda that has a fresh design that appears to really work well and they are much more portable and less expensive. Lot of videos to see them, and on Amazon for under $500