Home tire mounting

It's time to mount my new front runners and slicks on my new wheels. I despise taking my tires to get mounted at the local shops because they're full of young kids who don't give a f*** about doing a good job, so the last 3-4 times they've mounted my drag tires there's been problems. Scratched rims, hammer on weights instead of stick ons, poorly balanced. I have never complained to them because I know the shop hates I don't buy tires through them (so they can mark the price up 80%), but I'm tired of dealing with it. So I want to start mounting and balancing rubber myself. Was looking at those Harbor Freight bubble balancer stands, and some tire spoons. Do any of you guys have recommendations on 1) tools and 2) procedures on mounting tires without scratching the hell out of the aluminum wheels? I have big pry bars, but afraid without the rounded hooked ends they'd make a mess. Drag tires shouldn't be too bad since they're pretty flexible. I'll be running tubes, so a lot of baby powder will go inside the slicks.