Between the two, I'd go with the dishing tool. I built probably twenty wheels before I got a tensionmeter but I relied on the dish tool extensively. By the way I made a dish tool. Found a pattern for one on the internet and cut it out of plywood with a jigsaw to which I attached a wooden ruler which slides up and down. Works like a charm. I also made a nipple driver in the manner previously mentioned. There are a lot of "work around" alternatives to expensive Park tools.