How well does it work to remove headset cups, as well as the bearing race on the fork crown, without special tools? The tool to remove cups from the head-tube is cheap enough to be worth purchasing (around $30), but crown-race pullers run around $120 from what I've seen.

In lieu of such special tools, I'd plan to use a rubber-mallet hammer, and a flathead screwdriver, to tap the bearing cups and the crown race out. How well do these work? And how much risk do I pose to either the frame or the headset parts? (The frame in this case is lugged steel Centurion, headset is 105 with aluminum cups, steel crown race.)