Originally Posted by smontanaro

The last two headsets I've attempted to install with the homemade threaded rod/washer tool haven't gone well. On the previous (early Chris King headset for my Redcay), I gave up rather quickly and just took it to my LBS. My latest endeavor (Campy Super Record headset on my Griffon) leaves me with a partially completed job, lower cup installed fine, but I can't keep the upper race aligned with the head tube to press it in. It keeps wanting to go all cattywampus on me. I think it's time for a proper tool.

I see a couple headset presses in the $40-$60 range from Chain Reaction and Jenson USA. Though named differently (X-Tools vs. Foundation), they look identical to me. There are a couple which don't look any better than my homemade tool (including the Park HHP-3 - what's up with that?), so I'll avoid them. I see a Cyclus press for about $50 which looks promising, but might be expensive to ship from Europe (haven't seen any stateside vendors for it). Then you get into the better Park and Wheels Mfg tools which quickly jump you into the $125-$150 range.

I'm not a tool geek and don't install headsets all that often, but it seems like it's time to buy one. What have people used and liked, or used and found lacking?