I found that building my first set of wheels was enormously satisfying, even enjoyable. The only reason I bought full wheelsets later is because they cost less than the components. I never needed a truing stand. I would use the bike frame for the rear, fork for the front, with clothespins or other clamped in place to check radial and lateral true. I didn't need to know the value of the rear wheel dish, I just trued it to be centered in the chainstays. These days, if I buy a bike and the wheels are only off laterally, I just true them. If they are off much radially, I lower the tension on all spokes to zero, even out the nipple positions, then slowly bring them all up to tension while watching radial and lateral runout. When I get done, the rim doesn't move when spun, and stays in true forever until a spoke breaks years down the road.