i know that there are special cups to use to press in chris king headsets, but is it really that essential? is there a way to fake it so i don't have to wait to go to a shop?
or should i just ask this in the mechanics forum...

obviously, i mean chris king.

I know the block of wood/mallet/patience&care technique works, but I've only used it on cheaper headsets. I think I'd feel weird doing it with a king.

i've got the press, just not the special cups

I've pressed in headsets using a big c-clamp and socket but concidering the prize of a king the lbs with proper headsetpress might be a better way to go.

edit:you posted while i was typing ...so much for the c-clamp

I used nothing but a rubber mallet to install my 2nut.

You can get it in there without the proper tools, and it may work, but if forever reason it doesn't then don't expect it to be warrantied.
If you are paying that much for a headset why not just pony up the extra $10 to have it pressed in?

With a part that pricey I would use the proper tool.

Long bolt, big washers takes care of the cups. Getting the race on can be tricky without the right tools but I put the CK in my pista with all the wrong tools and had no trouble.

I have pressed a CK headset with the typical park tools tool and a ghetto one, nothing bad has come from it.

I did the same with a NoThreadSet. It felt awful, but I was really impatient, so I greased it up and whacked it in.

I've made a DIY press, it works.It's kind of annoying to use but it does the job.

I took it to my LBS (where I mildly work) and we don't even have the King tool. The Park one worked fine

+1 A headset press is essentially a fancier version of just this. Get some rubber washers to prevent marring the cups though. The clearance on the head tube can make all the difference; some will slide right in while others are a *****.

CK headsets will press in fine with the Park press if you flip the press pieces that bear against the cups. However, the pressing force is not where it belongs and the press won't self-center. You just need to be careful. I have the Park press, as well as all the CK inserts, and I feel a little more confident applying good force when using the inserts.

$130 headset = professional installation. Its made to be in there forever, why put it in wrong?

Why waste money on expensive parts if you're gonna whack 'em with a hammer?

'cause i want to ride it now! /whine

i wasn't i was going to use the park tools press without the adapters.

The things feel like they could withstand an apocalypse or two. A few careful taps with a rubber mallet isn't hurting anything.

Not that I'd recommend it, but it worked for me.