some washers a bit of bar and some nuts does not a press make.
i agree , it wasn't the job i wanted for me the time i did it. would use a proper press if attempting again. but my next frame won't have a press fit bb, but that's another topic
First time I pressed in a headset was into a carbon frame (with alloy inserts but still nervous) using threaded bar and a selection of sockets. It was a 44m top cup and 49mm lower with big overhang inside so a little bit more complicated.
I went for the rubber mallet approach when I replaced it with an angleset, same on the steel frame also with an angleset.
I'm mid-build at the moment. Found a sash clamp that I had forgotten I had. Thought it was worth a try. Worked better than I could have hoped!
some washers a bit of bar and some nuts does not a press make.
You're welcome to spend your hard earned on a commercially available press then if you're not confident in your ability to use a home made.
I've never screwed up the fitting of a headset using a not press though, so obviously my experience differs from your opinion.
Yeah this experiences like yours that get quoted at me when customers wonder why it didn't work.
The commercial kit is the commercial kit because it's designed to make it hard to bugger up your frame.
The lack of stepped cups means that the inexperienced can end up pressing cups in unevenly or inappropriate sizd threaded bar can strip threads on a moderately tight fit headset.
For the sake of 20 quid
Have used a Large Irwin hand clamp on several occasions.. Easy to release the pressure and move it around if it's not quite going in straight..
I have just bought a treaded rod type press from eBay for the princely sum of £6 😀 Trouble with this and so many of the cheaper proper presses is they are not large enough for today's headsets, most of them will only fit a 1/8". If you want a stepped set that fit a 1/5" you end up with something like the Park Tools press for £130! Now I don't mind spending a bit of money on decent tools but I wish there was something in between.
Bikeshack in banbridge could have done it for you, or failing that J R Magill in dromore.
Why take a chance with the Heath Robisnon methods and risk ruining your new frame? Buy a proper press if you think you're going to get some future use out of it or take it to a bike shop where they will fit it for you for a nominal fee.
Daft thing I used to do is try and put both cups in at the same time with a threaded bar home made press. One cup at a time helps. I know this might sound a bit obvious but it wasn't to me for years!
