So what do people use instead of some of the expensive tools on the market. Must be some cracking home made ones about!

I will start with 2.

Headset Press (Threaded Rod, 2 nuts, 4 Large circular washers)
Crown Race installer (Section of waste pipe)

What else you got?

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/comedy-headset-press-on-ebay

home made facing kit would be good if it was cheap and accurate

The addition of an extra couple of washers/nuts to the headset press, in order to hold one of the press-plates perpendicular to the rod, make it a much, much better tool.

For crown races, I just Dremel a slot in them so the they require very little pressure fit/remove. This obviously only applies to headsets with sealed cartridge bearings.

An adjustable spanner is perfect for trueing discs.

Not a tool as such, but heat-shrink tube instead of crimp-on cable-ends.

for crown races, once they're on more than 1", just use the bottom of the headset to push them down.

my home made headset press

i also made my own wheel truing stand out of mdf..