Over on mtbr.com people have been talking about the inexpensive Park Headset Press. Which appears to just be a threaded rod with some washers with handles attached.
Nothing wrong with that, many a time I have used washers and bolts to install a headset:
But someone suggested the Pricepoint headset press, the picture on their site doesn’t show a lot of detail, and I usually like to buy quality tools. However since I will use this once or twice a year, it didn’t seem like I would need the real deal Park HHP-2. I have used the HHP-2 in the past when I worked in shops, and it is a real quality tool.
I have a WTB Greasegaurd headset I have been waiting for the winter to install in my commuter. I figured why not try this headset press out.
When it arrived it was in an unmarked cardboard box, which probably explains why Performance and Nashbar both seem to sell the exact same tool with their house brand name on it.
This tool is clearly a knock off of the HHP-2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flatery, no? The rod with washer tool is nice, but it allows the cups to start going in crooked. The Park and Pricepoint tools have stepped rings to keep the cups parallel.
I have not used it yet, but I have no doubt it will work fine, especially when its modeled after the Park HHP-2. The only difference appears to be that the Park Tool has a spring to lock the bottom cup holder in place, where this has just a cam.
Its pretty well thought out, they even have bearings on the top to keep the tool from binding and spinning the cups while you press them in.