I love a good yarn about specialty tools, home made or bought. There is nothing like the right tool for the job and I have made a few rippers over the years.
On the subject of fork seals, you can also fill the tube with any old clean light oil you may have and then use a press to hydraulically remove the seals if they are real stubborn - no prying involved. Place a suitable socket over the top cap and compress the fork. If they are going to go easy sometimes a good shock with a very large hammer on top and piece of soft timber under the lower slider to protect the job.
I like the old oil seal as a driver trick Frosty, It never occured to me to do that. You learn something new everyday!