Wedge Brake Tool

[RocketScott]

Yea, I know, I'm a tool for bringing up wedge brakes...

Things are slowly going back together on my front axle. Today I baked the caliper paint onto the chambers, riveted new seals in, and reassembled them. The proper grease showed up from McMaster-Carr with a few other parts (if anyone needs 1/4"x 2-1/2" cotter pins I've got a lifetime supply). New bearings should be here tomorrow

To get the shoes off I used brake spring pliers. They did the job but gouged the pads. I'd rather not do that when putting them on. This manual lists a RBSK 0185 as the recommended tool (page 34):
https://www.axletech.com/at-admin/resour...m-0153.pdf

The price to buy one is insane. I can't find any pictures online to tell how it works. Does anyone have one? or have a good way to pry the springs into place without marring the newly relined shoes? I know it's a basic lever, I can dick around coming up with something but would rather save the time