Here lately I've been using a hardwood dowel to first try on removing the cups, more on BB cups. Notice I said "first" try, the dowel won't mare the cups if you don't have a proper removal tool... doesn't always work, but if you plan on re using the cups it can't hurt..
You know, I have never worried about hurting the cups. Perhaps I am jut lucky. I beat them out with a punch, strip the paint and repaint and reinstall. I really beat on it to try and remove it in one or two punches. I have only had to replace cups on very old bikes that were never disassembled and cleaned. Done this probably at least 50 times over the last 50 years, sometimes only to save good cups when I tossed the frame. You can never have enough spare parts.
