Timeline for How to build a wheel
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
17 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| May 6, 2016 at 12:29 | comment | added | zenbike | And I still see them as necessary. For instance, "Truing a wheel" on a bike frame does not allow for the precision available on a Truing stand. In addition, a wheel built by an unskilled hand without a tensiometer is unlikely to have the balanced tension that produces strength and longevity in a wheel. That doesn't mean it's not possible, just that it's not the most likely outcome. It's like asking someone who doesn't play an instrument to tune a guitar by ear. Finding the notes is purely accidental. | |
| May 6, 2016 at 4:59 | comment | added | Will Vousden | @zenbike That's fair enough; it's not so much the contents of the list that I disagree with but how you say they're all needed. That's an expensive shopping list, and I think the answer should acknowledge that you can get by without some of those things (although not ideal). | |
| May 6, 2016 at 2:45 | comment | added | zenbike | @WillVousden, I'm glad that worked out for you. As this is supposed to be an answer about the best way to learn to build a wheel, I stand by my list. It isn't the only way. But why make it harder on someone who is learning? As for the thread lock vs. oil, SpokePrep is unique in that it acts as a lubricant until it cures. Thus, you have the benefits of oil, with the benefits of a thread lock. Linseed oil actually works well, and also has similar properties. | |
| May 2, 2016 at 15:20 | comment | added | Will Vousden | I would add a dishing gauge to the list of desirable tools, though (either home made or bought). Makes dishing much, much simpler. | |
| May 2, 2016 at 15:18 | comment | added | Will Vousden | I disagree with your list of tools. Ideally you'd have all of those, but they're certainly not needed, and the cost of the tools you've linked to is very discouraging to the new wheelbuilder. I built my first wheel using my bike as a truing stand, a modified screwdriver as a nipple driver, and no tensiometer. That wheel is still true and strong today. I still don't have a proper nipple driver or tensiometer. Also, some will contend that you should in fact use oil rather than threadlock when building a wheel, to make it easier to tension the spokes. This has worked fine for me so far. | |
| Aug 30, 2015 at 22:46 | comment | added | zenbike | My experience is that there are too many variables in producing the pitch for it to be accurate. Moving your finger 5mm up or down on the spoke or varying the force of the pluck drastically alters the pitch of the note produced. Gates Belt Drive has a similar app to measure their belt tension, but the shop tool is a physical measurement because the variation caused too many issues. The app you have might be good enough to replace a single spoke in an emergency, but I wouldn't use it to build a wheel. | |
| Aug 29, 2015 at 17:40 | comment | added | dlu | Interesting. Can you explain why the app, which measures the pitch of a plucked spoke, wouldn't give good results? It seems to produce good results, but I don't have a really high quality tensiometer to check with. | |
| Aug 29, 2015 at 16:11 | comment | added | zenbike | I agree, and I have removed the link to the app for spoke tension measurement. There is no accurate method of measurement for spoke tension other than a deflection measurement chart and tool, in my opinion. I do appreciate that you've repaired the broken links. | |
| Aug 29, 2015 at 16:08 | history | rollback | zenbike |
Rollback to Revision 4
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| Aug 28, 2015 at 7:23 | comment | added | andy256 | @dlu I think this edit changes the intent of the post. But it's really up to zenbike. | |
| Aug 28, 2015 at 7:16 | history | edited | dlu | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Added link to Spoke Tension Gauge
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| Aug 28, 2015 at 6:45 | history | edited | andy256 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Repaired links
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| Feb 19, 2012 at 9:26 | comment | added | Jørgen R | Thanks. Well structured and generally a useful answer. I ordered the book, so I'll read it before ordering parts. As bike components and tools are very expensive where I live, I'll probably won't go for Dura Ace and Park Tool, but it's a good reference. | |
| Feb 19, 2012 at 9:24 | vote | accept | Jørgen R | ||
| Feb 19, 2012 at 3:52 | history | edited | zenbike | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 24 characters in body
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| Feb 19, 2012 at 3:43 | history | edited | zenbike | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 24 characters in body
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| Feb 19, 2012 at 3:37 | history | answered | zenbike | CC BY-SA 3.0 |