Wheel building
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novocaine
Old School Grand Master
eric_james
Senior Retro Guru
I've learnt how to do it with the help of novocaine and others and also youtube videos
once you really get into doing it then you just put the spokes in the right place without thinking
once you really get into doing it then you just put the spokes in the right place without thinking
Frankenorange
Orange 🍊 Fan
Have a go at it. If you have a complete wheel to start with it gives you the chance to take pics and make notes of where spokes go and where they have come from. Also the orders of spoke head on the outside and inside of the flanges. Start from the valve hole and start making notes with little drawings and pay attention to the number of holes between each spoke that goes in the same direction. Stuff like that combined with looking at some pics on the internet and if the wheel comes apart ok you KNOW 100% that it will go back together if you do it all right.
Don't get lost in rabbit holes of spoke tension, different spoke patterns, spoke lengths etc for your first build if you aren't to sure of things.
No. 1 rule is buy a very good spoke key that properly fits the nipples. Avoid multi keys that look like they have been pressed out of a hubcap! You might need a couple as wheels can have had spokes and nipples replaced so sizes might be a little different.
I built my first wheels a few years ago. Copied what i had taken apart first and then changed spoke patterns, bought some new spokes and that went very well, too. Even ordered the wrong length spokes for one wheel and built something alot of the internet will have to reply with dentist comments but it was and is still perfectly true and solid.
Alot of the internet is full with nonsense, hearsay, and opinion regarding wheel building. This website, i have found, is not and i think it is fair to say that 99% of regular users here will help and guide you with real world knowledge and experience. If someone is close by they might even pop round to help.
Don't get lost in rabbit holes of spoke tension, different spoke patterns, spoke lengths etc for your first build if you aren't to sure of things.
No. 1 rule is buy a very good spoke key that properly fits the nipples. Avoid multi keys that look like they have been pressed out of a hubcap! You might need a couple as wheels can have had spokes and nipples replaced so sizes might be a little different.
I built my first wheels a few years ago. Copied what i had taken apart first and then changed spoke patterns, bought some new spokes and that went very well, too. Even ordered the wrong length spokes for one wheel and built something alot of the internet will have to reply with dentist comments but it was and is still perfectly true and solid.
Alot of the internet is full with nonsense, hearsay, and opinion regarding wheel building. This website, i have found, is not and i think it is fair to say that 99% of regular users here will help and guide you with real world knowledge and experience. If someone is close by they might even pop round to help.
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Too right (and apologies for truncating the comment above). There is loads of guff spouted about wheel building; it's not black magic.
michael franks
Retrobike Rider
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I'd never tried to build wheels until joining this forum and realised that loads of members built their own. I started off with a visit to Sheldon here:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
He explains how to go about it in great detail and there's also a link to a great book by Roger Musson.
Once I started building my own wheels I found it very therapeutic and one of those things that appear to be difficult or complicated until you try it. Give it a try
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
He explains how to go about it in great detail and there's also a link to a great book by Roger Musson.
Once I started building my own wheels I found it very therapeutic and one of those things that appear to be difficult or complicated until you try it. Give it a try
michael franks
Retrobike Rider
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Just saw novocaine has already mentioned Sheldon
rmwesley
Retro Guru
How many wheels do you think you might end up building?
If it is only ever going to be one or two, then shop-built could be the best option.
If it is going to be more, then it is entirely possible to start building solid, unfussy sets of wheels with minimal outlay, e.g. using a jig built from an upturned fork, spoke key etc.
You can then spend ever increasing amounts of money on bigger and better tools to build "better" wheels. In this case "better" might mean <1% variance in spoke tension which should equal longer wheel lifespan, or it might mean <0.01mm radial tolerance, or whatever you might be interested in improving.
The Roger Musson book is excellent. It assumes you know nothing and walks you through the process step-by-step. It also has a design / plans for a self-build jig.
