Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Great stuff, this. I don’t deny my curmudgeonly ways, but I miss those times now mostly long gone. I suppose the art / act of wheel building is ancient history these days and that’s too bad. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had to rebuild a rear thanks to mysterious ding in sidewall. How it got there

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I first started building my own wheels in the seventies, I think I bought a book from Bike Warehouse (now Bike Nashbar), so that makes sense. My big problem today is figuring out asymmetrical drum brake hubs on English roadster style rims (Flying Pigeon) that seem to require different cross pattern

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I first heard of this issue of some spoke patterns pulling the joint together, and other patterns pulling the joint apart in the 1970s, when most aluminum rims didn't have welded joints, but were instead pinned. One of the popular bike repair books was critical of 32 spoke wheels for this reaso

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

And yes, that little hard-cover Jobst book is the bible…that along with truing stand, dishing gauge and some patience are all you need. On Thu, Sep 5, 2024 at 7:30 AM John Dewey wrote: > A couple of things—true and dish wheels before you bring up final > tension…so you don’t pull any of the ferr

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

A couple of things—true and dish wheels before you bring up final tension…so you don’t pull any of the ferrules out. That’s a bummer. And once you think you’ve done it, bounce wheel on the floor as you rotate it to release any wind up Then lay wheel down, and lean on it as you continue to rotate.

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Great tips and personal prefs so far. What helped me was anything that better organized my physical process so it didn't have to all be in my mind or hands, potentially disrupted when the page in my Jobst Brandt The Bicycle Wheel had to be turned. Your space is what it is but one thing really

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Tips just for fun… If you smile at them, some LBS have a loaner truing stand that they will let you take home and try. Still, let them do the final tweaks for your first batch. Be prepared to pull your first wheel apart at least twice. When you look through the valve hole, you should be able to

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I'll throw-in some "seconds" on things already said, here, and follow-up with some other info. As far as materials sourcing, I tend to go to the following: bikehubstore.com (they have more than just hubs) wheelbuildingparts.com prowheelbuilder.com wheelfanatyk.com I'll definitely concur with ot

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I am still using the same green Park nipple tool that I started out with 46 years ago. Laing Conley On Wed, Sep 4, 2024 at 1:20 PM Laing Conley wrote: > I use Wheelsmith spokes when I can find them and Sapim when I cannot. > Lately I have been getting them from Peter White. I prefer 36 spoke >

Re: [RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I use Wheelsmith spokes when I can find them and Sapim when I cannot. Lately I have been getting them from Peter White. I prefer 36 spoke patterns to 32 because the spoke patterns other than radial pull the rim together at the rim seam, probably more of a habit than a necessary practice at this poi

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

My opinions, as an amateur wheelbuilder who must have built about 50 pairs of wheels over the past several decades: 1. With modern spokes, 32h rims & hubs will be more than sufficiently strong for loaded touring. I haven't built a wheel with more than 32 spokes since the last pair of t

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Every amateur wheelbuilder has their own preferred spokes; DT Swiss, Sapim from Belgium and Phil Wood are generally regarded as excellent by everyone. I like double-butted Sapim Race or Sapim Laser, which used to be available in all lengths for the crazy cheap price of $0.40 for the Races from

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Doug took all the manual machining classes at Laney College along with me. Teacher Adam, who was always impressed at how calm Doug was in class, nicknamed him "Comfortable Doug". I knew he had his hand in the game, but did not know he had a wheel building gig. Bill Lindsay El Cerrito, CA La

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

I always use DB spokes; because they stretch, they hold up better. 32 spokes is more than enough. Most mtb wheels today are 28h, FWIW. It is hard to find 36h hubs and rims, to boot. Use brass nipples. Measure twice. I like Roger Musson's

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

One bit of advice would be to go for it! Start with building a front wheel and of you like that, build the rear. As someone here mentioned, even if it doesn't work you can always have the LBS as a Plan B. On Monday, September 2, 2024 at 11:27:19 PM UTC+2 John Rinker wrote: > Excellent resources

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Dear Aaron, you might try Doug Williams in Oakland: https://runciblewheelworks.com . I did a wheelbuilding workshop w/ him recently (Doug built the front, I followed along and built the rear) and had a great experience. I think he will work with you to get the bits and pieces ordered (I supplie

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Excellent resources have already been suggested. I also find the library here: https://wheelfanatyk.com/ To be filled with some fine advice. *"But the feeling of riding on wheels you built yourself- priceless."* You betcha! Take it so and enjoy! Cheers, John On Monday, September 2, 2024 at

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

Suggestions… For the prep - if it is just you, 32 spoke double-butted should be fine. If you want to add another 40 pounds, go with 36 spokes. I ordered my rims directly from Velocity. I got my Deore hubs from eBay, since I wanted specific units. There is also Amazon. For spokes, go to your L

[RBW] Re: Wheel-building Advice

If you haven't heard the acronym "AASHTA", now's a good time to learn it. "As Always Sheldon Has The Answer" (RIP Sheldon Brown) - in this case, an excellent overview of how-to resides here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html FWIW, I've always used double-butted spokes. DT's. Take y