Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I'd recommend adding a spoke tensiometer to your tool list.
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While I agree that establishing even tension after replacing a spoke is important, it doesn't require an expensive tool. Wheel builders and mechanics have gorren along fine without this tool for about a century.
Relative tension among the spokes is easily determined by sound. Spin the wheel with your thumb nail against the spokes and listen to the ping. Higher pitch means higher tension, so you can easily spot loose or tight spokes, bringing them all as close to even tension as possible.
Don't forget that on rear wheels the right flange spokes will be higher than the left. Also, used wheels usually cannot be brought to alignment and even tension because of bends in the rim, so your goal is the evenest tension possible, but alignment is trumps.