Bicycle Mechanics - good spoke machine

im thinking of getting a spoke cutting and threading machine for my shop and was wondering if there was a machine equal to Phil's Spoke Machine. i was told that if i were to get a spoke machine, to get a Phil's. is that true? is there one cheaper yet as good of quality?

Hozan makes a spoke threader. I think they're $130 or something. The Phil Wood cutter is $3,900+. :eek:

Hozan makes a spoke threader. I think they're $130 or something. The Phil Wood cutter is $3,900+. :eek:

From United Bicycle Supply it's only $2950 :)

Here is a thread with some information on thread cutting and the different machines.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=154983&highlight=spoke+thread+machine

thanks guys. ill definitely check out the hozan. 3000 dollars and 100 dollars is a huge difference. i wonder if there is anything in between.

Guys, any link for a web store that sells the Hozan spoke machine?

Guys, any link for a web store that sells the Hozan spoke machine?

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=212469569515&c=Tools&sc=Wheel%20and%20Rim&tc=Spoke%20Threading%20Machines

Understand that factory spoke threads are rolled an not cut so that they are stronger. The Phil Woods machine rolls the threads. The Hozan machine cuts them so the spokes are weakened somewhat.

While super expensive, the Phil machine is a thing of beauty. I have a Hozan threader and while it is handy for making 1 or 2 spokes, cutting a whole set with it would be a royal pain in the ass. You also have to cut them down to the right length before threading. The Phil rolls and cuts them to the right length in one turn of the handle. The Phil machine is like their hubs......the Hozan one is like a Joy Tech in comparison.

The Phil Wood threader is a commercial quality machine intended for serious wheelbuilders. The Hozan is made for home hobbyists and for occasional use. If you are buying a spoke cutter for use in a bike shop, get the Phil.

My LBS has one and it pays for itself as they only stock one length of spokes (the longest available) and make all the other lengths as needed. They never run out of the required size.

Years back I had the priveledge of working in a shop that had the second Phil spoke cutter ever made (#2 serial number). The original shop owner was sitting next to Phil himself on a plane and heard his idea...

If you are serious about wheel building and plan to do it as a profession...get the Phil spoke cutter. The fact that it rolls the threads rather than cuts them is a big difference.

The other option (although sounds like it is one you're tired of) is, depending on the variety of wheels you're building, is just to have a stock of spokes in many different lengths. Than you don't have to do any cutting/threading yourself. $3000 is a lot of boxes of spokes...

Understand that factory spoke threads are rolled an not cut so that they are stronger. The Phil Woods machine rolls the threads. The Hozan machine cuts them so the spokes are weakened somewhat.


Not ture... Hozan tool rolls the thread as well. I've had the opportunity to use both machines. The Hozan tool is ideal for cutting one or two spokes but it would be very tiring to try to roll out 64 spokes for a wheelset (redundant, sorry). The Phil Wood tool is designed as a production tool that will cut and thread a spoke in a turn of the handle.

Understand that factory spoke threads are rolled an not cut so that they are stronger. The Phil Woods machine rolls the threads. The Hozan machine cuts them so the spokes are weakened somewhat.The Hozan rolls them as well. There's three rolling dies on the head and the adjustable nut determines how far apart they are for 1.5-2.2mm spokes. I've used this tool to build hundreds of wheels, it's slow, but for those times when you don't have quite the right spoke-length, it works well. Also best if you only have to shorten the spokes just a little so that there's 1-2 of the original threads left to start the rollers. With a bare spoke, you have to be careful to grind a bevel on the tip so thar the rollers can start gradually (makes them last longer as well). The Hozan tool is a favorite amongst the RC helicopter & plane crowd because they can use them to thread control rods.