Just acquired some deep V gipiemme rims. Clinchers 700C. I believe they are of an alloy material as they are silver with no braking surface (non-machined). The rims are labeled: Gipiemme
Tecno R428

My question is when I build these wheels, do I need to use nipple washers? I don't see any eyelets in the rim and they are constructed so that you cannot see the nipple when laced, just the spoke going straight into the rim. Is it ok to build these without washers? Won't the nipple rip right through the rim if tension is too high? Just wanted to know before I ordered the spokes.
Thanks in advance...

No you wont.

it'll wear faster over time with no washers, but its not unheard of. the old wolber profil rims have very narrow spoke holes and can't really fit washers. they also aren't eyeletted...

i've got one sitting around if anyone wants it ;)


sorry, anyway, the gipiemme technos rims are very cool, and they used to come in different colors as well. yours are the 40mm deep technos 716 rims, right? i hope i'm not cofusing these with a different model. they've got a little weight to them, but they're pretty decent rims.

thanks all, yeah it is the 716 (where 716 comes from i don't know...) It says R428 on the rim I guess for 28H? I contacted the seller and I don't need to use nipple washers, just hexagonal nipples and a dt swiss hexagonal spoke wrench since the nipple doesn't show, I need to adjust the nipples from the top of the rim, hence the special spoke wrench... I also was wondering why I didn't need washers, but after some research most if not all deep v rims have all their holes directly in the center and not offset so it is less likely that a nipple will tear through.
thanks again...

Just acquired some deep V gipiemme rims. Clinchers 700C. I believe they are of an alloy material as they are silver with no braking surface (non-machined). The rims are labeled: Gipiemme
Tecno R428

My question is when I build these wheels, do I need to use nipple washers? I don't see any eyelets in the rim and they are constructed so that you cannot see the nipple when laced, just the spoke going straight into the rim. Is it ok to build these without washers? Won't the nipple rip right through the rim if tension is too high? Just wanted to know before I ordered the spokes.
Thanks in advance...

where did you get these? i'm building up some wheels and really want a silver set of these hoops.

i can't remember the link but there's an italian blogger than had his hands of a bunch of 'em.

Bump:
the link is vintage pista :)
http://vintagepista.blogspot.com/

Another super deep Italian rim is the DRC UFO speed. I've never seen them for sale...