Bicycle Mechanics - Relacing a hub advice needed

I have a philwood high flange hub that was threaded 3 cross; can I relace it safely 2 cross style?

Can anyone further explain why there is the common belief that a hub should be relaced the way it as originally?

the aluminum conforms to the tension the spoke J hook end pulls into the hole.

Whats wrong with 3 cross, you building a smaller diameter wheel?

Whats wrong with 3 cross, you building a smaller diameter wheel?

I was just aiming for something that looks similar to radial lacing but much stronger. I plan to use aero sapim cx ray spokes.

I don't think there is any reason you can't do 2 cross (spoke lengths will be slightly different), but I think you may lose a bit of strength

but I think you may lose a bit of strength

Would this be the same case if I laced it again 3 cross? [in terms of relacing]

Go ahead and do 2 cross if you'd like. Do try to put spoke the same inside, outside, push and pulling orientationsdirections as before.

=8-)

3 cross using the pre bedded orientation, would be Ideal.
a set of double butted non blade spokes .
have no idea what features aero sapim cx ray spokes have, but,
AFAIK, as bladed spokes are wider in the center, than the hole
so the holes have to be cut out to get the flattened part thru.

Here's a somewhat close example of what I'm aiming at minus the red anodize and black cx ray spokes. Anybody know the lacing pattern of the wheel in this picture? Sorry I'm not really that technically informed in the wheel section.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3016952276_6158db4318_o.jpg

That's a 2 cross pattern.

That's a 2 cross pattern.

That's great; talk about luck, I just got it from google :D

That's great; talk about luck, I just got it from google :D

Identifying normal patterns is very complicated.

Count how many spokes any spoke crosses on it's route from the hub to the rim. If none it's radial, above that it's the number of crosses. Don't forget to count the first cross down near the hub which many miss on higher cross patterns.

Your phil wood hub has coined spoke holes. Relacing it to anything is fine.

Your phil wood hub has coined spoke holes. Relacing it to anything is fine.

That's great news! :D Now does anyone mind enlightening conceptually on these "coined spoke holes"?

That's great news! :D Now does anyone mind enlightening conceptually on these "coined spoke holes"?

Even the spare change in your pockets disappeared when you bought those hubs...

=8-)

3 cross using the pre bedded orientation, would be Ideal.
a set of double butted non blade spokes .
have no idea what features aero sapim cx ray spokes have, but,
AFAIK, as bladed spokes are wider in the center, than the hole
so the holes have to be cut out to get the flattened part thru.

DT Aerolite and Sapim CX Ray spokes are 2.3mm in the long dimension so they'll go through the typical 2.5mm round holes in hubs.

Thanks guys for all your replies!