Thread locked nipples. How to losen them?
 

I just bought a wheel set used and it appears that whoever built up the set used some sort of aggressive thread lock on the nipples. I've snapped a couple of spokes trying to get the nipples to loosen/tighten. When I turn the nipples they don't screw on/off of the spokes as they should. Rather the spokes just twist until I snap them. My question is this. Does anyone know of a solvent which is effective in undoing a unknown variety of thread lock application? Thanks,

David

heat and some good penetrating oil works well on siezed nippples

I wouldn't even mess with trying to undo the nipples - sounds like a royal PITA. You might want to cut the spokes, throw them away, and build the wheel with new spokes.

I know some of the more aggressive thread locking compounds require heat, and if you do use heat, who knows what might get damaged in the process.

No need for a blowtorch. :) Just a little heat from a bic lighter or your crack pipe lighter will usually do the trick without damaging anything made of metal.

Az

lighter on frozen spokes
 

Just FIY, I got around to doing the lighter trick and the nipples still would budge. I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and replace the spoke. Thanks for the advice anyways.