Red Nipples
02-09-11, 09:46 PM
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Red Nipples
Does anyone make red BRASS nipples? DT makes alloy red ones. I'm building a rain bike and am sacrificing weight for longevity.
Last edited by BikeWombat; 02-09-11 at 09:46 PM. Reason: whoops
02-09-11, 10:39 PM
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The only way to color brass nipples would to be painting. Unlike anodized aluminum, Brass and plated brass cannot take dyes. If you want red, buy anodized nipples . As long as the spokes are long enough to reach close to top of the head Alloy nipples are functionally as strong as brass.
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02-09-11, 10:51 PM
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1. Are anodized nipples the same as alloy nipples?
2. I had heard that alloy nipples corrode over time, while brass does not, yes? Again, this will be a commuting bike here in rainy Seattle, so I thought brass might last longer...
2. I had heard that alloy nipples corrode over time, while brass does not, yes? Again, this will be a commuting bike here in rainy Seattle, so I thought brass might last longer...
02-09-11, 10:55 PM
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Yes, anodizing is a process applied to the aluminum. Corrosion shouldn't be bad because iirc seattle doesn't use road de-icing fluids?
02-09-11, 11:00 PM
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One more vote for Brass here. If it's for a rain bike, it only makes sense. Oh, and don't worry about color because it'll be raining and you're bike won't look good anyway.
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02-09-11, 11:02 PM
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Anodizing is a finishing and anti corrosion process for aluminum. During the process dye can be added giving them color. As far as I know all aluminum spoke nipples are anodized, whether they're colored or not. Anodizing can be very durable and corrosion resistant. It's used in the marine trade, and is protecting all the other alloy parts on your bike, so it shouldn't be a problem, even in Seattle.
That said, brass nipples are easier to work with, and yet still more resistant to corrosion.
It's your call, but I wouldn't be afraid to use alloy nipples for weight saving or cosmetic reasons if those features were important to me. Consider that the rim itself is also anodized aluminum.
That said, brass nipples are easier to work with, and yet still more resistant to corrosion.
It's your call, but I wouldn't be afraid to use alloy nipples for weight saving or cosmetic reasons if those features were important to me. Consider that the rim itself is also anodized aluminum.
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02-10-11, 12:04 AM
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I do a lot of riding in the rain. All my wheels have alu nipples, and to date, while I've broken plenty of spokes, I've never had a nipple fail, and without exception my wheels (are handbuilt), low spoke count, high tension. I've also never had an issue with the nipples corroding and sticking.
Brass might be more durable, but really, in a practical sense .... if you aren't killing alu nipples does it matter?
Brass might be more durable, but really, in a practical sense .... if you aren't killing alu nipples does it matter?
02-10-11, 12:19 AM
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I get a lot of old wheels. Overall the brass nippled oldies tend to be less apt to be seized and less apt to howl when turned. Alloy nips tend to have really shallow slots, which also bugs me quite a bit since I just have a regular ol' straight blade screwdriver on 'em not a nipple driver.
Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 02-10-11 at 12:41 AM. Reason: nipples. isn't that what it's all about?
02-10-11, 02:37 AM
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Brass = copper + zinc, aluminum is a different metal .. look it upon a periodic table of the elements
atomic mass of aluminum Al is lower than either Cu or Zn.. aluminum is lighter , for gram counters that matters , for the rest of us not a bit.
Bene Sugg : use anti-seize on the threads of each spoke, as the wheel is laced up..
atomic mass of aluminum Al is lower than either Cu or Zn.. aluminum is lighter , for gram counters that matters , for the rest of us not a bit.
Bene Sugg : use anti-seize on the threads of each spoke, as the wheel is laced up..
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