Originally Posted by ClarkinHawaii

Well, I did my first wheelbuild using all spokes that I cut and threaded myself.* Went out the door this morning and the customer was delighted.<br><br>I have been charging $45 labor and the customer gets his own spokes from a shop in Honolulu.<br><br>So this time I charged the $45 labor + $1.25/straight and $1.50/double-butted.* So the total cost of the build was $90.* My cost for spokes was $17.<br><br>So doing my own spokes earned $28 extra for about 3 hours' extra work.<br><br>When I purchase bulk spokes next time, I will do so more intelligently; and I can probably cut my spoke procurement cost in half.<br><br>When I have fabricated a measuring/cutting device that saves me from having to measure by eyeball and spoke ruler and finagle every individual spoke, that should cut my time down to about 1/3 what it was on this build.<br><br>So using the Hozan for complete wheelbuilds is certainly doable, modestly profit-enhancing, and actually quite popular among masochists.

Originally Posted by Dan Burkhart

The Hozan is just the gateway drug to a Phil Wood or Morizumi machine, you know that, right?

Originally Posted by tomacropod

What is it with you (american) guys and cutting spokes?

Just buy a bunch of sized spokes and keep them on hand - you're mostly building 26" and 700c general purpose wheels in 3x pattern right? You'll need 260, 262, 264, 266, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296.

Just 10 sizes will do 95% of your wheels - how much do you value your time cutting and threading spokes? This way you can buy double butted spokes, with reduced weight and increased longevity. It costs the same to ship blank 310mm spokes as it does any other length, probably more.

- Joel

Originally Posted by miamijim

10 sizes for 1.8mm straight gauge
10 sizes for 2.0mm straight gauge
10 sizes for 1.8mm double butted
10 sizes for 2.0mm double butted

And thats just for DT spokes which i'm not using in my budget builds.

back in my shop days acquiring a Phil wood machine was one of the best investments we made. We went from a bizzilion spokes sizes to may 10 in double butted. We bought 1,000ct + bags of genric SS spokes for repairs and budget builds (Union spokes IIRC)

Expensive cutting machines aren't for every shop but they have their place.

Originally Posted by noglider

You have a budding bike repair business, is that right?

I'd guess building wheels is not a good way to make money. It could be a good way to while away your time while you could be earning money doing other things. I hate to say this, because it's such a pleasurable craft, and it's too bad you can't make money at it.

I think you'd be better off stocking common wheel sizes. Cut spokes when you need to make a repair. Stock a few spokes, too, as recommended above.

Originally Posted by noglider

@Dan Burkhart, you don't need my advice. You have experience in the industry.

Originally Posted by Dan Burkhart

I'm sure you still have worthwhile advice Tom, and I'll take it any time.
From what I read of Clark's situation, I think it may be similar to mine in terms of what stage of life he's in. if he can find the market, he can probably do OK, or at least have fun doing it as I do.