Originally Posted by
JohnDThompson
My feeling is that for wheels with 28 or more spokes, a tensiometer is unnecessary (provided you have the experience to give you "properly calibrated" fingers).
I agree, and built wheels for about 40 years without.
However, nowadays I don't build enough wheels to maintain my finger calibration, and each is so different in terms of rim and spoke combination. So I use a tension meter as a reality check, or to give me better confidence that I'm where I want to be, especially on high dish rear wheels.
Probably the real reason for owning a tension meter, has nothing to do with the wheel itself. These days everyone wants numbers, spoke tension, torque specs, precise tire pressures, you name it. You have to own these gadgets, even if you don't need or use them, just to stay even in the BS battles.