Originally Posted by
cny-bikeman
As for spokes, most all shops have multiple spoke lengths in stock so there is usually no necessity to cut to length (they also need to be rethreaded if that is done)
actually, the local guy who makes the best wheels here got himself a spoke cutting/threading machine so he DOESN'T have to stock a bazillion sizes, just the basic gauges and types (butted, straight), He says its much cheaper this way, because the one-size-fits-all spokes are bought in much higher quantities, giving him better discounts, and he's never out of some odd size he needs to finish that mixed 3x/4x rear or whatever.