Thanks for saying that, I know I have been a bit all over the place trying to make a decision on this, but that is the way that I am leaning. and on the plus side I will have the extra hubs around to start with whether I get new rims and spokes, or match the rims and reuse the spokes.

I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I have done something myself, and possibly better than if I bought it pre-done. I am also a bit of a perfectionist. If i build the wheels myself, it might take a while, while i learn to get it right...

@ ironwood, thats good to know, I just have heard/read that tension is everything in wheel building, and I thought the tensiometer was a must have then. Either way, I know if at least one coop here in chicago, there might be more than one. They do have open shop nights, for a small donation. I could always to all the prep lacing at home and then take them into the coop to do my final tensioning and truing...