Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
My method, after lacing the wheel, is to put my thumb nail into the last spoke thread and tighten the nipple until my thumbnail stops it. That way I know all of the spokes are starting in the same place. Then I count turns on the nipples while I gradually built tension into the wheel. Since I start in the same place and tighten each nipple an equal amount, the rim should stay round.
Your fancy-boy wheel with 24 straight pull spokes will demand some extra attention to be sure that you're actually tightening each nipple an equal amount and not just spinning the spokes, some more than others.
That exact issue has been a headache for me - the spokes spin freely. I guess I don't have to worry about windup but it's also difficult to ensure all spokes get turned the same amount as I turn the spoke wrench. I put some old innertube around the jaws of some linesman pliers and I'm using that to keep the spokes as still as I can while turning the nipples.