Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart

The tools I use to bend in the splaying out loose spokes ate those I can into the world equipped with, my fingers. It's less trying to get the spokes final arrangement (amount of the bending within the elbow, amount just after the elbow) that complete tension will achieve as it's about making the tensioning go faster and the feel of the nipple's turning more reflect the spoke tension increase then the spoke's being bent straight. (And yes some will say this is the same. I say then go build up a cheap steel hub that had thin flanges and little or no spoke splay initially. You'll feel the difference in how the nipples tighten up and how the rim responds during this initial tensioning up phase). Andy