Originally Posted by
merziac
I rarely use a matched set, few complete ones as it is and the hunt and peck method has never failed me long or short term.
I have always managed to make fairly short work of it
with enough options on hand at any given time, it ain't rocket surgery but it does help to have some experience, the right mindset and plenty of options on hand.
The secret "with enough options on hand". That you can dry fit on the workbench and measure. The other approach that works very well but isn't cheap - get your hands on a long Shimano BB. Install and mount your cranks on it. Now measure how much further in or out you want each crank. Deduct (or add) these numbers to the Shimano spindle. Order that from Phil Wood. (And the tools unless you know someone with.) Now you have exactly the spindle and crank location you want, it will outlast your offspring and it will only cost you a mortgage payment or two.