Originally Posted by moki
Build your wheels right the first time. However you do it, have an experienced builder check your work. No shame. I had a friend build his own wheel, and pull 2 spokes through the rim within a month. not that that means anything, but it's a PITA to have your 1st wheels implode on you.
Use a tensiometer and you can't F it up. Maybe you don't need one if you have load of experience. I've built a few wheel sets and tensioned/trued a few others, but I lack the experience to do it blindly. I won't touch a spoke nipple without a tensiometer, and my wheel builds have always turned out great..even my first one.