Thank you for the suggestions to this point and for the explanation of bicycle wheel engineering. I remembered that there is a bike coop on campus the president of which I'm friends with so I can probably use the truing stand and other equipment there, and maybe get some instruction as well. Could you suggest a reference, either hard copy or web-based for bicycle wheel construction (yes, I've read and reread sheldon's page) and dynamics? Why are there different spoke gauges and why are the mechanical properties different?
dabac, pardon my ignorance, but could you explain what you mean by "heads-out half radial?"

Thank you
Aeneas