I finally bit the bullet and ordered 35+ new Mavic rims of varying sizes and shapes so that I can provide immediate gratification for wheelbuild customers and avoid the lame "I can order it and it will only take a month to get here" experience.

Because the vendor I use charges a flat rate on shipping from Europe, I choose to order $1000 worth of stuff at a time.

Bottom line is I will have all these rims arriving at roughly the same time and 30 days to identify any problems for correction by the vendor.

Clearly I'm not going to know for sure about subtle defects/abnormalities until I actually (attempt to) build each rim into a wheel, which in some cases may not be until years from now.

So I'm hoping you experienced pros can give me a guide for quick-checking them.

Alternatively, if I get a defective rim and don't discover the defect until a year or 2 from now, will Mavic be of any assistance if I have a new and obviously unused rim with a defect?

Thanks for your help!

Put the rims on a flat surface like a granite counter top or glass-topped table and check them for warpage. Inspect the joint for defects like steps, bulges or constrictions. An out-of-round condition is unfortunately difficult to detect by measurement; a rim can be quite out-of-round and have a constant diametric measurement, like these shapes: Shapes of constant width ? set of 4 ? Maths Gear Check the drilled holes for defects; out-of-round, burrs, etc. Shake the rims if double-walled and listen for things rattling inside (these will drive your customers nuts.) Examine the brake tracks for defects.

Looks like a good list--Thank you!

I'm still concerned about out-of-round rims. I'm wondering if I purchased these Wheelsmith Rim Rods, they would allow me to take several comparative diameter measurements in a short period of time--like really fast.

Are they worth it? https://www.amazon.com/Wheelsmith-Rim.../dp/B001GSMVCK

In my almost 50 years of experience, I have never run into a rim that was defective because it as out of round, or otherwise bent, except for a few that were very obviously bent in transit. BITD we had to worry about local issues at the joint, but even that was considered relatively normal, and the builders problem.

These days rims are made to tighter standards than in the past and I wouldn't be overly concerned about non obvious damage. General ovalness or potato chip shape come out in the build, so you need only look for local changes in curvature (flat spots that might happen in transit, usually to the end rims in a bunch) which will be hard to correct.

For a quick inspection, roll the rims on a wooden floor and listen for defects which will show up as a sudden change in rolling sound. Also eyeball the rims for issues with eyelets. I you're really concerned, make a wooden template that covers 1/4 or so of a rim's arc, and check suspicious areas, especially joints against it.

This is excellent; and just what I was hoping for--Thank you!

I use something like this to do diagonal measurements to check cabinets for squareness during construction. You could make your own with 2 straight sticks and a couple of binder clips. All it does is tell you that a measurement differs from one taken perpendicular to the first (or, if you know what the measurement should be, it will allow you to do a go/no-go sort of check for a number of rims. Are the Wheelsmith ones worth the price? I'd say no way given what they do.

Great minds think alike!

I decided to make my own rim rods. When they are finished I will post some pics (if I remember!).