Spoke cutting services
#26
#27
Never mind, I found a place.
By the way, to all the smart-alecks here who thought $2-3 per spoke is a perfectly fair price, it's a large, established shop (not some small shop that can somehow afford a Phil cutter but is hurting for business) and all they want is 25¢ per spoke.
By the way, to all the smart-alecks here who thought $2-3 per spoke is a perfectly fair price, it's a large, established shop (not some small shop that can somehow afford a Phil cutter but is hurting for business) and all they want is 25¢ per spoke.
#28
Senior Member

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,103
Likes: 96
From: Wilmington, DE
Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu FM-079-F, 1984 Trek 660, 2005 Iron Horse Warrior Expert, 2009 Pedal Force CX1, 2016 Islabikes Beinn 20 (son's)
#29
Never mind, I found a place.
By the way, to all the smart-alecks here who thought $2-3 per spoke is a perfectly fair price, it's a large, established shop (not some small shop that can somehow afford a Phil cutter but is hurting for business) and all they want is 25¢ per spoke.
By the way, to all the smart-alecks here who thought $2-3 per spoke is a perfectly fair price, it's a large, established shop (not some small shop that can somehow afford a Phil cutter but is hurting for business) and all they want is 25¢ per spoke.
72 spokes at 25¢ = $18. Not bad.
I wouldn't be surprised if many places add in a transaction cost. Perhaps it also depends on whether it is a spoke they are selling or a customer carry-in.
Say, you broke one spoke, and need a matching spoke cut. $3 might be just fine. In your case, for 72 spokes, they wanted to charge you more than many low cost bikes. Once setup, it really shouldn't take skilled labor, a shop should even be able to rent equipment to customers (that they trust). Perhaps the shops hadn't figured out the difference between cutting 2 spokes and 72. Three different lengths? Still, setup should be quick.
#30
Disco Infiltrator




Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15,341
Likes: 3,528
From: Folsom CA
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Oops, you're right. I had priced out a single wheel a while back but remembered the $25 and not that it was one wheel.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
Genesis 49:16-17
"Well, well!" said Holmes, impatiently. "A good cyclist does not need a high road. The moor is intersected with paths and the moon is at the full."
#31
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,861
Likes: 41
From: Coeur d' Alene
Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors
72 all new spokes and 72 all new brass Polyax nipples for $28.80 (.40 ea)
If you want straight 14g you are looking at $18.00.
https://www.danscomp.com/products/43...ted_Spoke.html
https://www.danscomp.com/products/43...14G_Spoke.html
#32
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 289
From: Vancouver, BC
Actual shops disagree. For instance, I don't see anything like a $60 minimum at places like Bicycle Habitat, some of the best known shops in NYC. They charge whatever they think is a fair price for a service.
Repair Menu - bicycle habitat
Repair Menu - bicycle habitat
#33
Nigel
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 7
From: San Jose, CA
Bikes: 1980s and 1990s steel: CyclePro, Nishiki, Schwinn, SR, Trek........
Not at all. You whined about what people charge to a job; and yet you will not take a small amount of time to understand what it costs them to the job. Businesses need to cover their costs and make a reasonable profit to survive.
Many people have provided you with reasonable alternatives which you refuse to accept.
Many people have provided you with reasonable alternatives which you refuse to accept.
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 7
From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '92 22" Cannondale M2000, '92 Cannondale R1000 Tandem, another modern Canndondale tandem, Two Holy Grail '86 Cannondale ST800s 27" (68.5cm) Touring bike w/Superbe Pro components and Phil Wood hubs. A bunch of other 27" ST frames & bikes.
The Phil Wood spoke machine is a nice piece of shop equipment but the notion that most wrenched are "skilled labor" is laughable.
A great indication that a shop is a good bike shop is if they have a Phil Wood or Kowa, Morizumi, Cyclus spoke machine.
It takes about three minutes to train someone how to operate a Phil Wood. Less than ten to show them how to change it from say 14g to 13g or 12g, or to show how to clean it when using powder coated spokes.
Most mechanics at most bike shops are hacks! Skilled labor too funny.
It is true that most shops charge an unreasonable fee to roll spokes you bring in.
To the point it's cost prohibitive. Most folks can't afford a shop quality roller, but paying someone to roll spokes and cut to length will usually almost pay for your own Hozan/Cyclo roller. The heads aren't going to last like Phil Wood, Kowa, or Morizumi dies but they are cheap and replaceable.
There are very few places that will cut/roll spokes cheaper than just buying your own Cyclo/Hozan.
#35
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 40
From: San Jose, California
Bikes: 2001 Tommasini Sintesi w/ Campagnolo Daytona 10 Speed
Anybody around here with a Phil Wood spoke cutter willing to cut some spokes or know of a reasonably priced service? I've looked around the web, but all I've found are some insane prices for cutting services, charging more to cut a spoke than a brand new spoke. $1.75 to $3 per spoke! Considering it takes a couple of seconds per spoke, that's ridiculous.
=8-)







