Over the years ive gotten a collection of wheels (most complete) but all in different shapes of good and bad (some even literally) and as i want to clean up that space im trying to "fix" most into something that could be used as a fourth life is better than the shredder

so the question pretty much is, how can i tell what will fit? for example i have 3 new alu v rims, and 3 old ten speed wheels, with bend/rusted rims, which i can def give a better use, IF i could fit it all together

ps no i havnt tried putting it together as its too stormy at the moment

Well the absolute best way to find something out IS to try it. But before that measuring the various dimensions of the wheels to compare with is a good start. Rim/tire size, axle overall lock nut widths, axle types/diameters, cog types and counts to name the obvious. Andy

Front wheels are nobrainers. Rear wheels on the other hand, are critical. If you want to sell wheels that you own, it is up you to represent them according to what they are

Maybe measure?

for example i have 3 new alu v rims, and 3 old ten speed wheels, with bend/rusted rims, which i can def give a better use, IF i could fit it all together

If the new rims are 700c, and if the old 10 speed wheels are from 5X2 geared bike.. i'm guessing they're 27"? then i doubt the spokes will fit

& then there's the amount of holes to consider, do they both take the same amount of spokes?!

LM- As I reread the OP I suspect you are correct in his wondering about swapping rims on hubs, not whether wheels will interchange on a bike. I have to admit that many ask questions in a way that leaves some to the reader to decide what's really being sought out. When I was a student I have argued with teachers about less then obvious questions, usually still lost the points Andy

I think i'm guilty of not explaining myself properly sometimes, Andy, on a thread platform, Take my wheel components swap over thread for example ;P

but it would help if the OP came back to explain himself more.

excuse the sunny weather
ive taken a closer look at most boxes and indeed the amount of spokes and rim sizes will give me a proper headache so ill be sorting it by size and see what can be used

not planning on selling it,but dumping the whole lot (after this "quality control") at a diy/charity, normally i donate working bikes but i just gave away the last two to a mom and her son, who has been riding a kids bike, for the past 8 years

I just try the wheels on the bike.

Or, if say going from 27 to 700c, and wanting to build from scratch, then find a good complete wheel, maybe from a different bike. Try it out, so you'll know what a similar wheel will be like once you build it up.

I am wanting to try some Compass 2.3" tires on one bike... if only I can figure out which bike. So, I went to the co-op and bought a couple of cheaper tires that were close in size. I got halfway into that when I discovered that something was terribly amiss. Thus, trying something else. Still, I want to get the co-op tires to fit before dropping the cash on new Compass tires.

You might be able to use spokes that are "noticeably" but not "horribly" the wrong length by changing the crosses.
A 4 cross uses a longer spoke than a 3 than a 2....