ZakRadu398

I bought a new rim and spokes and need to know what I will need to lace them, as in what tools?

Thanks, Zak

cyccommute 

To lace, nothing. To build you'll need a spoke wrench, something capable of checking dish, something capable of checking turn and, maybe, something capable of checking tension.

Dish: dishing tool or flip the wheel in a jig

Turn and round: A wheels stand or you can use a frame turned upside down.

Tension: a tensiometer or your ear

ZakRadu398

What size spoke wrench will I need and how can I tell?

Will this work? https://americancycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=6134

pdizzle

If you have to ask these questions, you probably shouldn't be trying to build your own wheel. Or at least one you expect to be able to safely ride on.

ZakRadu398

So your saying I should never learn how to lace and true my wheels, even though my dads helping and he's done it before?

benhenley

If he has done it before then he should either have the tools or know what tools to use. Ask him.

Or look at the list of things you need and go for it. No one here is stopping you.

wmodavis

Good on you for wanting to build your first wheel. Sheldon Brown said everyone should do it at least once. I agree! You have to start somewhere. SB's instructions are good. I used them on my first build and certainly learned a lot. Wheels are not quite so ominious after building one. And if you don't ask those questions some think are dumb you won't learn what you need to except maybe the hard way, and that is not necessarily the smartest way to learn though many have.

Will Rogers said "There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."

So read, ask questions and observe, and if you really have to there is that third option.

BCRider

Read Sheldon's article about three times over and try to visualize what he's telling you to do.

There's no real way to check on the spoke wrench size other than by taking one of the nipples with you when you go to the bike tool store. Mount the nipple onto a spoke so you have something to hold onto and pick the wrench size that is a snug push fit onto the flats. No slop allowed. None at all. And buy the dedicated single size wrench. Not one of the rings with 28 sizes of which none fit well enough.

brucewiley

If you can, get the book "Wheel Building" by Roger Musson. Great step by step instructions and hints.

Ex Pres 

When lacing deeper profile rims, I like using a short wooden/bamboo grilling skewer to help insert the nipples.

smovlov

Everything you'll need to know... mostly

https://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

Spokey is a good low priced spoke wrench. Thats the name of the company that makes them... Spokey.

z415

+1

maddmaxx 

As to the spoke wrench, Black for DT Swiss and Wheelsmith (probably others). The Red is for Japaneese spokes. Green for English spokes.

This is a very limited definition. Chances are that if you bought the spokes here, the black wrench will be the one but you will still need to check.

Do not be tempted to buy one of the multi-slot fits all spoke wrenches as they are usually not up to the same quality level as single fit wrenches from Park or Pedro's.

Panthers007

Agreed. The Park Tools color-coded spoke-wrenches are the best tool for the job. The give you a comfortable "feel" for the job at hand <koff>. Getting a red, green, and black is an excellent addition to a home-mechanic's cycle-tool collection.

As an aside - beware of small-town police with these. I was arrested for "paraphrenalia" in Massachusetts. They said my Park red wrench was a "roach-clip." It was later thrown out of court. LOL!

I_bRAD

Getting arrested and going to court for a roach clip, even if it is one? LOL indeed.

zacster

I built one wheel about 25 years ago and never built another, but the knowledge I gained doing that keeps all my wheels true and tight. I was tempted to rebuild a wheel that I crashed 3 years ago by replacing the rim, but when I pulled it out of my basement and looked closely at it, I decided I could true it if I replaced 3 spokes. I've been riding it ever since.

Do it once and you'll be your own wheel mechanic for life.

cyccommute 

The most common size is a Park 0. This fits 14 gauge DT nipples. There are other sizes they are rather uncommon. The wrench is the black vinyl coated one

cyccommute 

Pay no attention to the naysayers. I've taught myself how to build wheels and have built many, many sets. It's not really that difficult nor, if you don't do a good job, will the wheel spontaneously combust and destroy your town.

Sheldon Browns instructions are good but I like this set of articles. They are dated and the first of the 4 is only worth reading for historical reasons The 2nd and 3rd are the meat of the series and are still valid. I've been using this information since it came out in 1986

Like BCRider says, read these (and Sheldon's) 3 times over before you start. Print them out and keep reading as you lace and build.

Good luck.

bakerjw

It is not like anything cannot be undone. If the first attempt is difficult to true up, loosen it and start again. Any talent or skill that I can teach myself only helps me maintain my own equipment. Bravo for you for taking on the challenge.

jgedwa

Go ahead and do it. Its really not all that hard, if you are patient and careful. Especially with the guidance of someone who has done it before.

Building up a wheel to top specs is very hard. It is an artform. Building up a wheel very well that will last you a long time and you can feel good about is fairly easy.

jim

Al1943

Spokey red wrench is the best I've used, better than Park in my opinion. Sheldon Brown has also recommended Spokey. This wrench will not round off nipples.

The earlier Park black coded wrench can round off nipple shoulders. Their newer wrenches grip all four shoulder corners and should work better than the earlier wrenches.

Al

MCODave

Here is a spokey

<<<<<<<

tellyho

If you want to sink the $$ into tools that you may use only once, by all means. I have built several wheels and like it a lot, but have yet to break even on the tools. It is a lot of fun, if maddening at times.

z415

It is always more maddening than fun.

urbanknight

I just use a spare spoke. I've lost a nipple in a rim before, and it's a PIA to get out.