I use a variation of this: axle clamped in the bench vise and WD-40 can on the workbench.

i use a cheap noname 40.00 stand and it works well. it is a good idea to reverse the wheel in the stand to make sure its good and centered but honestly the shops i've worked in had park stands and they usually weren't that well centered. never hurts to finish the job in the intended bike for that matter.

If at this point you don't even know if you want to get into wheelbuilding, don't bother with a truing stand (and certainly don't bother with a dishing tool.) Just use a fork and some zip ties. I've built dozens of wheels this way.

...on the list of the top ten greatest things about living in California is that I don't need or own a trainer.

Roger Musson's book (https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php) has instructions for building pretty nice truing stand and dishing tool. I haven't tried it, but I've seen some pictures and reports from people who are very happy with them. If you're going to learn wheel building, that book is a solid investment.

I started my wheel building projects on a bargain priced Spin Doctor (which I understand, is actually based on a base model Minoura truing stand?) truing stand some years ago. It actually worked very well, as long as you can develop a procedure on how to manage your wheel dish/centering. It is a little bit more work with having to fiddle around with centering the truing caliper, every time you start a new build, as mentioned here already, but not that much work to do so. Once you get it set up the stand works as well as any, IMO.
I did eventually replace it with a Minoura FT (bought second hand from a forum member) with the included T bar centering device and the the feeler caliper that adjust with just one knob. Speeds up the initial setup for the stand for every build, but not really that much better than the Spin Doctor, plus the stand bottom on the Minoura is narrower and could be quite tipsy if you don't have a nice flat surface to put it on. I suggest screwing it down to a work bench with the provided holed tabs on the base, but then you will lose the foldable/portability feature of the stand.
Now whether I will eventually graduate up to a full boat Park stand like gugie's, I'm not sure. Just don't build and true enough wheels to justify such an expense......although, it will work nice with my growing collection(?) of Park tools tools and stand.
I still say the Spin Doctor is an excellent stand for the beginner wheel builder/truer to start with at something like 60 bucks from PBS. I would not spend more for truing stands unless you build and true enough wheels to justify the money for something "better".

It depends on your personality, I think. If necessary, I suppose I could build an adequate wheel with a trainer and a beer can, but it drives me nuts to do something without the proper tool. That's why I own a cotter press and all sorts of other shop-quality tools that I use pretty rarely. The Minoura stand works well enough for me, but if I built more than a few wheels a year I'd probably upgrade to a Park. I much prefer using a dishing gauge to flipping the wheel over in the stand.

Thank you for all of the input! I like having quality tools and wouldn't mind a stand regardless of whether I build. Used to have a truing stand and regret that I sold it. Granted it was a cheap home model from the 80's. But all I ever did was true my wheels.

Yellow Jersey has built thousands and thousands of wheels. An extra-slow build might be 30 minutes. If it takes that long they are probably doing other things like phone or email while build is in process. A fast build is twenty minutes. Stores that basically don't build wheels cannot work at that pace. The build is every bit as good as the one that was sweated over for an hour or more. Probably better. In most cases they also sold you spokes or whatever and they get you as a customer in future. Makes perfect sense to have a low build charge.

Dishing tools are plain cheap. Look around. There is no reason not to use a dishing tool.

I have a Feedback Sports trying stand. It does what it is supposed to do. For a dishing tool go to Lowe's/Home Depot. They sell thin pieces of metal about 1" wide x 36" long. Bend the metal the shape of a dishing tool with 2 equal sides. Drill a hole in the middle. Insert a threaded bolt(2-3") through the hole with a matching nut on each side of the metal. There is your DIY dishing tool. You can screw the bolt in or out for adjustment.

I picked up a used Park stand a while back and like it, but in the past have used whatever I could to hold a wheel. Old fork in a vice works well for a front wheel, and an old frame clamped to something for a rear. The stand itself isn't anything more than a holding device and as others have said, a beer can can be used as a truing "gauge". The fancy gauge sets are a fine way to spend money and look cool, but I can think of a load of other things more useful... like cases of Guinness for instance. Cause you need empty beer cans.

I made a truing stand out of an old bit of MDF and some wire. Nothing fancy but it works great.

Like loads of the above, I started on a Minoura, and it did me fine until late last year when I picked up a 2nd hand Park. My only addition to the thread is that if you think you might enjoy it, get the Park off EvilBay. If you change your mind, it will keep the same price you bought it for.

I use a wooden one I made. If I was building wheels daily I might want something more sophisticated but it works fine for home use. Ditto for the dishing tool. It’s really a simple device. I will post pics later.

It seems pricey, but the shops have overhead and the bike mechanic has had extensive training.

Good luck with whatever route you go!

Hozan.

https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...ajor=6&minor=2

I would like to see this "Beer Can" setup, can someone post a pic? Might be handy when you in the middle of nowhere.

Personally I used my brakes and a pencil for years, and didn't think I needed a truing stand but when I bought my stand at a garage sale for cheap it was night and day better and now I can't go back.

Now if you guys have a easy cheap way to tension spokes I'm all ears.

Not easy or cheap. I was looking for a DIY stand idea today and saw this: https://sites.google.com/site/xnebmi...true-detective

Personally, I've always wanted a Park TS-3.