Minty Fresh Rims
 

I actually meant to post this a long time ago because I built these sort of a while ago.

Advice for anyone who actually builds their own deep-v style rim: Chewing Gum.

I struggled for a good amount of time figuring how the hell to get the nipple onto the spoke without dropping it into the rim. The best method I could find was take a tiny bit of gum, and stick it to the the end of the screw driver, and just sort of fish it in there. I haven't read this anywhere and assume everyone has their own techniques, but this worked quite well. Hopefully someone could find it useful.

And a plus, your rims will smell minty for months to come.

Very creative and nice smelling....
The way I do is to take another spoke and thread it into the Top on the nipple then stick it down in there and when I have it started on the correct spoke just remove the extra spoke from the top

I have read of people threading the nipple the wrong way on a spare spoke and sticking it through. I would think some sort of narrow knitting needle or tapered plastic stick would work too if soft enough.

good advice and a timely thread as I am about to start a set of wheels with Pro Elites :)

I just use an awl.
and spear it through the nipple.

Link this to the DIY thread!

use long nipples

Clamnecks?

(sorry...)

I just keep an extra spoke around, stick it in the hole I want it to go in(from the hub side), thread on the nipple a half turn or so, pull it through, and unthread it. takes all of 1 second.

toothpick works too

Saavedra's (used to?) come with a little tool kiind of like a stubby screw driver, with a skinny protruding form the tip that fit into the nipple, so you could insert it into the rim, and then tighten it a bit all in one step. Very handy. Now if only they had a tool to insert their stupid rim washers...

Or next time you strip a wheel, keep the inner half of the spoke you've cut. Slide the nipple onto the spoke, hold on to it with a finger, put spoke through hole, let go of the nipple...

I posted a write-up on the Dirt Rag site a few weeks ago of a DIY tool for just this purpose. Some have mentioned it above - an extra spoke with a nipple threaded on.

http://www.dirtragmag.com/web/news-article.php?ID=832

screw starter - available @ auto parts stores

Perhaps these would do the trick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2g5A4FKAmw

I think i just threw up a little

We have about 5 shortened and sharpened spokes in our wheelbuilding area for this particular purpose. Or you can get your hands all grody and sticky in the name of DIY!! Up the punxxx.

lol that was the weirdest thing i think i ever saw... they were flopping around all weird ew!

Somebody really needs to sigg that.

Just use an extra spoke and screw the nipple on backwards one turn. Insert nipple into rim, unscrew nipple, done.

what an original idea, I have never seen anyone(at lest on this board) mention that.

SIG'D!

First time posting in about 2 years for me :)


Doesn't anyone just make a paper tube (kinda like a straw) with some sticky tape n paper and just plop the nipple down there? It's what I did for my MTB wheel to stop them falling back into the rim

Very nice!

I made this little guy. Exact same idea but since it's trim and has the little loop at the end it's easier to wield.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/3958/spokenipple.jpg