Wheelbuilding with lower spoke count

chriskempton
Posts: 1,245
I'm considering building a pair of wheels for myself but just want to make sure it'll work...
I've made a few sets before, but it was back in the day and they were all 32 or 36 spoke. I never used much in the way of tools, in fact only a spoke key - I laced and got tension there or thereabouts, then put wheels in frame and use brake blocks as a reference and patiently trued and tensioned until they were right. I always had good results and no problems.
The set I want to build now will be IRD cadence aero rims with 20 spoke front, 24 rear. Lower spoke count means higher tension and less opportunity for fine truing, so I'm a bit concerned it might prove more difficult. Wondered if anyone can comment on differences and whether it'll be more difficult?
Cheers
I've made a few sets before, but it was back in the day and they were all 32 or 36 spoke. I never used much in the way of tools, in fact only a spoke key - I laced and got tension there or thereabouts, then put wheels in frame and use brake blocks as a reference and patiently trued and tensioned until they were right. I always had good results and no problems.
The set I want to build now will be IRD cadence aero rims with 20 spoke front, 24 rear. Lower spoke count means higher tension and less opportunity for fine truing, so I'm a bit concerned it might prove more difficult. Wondered if anyone can comment on differences and whether it'll be more difficult?
Cheers
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Comments
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It's best if you can get a proper wheel building jig and a spoke tension meter, so that you can build more accurately. A spoke tensioner will ensure that the spokes are equal(ish) tension and help you to eliminate weak points in the wheel build. It's worth the expense if your planning to build your own wheels from now on.
Using the brake blocks as reference isn't the best way, as they can move slightly, but I'm guessing you know that already.
TBH, you sound like you know what your doing so you should be fine.....jedster wrote:Just off to contemplate my own mortality and inevitable descent into decrepedness.
FCN 8 off road because I'm too old to go racing around.0 -
Thanks SR, think you're right about a tension meter and they're not as expensive as I thought0