Wheel building at home

broachboy
broachboy Posts: 429
edited July 2010 in Workshop
Hi forum people,

Before anyone suggests it I have already searched :roll:

Do any of you know if there are any threads on BRF regarding wheelbuilding ? surely there has to be.

I have come to that time in my mid life crisis where I just have to give it a go - oh and the back wheel on my fixed has gone bump, so I am trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone etc.

TIA :wink:
Regards

Andy B

Colnago Active 2004

Guerciotti Alero 2008

Cinelli Vigorelli Road 2018

Colnago C60 PLWH 2018

Comments

  • gethmetal
    gethmetal Posts: 208
    Read this, have a go, then get a pro wheelbuilder to sort out the mess for you :wink:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bicycle-Wheel-J ... 702&sr=1-1
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    Building wheels is a doddle providing you have some basic tools. I started with the book above but that was before the Internet was invented. It's a good read but also have a look at Sheldons bit:

    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
  • broachboy
    broachboy Posts: 429
    Cheers guys :wink:

    many thanks
    Regards

    Andy B

    Colnago Active 2004

    Guerciotti Alero 2008

    Cinelli Vigorelli Road 2018

    Colnago C60 PLWH 2018
  • term1te
    term1te Posts: 1,462
    Start with some relatively simple wheels, 32 spoke 3 cross, before trying anything fancy. It's not that difficult if you are methodical and take your time. Once you've got confidence from a perfectly round set of wheels, then try to build the set you've always wanted.
  • broachboy
    broachboy Posts: 429
    Cheers Term1te :wink:

    I think I'll start off with a 36h open pro 3x on a flip-flop to replace my shagged rear wheel on my 'On-One', then as you say I will move on to something nice for my road bike ....

    Kinda exciting in a weird way :twisted:
    :wink::lol:
    Regards

    Andy B

    Colnago Active 2004

    Guerciotti Alero 2008

    Cinelli Vigorelli Road 2018

    Colnago C60 PLWH 2018
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    FWIW I would reccomend buying a Park Spoke tension meter. It's a big help in getting all the spokes somewhat equal, and THAT is very important.
    Gerd Schraner - The Art Of Wheelbuilding is a very good manual also.
  • broachboy
    broachboy Posts: 429
    Thanks dennisn :wink:

    I had seen a spoke tension tool ....

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7131

    but at £70 :shock: and only intending to build a couple of pairs of wheels - home building is pricing itself out of the market :(

    then I just read this ...

    http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.ph ... ost8167511

    :wink:
    Regards

    Andy B

    Colnago Active 2004

    Guerciotti Alero 2008

    Cinelli Vigorelli Road 2018

    Colnago C60 PLWH 2018
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    broachboy wrote:
    Thanks dennisn :wink:

    I had seen a spoke tension tool ....

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7131

    but at £70 :shock: and only intending to build a couple of pairs of wheels - home building is pricing itself out of the market :(

    then I just read this ...

    http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.ph ... ost8167511

    :wink:

    I have the Park tool. Can't get in to see the other. I know what you're saying about pricing itself out of the market. Although a really good truing stand, dishing tool, spoke tension thingy are not must have items to build a wheel, I'm thinking that people new to doing this need all the help they can get. I sure did. So, kind of up to you about how far you want to get into wheel building. It's been enjoyable for me and I've built some wheels that have actually lasted a good period of time. It's a good winter sport.
  • Buy this book
    http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

    Has all the information you will ever need, including how to make a truing stand and all the tools (except a spoke key, you will hve to buy one of these)
    Fantastic advice.
  • A cheaper alternative to the spoke tension meter is to use a musical instrument tuning meter. See this article - http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/tension.htm