[don simon fbpe]

Can anyone recommend a spoke tension gauge, anything but Park Tools?

Topic

[hawkinspeter]

Richbeck wrote:

Richbeck wrote:

Not cheap, but I guess if David at DCR uses one, then it must be good!

Tools – DCR Wheels https://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/misc-parts/tools/

I like the look of that spoke holder, but can’t justify replacing my Park Tool one.

[hawkinspeter]

Had to hunt around a bit to
Had to hunt around a bit to find the spokes (DT Swiss Aero comp) as well, so I hope I don’t need to get some 256mm ones

[don simon fbpe]

Ah OK.

Ah OK.

[hawkinspeter]

Couldn’t find one for
Couldn’t find one for straight pull spokes using the Prime RD010 hub and Prime 60mm rim

[don simon fbpe]

Oof! Cheers.

Oof! Cheers.

[Richbeck]

Not cheap, but I guess if

Not cheap, but I guess if David at DCR uses one, then it must be good!

Tools – DCR Wheels https://dcrwheels.co.uk/products/misc-parts/tools/

[don simon fbpe]

I was thinking more on the

I was thinking more on the lines of this, https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/spokelengthcalculator where someone’s already done the work.

[hawkinspeter]

I did use an online spoke
I did use an online spoke calculator, but must have got one of the measurements wrong. Probably the distance to the rim including the nipple height (which I didn’t have).

[don simon fbpe]

Not a necessary tool, just

Not a necessary tool, just useful.

[don simon fbpe]

My musical skills would be of

My musical skills would be of no benefit at all. Do you not use an on-line spoke calculator?

EDIT: Park Tools not just expensive, but pretty poor quality too.

[Miller]

Couple of years back I bought

Couple of years back I bought a cheap version, Wiggle’s LifeLine X-Tools Spoke Tension meter, and it’s been very beneficial for my occasional wheel building. My main discovery was something that I had already suspected, that I wasn’t putting on enough tension. Winding 120kgf onto a driveside spoke takes quite some finger strength but it needs to be done. Modern carbon rims are rated for that sort of tension.

No recommendation then but I do think they are a worthwhile tool.

[hawkinspeter]

Well, there’s some cheap ones

Well, there’s some cheap ones on EBay, but I’ve only ever tried the Park Tool one which is overpriced.

To be honest, I don’t find a spoke tension guage that much use as once you’ve built a couple of wheels, you can pretty much tell which spokes are too loose or too tight by trying to deform them or if you’re musically minded, plucking them and listening to the tones.

However, I may not be the best person to make recommendations as I’m in the middle of building a Prime Carbon 60 rear wheel but bought the wrong spokes – I calculated that I should use 260/262mm ones but soon realised that they’re too long. Now mucking around with swapping the 260mm spokes with 258mm ones and will replace the 262mm with the 260mm ones. I hope I don’t have to get even shorter ones.

Edit: just seen that there are some phone apps for judging spoke tension by the note – similar to a guitar tuning app.

[Author]

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