Wheel Building

Originally Posted by HUGH

This is my truing stand and some of the tools I use to build my wheels. I truly enjoy building wheels for myself and my friends! I take great pride in the wheels that I build. I don't consider myself a wheel builder but a hobbyist so I can take all the time I need to make great wheels.
I know I can use as little as an old fork, a zip tie, duct tape,bubble gum and a guitar pick but thats just not me. These tools will last me the rest of my life so I say money well spent!!



HUGH

Nice set-up. I'll take that wheel

[foofighter]

Hugh, i need you to be hobbyist for repairing cars...the way you buy the right tools for the job, you need to pick up modding cars i can only imagine the tools and work area you will have LOL

[HUGH]

Originally Posted by foofighter

Hugh, i need you to be hobbyist for repairing cars...the way you buy the right tools for the job, you need to pick up modding cars i can only imagine the tools and work area you will have LOL

You dont even want to know!! I had to get a bigger shop 4 years ago because I wanted more space for my toys.... I mean tools to tinker...I mean machines for .... AAAHHH screw it.... You know what I mean!

HUGH

[foofighter]

hahah yes i KNOW EXACTLY what you mean

[Edog]

http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

It's well worth the money, shows you how to make your own tools as well. Card Disher, converting screw drivers in to spoke tools.

I read this & have built about 6 pairs of wheels since, all have been great.
Building your own really lets you get some deals as you can pick up clpose out rims & hubs without having to pay somebody $50 to build them up. I converted some drill bits to speed up the spoke nipple driving

[Winger]

In general, is it less expensive to build your own wheels, or buy them prebuilt?

[HELLDOG]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Well after almost 20 years of Mountain biking I have decided to build my first wheelset. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I ran across a website a year or so ago and showed you how to build wheels without any special tools (can't remember the site). [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]This will be for a SS so no dishing tool is needed.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Can anyone recomend a good website to check out?[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Any other thoughts / tips?[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Thanks![/SIZE][/FONT]

DeeZee, Let me know when you get it all figured out. I am thinking about building a wheel also.

[Edog]

do it yourself you'll save a ton. There are loads of close out deals on hubs & rims. You can always get away with a spoke length that might be a few mm off the right length so that lets you switch stuff around. Want to upgrade a hub, you could switch it out in less that an hour.
I have a cheap truing stand, made a card board dishing tool.
Don't forget the skills you get building will mean you will never need to have your wheels trued or serviced by anybody else again. I've seen LBS switch out a rim quite a few times when it could have been strightened out!

Originally Posted by Winger

In general, is it less expensive to build your own wheels, or buy them prebuilt?

[jamesdc]

Damn, everybody has all these expensive wheel building tools, they're really not necessary if you know what your doing. I taught myself a few years ago how to build wheels and all i need is a spoke wrench. If you build build wheels with even tension you shouldn't need a truing stand, I have build dozens of wheels and only a few needed to be trued after building, those were mainly ones built with used, beat up rims. Also what is the point of a tensionmeter, you should be able to tension wheels just by feel.

My advice for building wheels is not to go out and buy a bunch of expensive tools, just buy a high quality spoke wrench and practice on a old set of junky wheels, also look at a set of properly built wheels when building a new set of wheels so you get the lacing pattern right until you understand the different patterns.

[HUGH]

Originally Posted by jamesdc

My advice for building wheels is not to go out and buy a bunch of expensive tools.

Yea DeeZee Just come over and use mine! You know where I live.
I always tell everyone get the best that you can afford. They will always pay for themself!

HUGH

Originally Posted by HUGH

Yea DeeZee Just come over and use mine! You know where I live.
I always tell everyone get the best that you can afford. They will always pay for themself!

HUGH

just lace them up and then come over and use your tools? How much beer is this going to cost me??

[HUGH]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

just lace them up and then come over and use your tools? How much beer is this going to cost me??

A few Diet Cokes should do.. let me know when!

HUGH