Built my first wheel!!!!

[fossala]

I finished my first wheel tonight, went for a spin and it stayed true!! I would say it's almost perfect, but lets see if it stays that way.

It's a SP SV-8 dynamo hub in a a319 rim with DT comp spokes (2mm,1.8mm,2mm). I can now use my Luxos B&W light!

 

[fossyant]

Excellent

 

[derrick]

I need to have a go at that.

 

[Davidc]

Well done. It's a great feeling the first time you ride on a self-built wheel.

 

[lejogger]

I've been looking at doing a bit of building myself... I need a set of road wheels with disc compatibility and there isn't much on the market at the right budget, at the right weight, and at the right quality.

I just wouldn't like to make a complete balls up of it!
What special tools are required?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Building my first wheel is one of the things on my "to do" list. I can true one reasonably well but building one is still a bit daunting, so respect for getting yours done.

How did you judge the tension?

 

[fossala]

I've been looking at doing a bit of building myself... I need a set of road wheels with disc compatibility and there isn't much on the market at the right budget, at the right weight, and at the right quality.

I just wouldn't like to make a complete balls up of it!
What special tools are required?

Nothing other than a spoke key and a modified screwdriver as a spoke driver if you want to go basic/cheap. I used a truing stand, sapim nipple driver, spoke key, dishing tool and tension meter.

Building my first wheel is one of the things on my "to do" list. I can true one reasonably well but building one is still a bit daunting, so respect for getting yours done.

How did you judge the tension?

I used a park spoke tension meter.
Park Tool Co. » TM-1 : Spoke Tension Meter : Wheel & Spoke

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I finished my first wheel tonight, went for a spin and it stayed true!! I would say it's almost perfect, but lets see if it stays that way.

It's a SP SV-8 dynamo hub in a a319 rim with DT comp spokes (2mm,1.8mm,2mm). I can now use my Luxos B&W light!

Somebody said this in another forum "As somebody who earns money building wheels, I'd like to say its difficult, but it isn't."
I totally agree. I found it pretty easy from day one and then got even easier as I built more wheels. If there is one piece of advice I could give is to never let frustration get the better of you. You can have the wheel perfectly trued and then you do a bit of stressing and you have to true it again well, that doesn't bother me one bit but I know people that feel like kicking the whole thing

Edit: Sorry I forgot to say well done..... time to enjoy those wheels now.

 

[biggs682]

@fossala the wheel building chef well done

 

[bpsmith]

Really fancy having a go myself, but no real need to just yet.

Out of interest, what sort of cost saving is involved, excluding the equipment?

 

[fossala]

Really fancy having a go myself, but no real need to just yet.

Out of interest, what sort of cost saving is involved, excluding the equipment?

About 20 quid a wheel.

 

[fossyant]

Not a lot of saving, but the satisfaction is there !

I bought a Minaura Wheel jig from Bike.de for my last rebuild last year. Makes the job nice and easy, and really helps with truing (not that you will be doing any with a hand built wheel).

 

[bpsmith]

Totally agree. It's all about the journey, not the destination. Just interested in the cost comparison as a guide.

What sort of price is the equipment out of interest!

 

[fossyant]

The wheel jig is about £70. You can getcaway without a wheel dish by flipping the wheel in the stand to check. The tricky bit is getting the spoke length correct

 

[fossala]

Totally agree. It's all about the journey, not the destination. Just interested in the cost comparison as a guide.

What sort of price is the equipment out of interest!

I got my truing stand second hand for 50 quid and my spoke tool (park) was around 5 new from a forum member (not this one). I bought other things like tension meter, dishing tool and spoke driver, these aren't needed but make the job easier.