wheel building

[young Ed]

this thread is kind of a cross over between technical know how and buying advice so feel free to it it mods if you feel it is in wrong section

any how i am looking at learning how to build my own wheels and decided i'd best get my self a cheap hub and rim and loads of cheap spokes and nipples and just build the hell out of those components until i was okay at it
so would these components at least allow me to start learning to build?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alloy-Bik...sure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item2c772e59ce
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PUCH-WHEE...pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item232b016298
by the time i have finished the rim won't be straight probably and they are both cheap probably bad quality components so would probably never see any bike forks but just the skip when i am done with them!
Cheers Ed

 

[fossyant]

They will do, but it's only a 17 inch rim. You might want a 700c rim to practice on.

The only down side you have is that buying a no name part with unknown measurements may make getting the correct spoke length difficult. Also if the rim is rubbish, you won't be able to practice getting the wheel dead straight.

You can get away with building a wheel in the frame with a bit of tape etc to act as guides. A good wheel rig is at least £60.

How about building a set of reasonable wheels, not difficult. Formula hubs, basic Mavic CXP22 rims ?

 

[young Ed]

They will do, but it's only a 17 inch rim. You might want a 700c rim to practice on.

The only down side you have is that buying a no name part with unknown measurements may make getting the correct spoke length difficult. Also if the rim is rubbish, you won't be able to practice getting the wheel dead straight.

You can get away with building a wheel in the frame with a bit of tape etc to act as guides. A good wheel rig is at least £60.

How about building a set of reasonable wheels, not difficult. Formula hubs, basic Mavic CXP22 rims ?

i am scared i will f up a good set wheels and the rim will be trianglular or hexagonal or something!
why would practicing on 700c be better?
Cheers Ed

 

[I like Skol]

Get a skip wheel, take it apart and put it together again. That's how I started. I had a buckled wheel with a good hub and a straight wheel with a wrecked hub. Obvious and tightwad solution was to combine the two (I was a hard-up 16yr old) and I haven't looked back. Spokes can be reused a few times, especially if this is only ever going to be a training wheel.

 

[young Ed]

Get a skip wheel, take it apart and put it together again. That's how I started. I had a buckled wheel with a good hub and a straight wheel with a wrecked hub. Obvious and tightwad solution was to combine the two (I was a hard-up 16yr old) and I haven't looked back. Spokes can be reused a few times, especially if this is only ever going to be a training wheel.

great idea thanks
Cheers Ed

 

[fossyant]

Small wheels tend to be easier, go for something a bit bigger. Maybe ask a local bike shop if they have any scrapped wheels ? The bearings don't need to be good, and the rim can be worn.

 

[fossyant]

PS Skolly is a good wheel builder. I've been dead happy with the ones I've done, well within 1mm of straight.

 

[young Ed]

Small wheels tend to be easier, go for something a bit bigger. Maybe ask a local bike shop if they have any scrapped wheels ? The bearings don't need to be good, and the rim can be worn.

is it not a good idea to start easy so i don't break down in tears and give up?!

PS Skolly is a good wheel builder. I've been dead happy with the ones I've done, well within 1mm of straight.

@I like Skol be warned the pm's are coming
Cheers Ed

 

[fossyant]

Big wheels aren't hard, honest. And spokes are easier to get !

 

[young Ed]

Big wheels aren't hard, honest. And spokes are easier to get !

that is another thing when i have a plain hub and rim how do i know what gauge and length spoke to get, because i haven't got any old ones to measure?
Cheers Ed

 

[Smurfy]

that is another thing when i have a plain hub and rim how do i know what gauge and length spoke to get, because i haven't got any old ones to measure?
Cheers Ed

http://www.bikeschool.com/tools/spoke-length-calculator

There are many others available online.