building a wheel set

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

any good links on the "how to's?"

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

TIA

Daddy

Quoted message said:

any good links on the "how to's?"

Also see:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

use a rear triangle cut from a junked frame mounted on 2'x6' ply
useful standing or sitting.
Triangle bolts to ply by bolting against bolted 2x2":2x2 stiffens ply.
Lean ply against wall
the indicator is a used credit card clamped with a $1 HD spring clamp

A rear hub bolts up, a front hub requires two more axle nuts.

daddy said:

go with a Park TS-2?

For starters all you need is a spoke wrench that fits your spokes.
Flip your bike upside down for a truing stand.

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

IMO, a TS-2 is overkill unless you are going to be building *alot* of
wheels. Park makes a simpler, less expensive "home mechanic" stand
(TS-6), and there's the Minoura Workman Pro that's quite serviceable
for home use, too, and can be had for around $45.

I also recommend an alignment gauge (aka, "dishing tool"😉 and a Park
TM-1 tensiometer (a TS-6 or Minoura, + alignment gauge + tensiometer
will come in for less than a TS-2. And, yes, you will need an
alignment tool even with a TS-2, the "auto-centering" feature is not
accurate, IME).

Quoted message said:

any good links on the "how to's?"

Others have made suggestions, I add Jim Langley's site to the list:

http://tinyurl.com/qb6jh

There's other good, simple advice on his site, too.

Quoted message said:

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

Good luck and have fun!!

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

any good links on the "how to's?"

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

TIA

Daddy

thanks all!

I'll follow-up via the links and suggestions.

I actually read the Bicycle Wheel. Very good.

ONE TIP.

This is not stressed in the Bicycle Wheel, but it makes it much
easier.
The only easy way to correct bumps in the wheel, is to not produce
them. To do this, make only SLIGHT adjustments to any spoke when
truing.

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

UYep, it's the best, most sturdy. Some will say to not spend that kind
of $, but it really is the best if you are serious about messing with
wheels.

Quoted message said:

any good links on the "how to's?"

Jobst book(The Bicycle Wheel) amd Schraener's book(The Art of
Wheelbuiulding) are must reads for a wheelbuilder.

Quoted message said:

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

Nothing to worry about..how many of us started.

Quoted message said:

TIA

Daddy

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Quoted message said:

go with a Park TS-2?

UYep, it's the best, most sturdy. Some will say to not spend that kind
of $, but it really is the best if you are serious about messing with
wheels.

I'm with datakoll on this one. Cut the rear triangle off a junker.
Take the front fork out. Dump the rest.

Clamp the rear try in your bench vise using the sides of the bb shell,
front by the fork steerer tube. Rig a pointer through the brake bolt
hole. All done, cheap enough so if you hate building wheels you can
skip Ebay and just toss it in the trash or use it just to true wheels.

90% of wheel building is spent watching TV while you string spokes. If
you bring them up gradually, you won't spend much time in the stand.

still me said:

On Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:40:00 -0000, Qui si parla Campagnolo

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go with a Park TS-2?

Quoted message said:

UYep, it's the best, most sturdy. Some will say to not spend that kind
of $, but it really is the best if you are serious about messing with
wheels.

I'm with datakoll on this one. Cut the rear triangle off a junker.
Take the front fork out. Dump the rest.

I'm hardly a spendthrift, but, geez, that's alot of trouble to save
$45 (Minoura Workman Pro) to $90 (Park TS-6). (Note, those a Bike
Nashbar prices, not including the generally available 10% off coupon
codes.)

Quoted message said:

Clamp the rear try in your bench vise using the sides of the bb shell,
front by the fork steerer tube. Rig a pointer through the brake bolt
hole. All done, cheap enough so if you hate building wheels you can
skip Ebay and just toss it in the trash or use it just to true wheels.

90% of wheel building is spent watching TV while you string spokes. If
you bring them up gradually, you won't spend much time in the stand.

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

any good links on the "how to's?"

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

TIA

Daddy

It's pretty hard to get all the parts for what you can buy an assembled
set for. For that reason, I prefer to buy "factory" sets and stress
relieve, tension and true them myself. I've done several sets of wheels
this way, as well as swapping out worn rims without bothering to use
either a truing stand or a tensiometer. I just leave the wheels on the
bike and use the brake pads as guides. I don't bother with work stands
either, just hang the bike with a piece of rope.

Ozark Bicycle said:

I'm hardly a spendthrift, but, geez, that's alot of trouble to save
$45 (Minoura Workman Pro) to $90 (Park TS-6). (Note, those a Bike
Nashbar prices, not including the generally available 10% off coupon
codes.)

I guess it depends on your definition of "trouble" and fun. For me,
any day I get to use the saws-all is a good day :-)

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

go with a Park TS-2?

any good links on the "how to's?"

I'm not worried one bit about the challenge. I'd really like to learn how
to build your own....

TIA

Daddy

Thanks everyone! appreciate the insight and tips.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

daddy said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

Quoted message said:

go with a Park TS-2?

UYep, it's the best, most sturdy. Some will say to not spend that kind
of $, but it really is the best if you are serious about messing with
wheels.

$159 mail-order. I bought mine in 1980 for $120 IIRC. A 33% increase
in 27 years? What else has increased so little in the world of
bicycling? Tires, rims, etc. have gone up four-fold. Inflation
adjusted, it has probably gone down in price. I messed with wheels a
lot, and still do. It was a great purchase. -- Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

On Jul 1, 4:25 pm, daddy <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'd like to try building my own wheel sets. Maybe start off easy with
"adjusting" existing wheel sets, before plowing into an actual build. Any
recommendations as to a truing stand?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go with a Park TS-2?

Quoted message said:

UYep, it's the best, most sturdy. Some will say to not spend that kind
of $, but it really is the best if you are serious about messing with
wheels.

$159 mail-order. I bought mine in 1980 for $120 IIRC. A 33% increase
in 27 years? What else has increased so little in the world of
bicycling? Tires, rims, etc. have gone up four-fold. Inflation
adjusted, it has probably gone down in price. I messed with wheels a
lot, and still do. It was a great purchase. -- Jay Beattie.

Yep, had my first one for 16 years..worked just fine after 3000+
wheels, just got really gunked up with lindseed oil and other
[censored]..second one is still going strong after 7 years...it's the most
sturdy and if you are going to do a lot of wheel building, you 'may'
get frustrated with hand made garage level truing stands. I know a car
wrench can fix a car with vice grips and a hammer but having a good
tool for the job is nice.

Quoted message said:

IMO, a TS-2 is overkill unless you are going to be building *alot* of
wheels. Park makes a simpler, less expensive "home mechanic" stand
(TS-6), and there's the Minoura Workman Pro that's quite serviceable
for home use, too, and can be had for around $45.

I agree. It's not the tool but how you use it that counts.

Mike Lackey
Madison, AL

Mike Lackey said:

Quoted message said:

IMO, a TS-2 is overkill unless you are going to be building *alot* of
wheels. Park makes a simpler, less expensive "home mechanic" stand
(TS-6), and there's the Minoura Workman Pro that's quite serviceable
for home use, too, and can be had for around $45.

I agree. It's not the tool but how you use it that counts.

Mike Lackey
Madison, AL

Of course but a handmade truing stand made from scrap metal and credit
cards is not going to allow you to get the wheel w/i the
tolerances(true, dish, roundness) it 'should' be. As I mentioned a
great wrench with a set of vice grips can replace the heads on your
car but I hope he has a good set of tools. We are not talking about a
$400+ TS-3 here with dial gauges. A TS-2, used, can probably be found
in the $50-$75 range.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Mike Lackey said:

Quoted message said:

IMO, a TS-2 is overkill unless you are going to be building *alot* of
wheels. Park makes a simpler, less expensive "home mechanic" stand
(TS-6), and there's the Minoura Workman Pro that's quite serviceable
for home use, too, and can be had for around $45.

Quoted message said:

I agree. It's not the tool but how you use it that counts.

Quoted message said:

Mike Lackey
Madison, AL

Of course but a handmade truing stand made from scrap metal and credit
cards is not going to allow you to get the wheel w/i the
tolerances(true, dish, roundness) it 'should' be. As I mentioned a
great wrench with a set of vice grips can replace the heads on your
car but I hope he has a good set of tools. We are not talking about a
$400+ TS-3 here with dial gauges. A TS-2, used, can probably be found
in the $50-$75 range.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Park-TS2-Wheel-Truing-Stand-NR_W0QQitemZ300125723429QQihZ020QQcategoryZ27953QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Mike Lackey said:

Quoted message said:

IMO, a TS-2 is overkill unless you are going to be building *alot* of
wheels. Park makes a simpler, less expensive "home mechanic" stand
(TS-6), and there's the Minoura Workman Pro that's quite serviceable
for home use, too, and can be had for around $45.

Quoted message said:

I agree. It's not the tool but how you use it that counts.

Quoted message said:

Mike Lackey
Madison, AL

Of course but a handmade truing stand made from scrap metal and credit
cards is not going to allow you to get the wheel w/i the
tolerances(true, dish, roundness) it 'should' be.

I was advocating a 'middle ground' between a TS-2 and the datakoll
chop-up-a-frame-and-hack-a-truing-stand idea. IMO, a Park TS-6 (or
Minoura Workman Pro) + a 'dishing tool' + a Park TM-1 tensiometer will
serve a home wheel builder well *and* come in for about the same price
(and possibly less) aa a TS-2 alone.

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned a
great wrench with a set of vice grips can replace the heads on your
car but I hope he has a good set of tools. We are not talking about a
$400+ TS-3 here with dial gauges. A TS-2, used, can probably be found
in the $50-$75 range.