Dave Hughes wrote:

I find it easiest to walk into the LBS and ask for the hub and rim combo
of my choice, then ask them to work out the spokes.

Agree with that x 2.

Notwithstanding reading Jobst Brandt's book, all Sheldon's articles and an
incredibly kind and patient lesson from SuzyJ on wheel building, my first
efforts were crap.

When I got better the wheels stayed in shape for a sufficiently long time
that I then sort of lost the memory of the sequence of how to do it right
(that sequence matters kiddo and you ain't gonna get it from no book
learning).

Last set of wheels I got (Fulcrum zeros) the wheels were machine built and
then checked and stress relieved by my LBS - two years of serious riding
among the potholes that pass for roads in Sydney and they are still true in
all 4 planes.

Some things really are better left to machines and experts (in the sense of
people that do it all the time and inherently reliable devices).

Have a wheel truing stand that should go free to a good home - you need one
Suzy or any one else?

Best, andrew