Spokes: Cutting And Threading?

I'm about to rebuild a front wheel on a larger hub.

Got 32 perfectly good - but too-long - spokes.

Priced spokes at the LBS. $2.00 a pop.

Sheesh! Plenty complete *wheels* on the shelf for less than
$76.

So, I'm thinking maybe buying whatever it takes to thread a spoke
might be cheaper - and I'll have a new tool when it's over.

Anybody been here?

One LBS has a machine that performs the whole operation:
cuts/threads. So they only have to stock one size spoke.

But I'm guessing that's a far cry from doing it "by hand"....

I've got a vice and a carbide cutoff wheel.

Is cutting/threading spokes by hand realistic?
--
PeteCresswell

Per (PeteCresswell):
Is cutting/threading spokes by hand realistic?

I think I've answered my own question.

Spokes are available for a lot less than the local Performance
shop's $2.00/per... as in about $25 for 75 with nipples
included: http://tinyurl.com/234o2o


And threading is clearly not trivial - requiring more than just a
hexagonal die. To wit: http://tinyurl.com/29z8vn
--
PeteCresswell

On Feb 18, 3:46*pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
I'm about to rebuild a front wheel on a larger hub.

Got 32 perfectly good - but too-long - spokes.

Priced spokes at the LBS. * $2.00 a pop.

Sheesh! * Plenty complete *wheels* on the shelf for less than
$76.

So, I'm thinking maybe buying whatever it takes to thread a spoke
might be cheaper - and I'll have a new tool when it's over.

Anybody been here?

One LBS has a machine that performs the whole operation:
cuts/threads. * So they only have to stock one size spoke.

But I'm guessing that's a far cry from doing it "by hand"....

I've got a vice and a carbide cutoff wheel.

Is cutting/threading spokes by hand realistic?
--
PeteCresswell

with the right tool, sure. but the tool can cost ya... why not support
your lbs and have them do it for you ?

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
I'm about to rebuild a front wheel on a larger hub.
Got 32 perfectly good - but too-long - spokes.
Priced spokes at the LBS. $2.00 a pop.
Sheesh! Plenty complete *wheels* on the shelf for less than
$76.
So, I'm thinking maybe buying whatever it takes to thread a spoke
might be cheaper - and I'll have a new tool when it's over.
Anybody been here?
One LBS has a machine that performs the whole operation:
cuts/threads. So they only have to stock one size spoke.
But I'm guessing that's a far cry from doing it "by hand"....
I've got a vice and a carbide cutoff wheel.
Is cutting/threading spokes by hand realistic?

Yes, $76 per wheel is high, more like $20 to $30 usually

Spoke threads are not cut, they are formed/rolled.

The small Cyclo tool with 3-sided rolling head is a PIA to use, albeit
cheap. Real Phil machines and their competitors price at well beyond a
Record bike, so maybe pay the local guy to trim them for you?
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Per :
with the right tool, sure. but the tool can cost ya... why not support
your lbs and have them do it for you ?

Haven't priced them at the shop that makes them to order - but I
can't imagine them being much less than $2.00/spoke... and that
seems needlessly-masochistic when I can order online, pay more
like $30 total, and avoid a trip to the shop.

Maybe it's the Bushie bucks working on my mind... but close to
$100 just for spokes and nipples to build a wheel seems kind of
ridiculous.
--
PeteCresswell

Per :
with the right tool, sure. but the tool can cost ya... why not support
your lbs and have them do it for you ?

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Haven't priced them at the shop that makes them to order - but I
can't imagine them being much less than $2.00/spoke... and that
seems needlessly-masochistic when I can order online, pay more
like $30 total, and avoid a trip to the shop.

Maybe it's the Bushie bucks working on my mind... but close to
$100 just for spokes and nipples to build a wheel seems kind of
ridiculous.

That is indeed ridiculous. Complete wheels are less.

$2 per makes sense for 1 or 2 spokes as it costs more to calculate and
retrieve one spoke than the spoke. For a set, the going rate for premium
bright stainless double butted is more like $20 to $30 with nipples.

c.f. a shot of Scots' Whisky is $6 but the whole bottle is $40.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

"(PeteCresswell)" writes:

Priced spokes at the LBS. $2.00 a pop.

Try a different LBS? Mine has sold me new spokes for $.50 each.
--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org

Pete asks

So, I'm thinking maybe buying whatever it takes to thread
a spoke might be cheaper - and I'll have a
new tool when it's over.
Anybody been here?

About a year ago I contacted Bike Tools Etc with the same idea
regarding thread rolling dies and such. In total, about $140 and like
you, I thought "I'll have a tool!"
However, the staff at Bike Tools Etc did not recommend I pursue this
endeavour. The equipment they offer is meant to do the occasional
really odd ball spoke. They assured me that by the time I had rolled 72
threads the $90 die would be junk.
If your LBS has the tooling, I'd let them do it.

Best Regards - Mike Baldwin

Per Ben Pfaff:
Try a different LBS? Mine has sold me new spokes for $.50 each.

Actually, I don't know why I even go in that place anymore.

Used tb my favorite place to buy stuff, but the soul went out of
it when an LBS about 40 miles away offered the manager 10 grand
more per year and a shorter trip to work.... and he accepted.
--
PeteCresswell

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote: (clip) One LBS has a machine that
performs the whole operation:
cuts/threads.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
See whether they would do your spokes for a decent price.