lower-cost option than "twist-resist" spoke clamp?

[wallymann]

needed to true up a friends wheel yesterday fitted with aero spokes and was getting some excessive wind-up....some of the nipples just wouldnt release so i bailed.

twist-resist clamps are like $80...is there a more economical alternative or more home-spun technique?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HxUu1GVF1xnuaRTXYvJyvyZwVqAPDyOI5MW5_99NC_I-abGoot1JutYENEMRTQebWEuHvZlaW9Dpu3up8-tZ5TunIX1wvA=s1000-l75-e7-rw

[donevwil]

https://www.jensonusa.com/globalassets/product-images---all-assets/park-tool/tl265f01.jpg

[raven]

Repurpose some scraps. Find some leftover cut steerer tube, seatpost, etc. (You can use carbon fiber if you're a weight weenie). Hacksaw a notch or two for the bladed spoke and Bob's your uncle.

[fmradio516]

cant u just use a set of needle nose vise grips?

[wallymann]

cant u just use a set of needle nose vise grips?

the spokes had some kind of pimp-white coating, so something so rough was a non-starter.

[fmradio516]

the spokes had some kind of pimp-white coating, so something so rough was a non-starter.

lol

[weaponsgrade]

I've made one using a block of scrap wood and a cut maybe an 1/8" deep with a saw.

[Peter P.]

I've made one using a block of scrap wood and a cut maybe an 1/8" deep with a saw.

THIS, or the Park tool.

You'll want to cut a cube of wood maybe 1". Cut the slot so as deep as the spokes are wide, and make the cut so the grain of the wood is at a right angle to the length of the spoke.

[slambers3]

piece of delrin would be ideal

[Tony T]

DT Swiss, about $20

[illuminaught]

Adjustable wrench with a nice flat surface

[Mark McM]

Like everyone else said, holding bladed spokes can be as simple as using a blokc of wood or plastic with a slot cut in it. The Twist-Resist clamping tool shown in the OP's post is actually intended for holding round spokes (which is a different kettle of fish, and requires a more complicated solution).

[Steve in SLO]

A piece of PVC pipe with notch won’t mark the spokes up.

[oldpotatoe]

needed to true up a friends wheel yesterday fitted with aero spokes and was getting some excessive wind-up....[B]some of the nipples just wouldnt release so i bailed
twist-resist clamps are like $80...is there a more economical alternative or more home-spun technique?


Too many use 'glue' or some sort of nipple fixing crappola..too bad.
The other shown above may work for bladed or oval spokes but for a round, thin spoke, the Twist resist is the bomb...
The Twist-Resist clamping tool shown in the OP's post is actually intended for holding round spokes (which is a different kettle of fish, and requires a more complicated solution).

Yes, but it works just fine on bladed or oval spokes..

[Tony T]

Even with the Park Tool I had twist sometimes occurring between the tool and the spoke wrench (this was on a new build).
The combo of the DT spoke wrench and the DT spoke holder solved this, but the cost is more that what the OP was looking to spend.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51scUu2wQML._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71gQ2yUVf6L._AC_SX679_.jpg

[Tony]

Even with the Park Tool I had twist sometimes occurring between the tool and the spoke wrench (this was on a new build).
The combo of the DT spoke wrench and the DT spoke holder solved this, but the cost is more that what the OP was looking to spend.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51scUu2wQML._AC_SX679_.jpg

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71gQ2yUVf6L._AC_SX679_.jpg

This combo worked great building my first wheel! The spoke holder drops into the spoke wrench, works together nicely.

[unterhausen]

The twist resist is just a 4th hand that they have helpfully cut off the lower jaw for you.

[ariw]

I have one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/IceToolz-Bladed-Catcher-1-0-2-0-Spokes/dp/B008HGKE3C

-Ari

[seanile]

Adjustable wrench with a nice flat surface

this

[Tony T]

needed to true up a friends wheel yesterday fitted with aero spokes and was getting some excessive wind-up....some of the nipples just wouldnt release so i bailed.


Not sure if this was mentioned already, but if the nipples are alloy and seized, expect the nipple to “snap”, so have a few nipples handy. Also, a little liquid wrench on the threads (inside and out) helps.

[ultraman6970]

If the spokes are round then the flat tools wont work.

U can use anything and do some slits for aero spokes, really easy to do. Have them in plastic, wood and even a lego block, used the dremel and good to go.

IMO, if the wheel is aero with non bladed spokes then means that the nipple is frozen or simply run out of threads. I would just lose the whole wheel and those stuck just cut them and replace them for new spokes and nipples.