Which spoke wrench do you like?

[bikinchris]

For building a wheel, the Park wrench is much faster to engage and re-engage the many dozens of times needed to build a wheel.
But the DT Pro spoke wrench is a much better wrench, just slower.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by November Dave

Ditto. I've shot them pretty far across the room when they get slippery, but I keep a sleeve of fresh ones at the ready.

Wait, what are we talking about?

Well into the 5 figures of nipples turned a year

Now you're just bragging!

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by November Dave

Ditto. I've shot them pretty far across the room when they get slippery, but I keep a sleeve of fresh ones at the ready. Well into the 5 figures of nipples turned a year, round-offs just don't happen, plus I'm about 20% faster with the simple Park ones than with any others.

Not 'slippery' but 'slippy', as in, on the nipple. If it gets 'slippy'. I reach for a new one(maybe about every couple-three of years).

I've only 'turned' about 6500 or so nipples this year..

Don't know if I'm faster or not..not a 'goal'...Tried a bunch of others..always come back to Park..like a lot of things, feels the best in the hand...

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Tried a bunch of others..always come back to Park..like a lot of things, feels the best in the hand...

That's why I ended up with a vintage Gillette double-sided razor...it feels so much better than the plastic stuff...

And it shaves pretty good too!

[November Dave]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

Wait, what are we talking about?



Now you're just bragging!

Well it is my job, and at ~50 nipples per set of wheels, you get there pretty fast.

The shooting across the room thing is like flipping open a Zippo lighter by squeezing it between your fingers - you go to take a half turn and your fingers press towards each other and **ZAM** the thing ricochets off a window on the other side of the room. Happens like 3x/day.

Gotcha OP. I seem to wear the handle out before the tool wears out.

[froze]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

That's why I ended up with a vintage Gillette double-sided razor...it feels so much better than the plastic stuff...

And it shaves pretty good too!

Nah, I've had one of those years ago I bought sometime around 1980 except mine was Super Adjustable model, still have it but never use it and haven't for 30 years, why? because the newer multi blade razors shave a heck of lot closer and smoother than a double sided razor can, plus it's all but impossible to nick yourself. Sure the multi blades are more expensive, but to me the cost is worth the smooth close shave I get.

[froze]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

That's why I ended up with a vintage Gillette double-sided razor...it feels so much better than the plastic stuff...

And it shaves pretty good too!

Nah, I've had one of those years ago I bought sometime around 1980 except mine was Super Adjustable model, still have it but never use it and haven't for 30 years, why? because the newer multi blade razors shave a heck of lot closer and smoother than a double sided razor can, plus it's all but impossible to nick yourself. Sure the multi blades are more expensive, but to me the cost, and the cheap plastic feel is worth the smooth close shave I get.

Anyways, I use the Park Master wrench and they work extremely well, never a slip off.

[J.Higgins]

Originally Posted by November Dave

Ditto. I've shot them pretty far across the room when they get slippery, but I keep a sleeve of fresh ones at the ready. Well into the 5 figures of nipples turned a year, round-offs just don't happen, plus I'm about 20% faster with the simple Park ones than with any others.

Double Ditto!

I also like what you said about the simple Park wrench being speedier to use. I think that it has a lot to do with muscle memory and what you were raised on. The wrench that you learned with is most likely going to be your default spoke wrench. I too have a drawer full of spoke wrenches, and some have merit and some don't.

The ubiquitous Park wrench is always my first choice right after the rims are laced and the spokes need to be set up for tensioning. This is where the Park spoke wrench really shines. It has just the right amount of "slip-fit-feel" to it to allow me to easily slip in onto a nipple and make the adjustment, then slip it off and apply it to the next nipple.

For final tensioning I will always use a 3-sided wrench like the DT Swiss or the Park Master Spoke Wrench.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by November Dave

Well it is my job, and at ~50 nipples per set of wheels, you get there pretty fast.

The shooting across the room thing is like flipping open a Zippo lighter by squeezing it between your fingers - you go to take a half turn and your fingers press towards each other and **ZAM** the thing ricochets off a window on the other side of the room. Happens like 3x/day.

Gotcha OP. I seem to wear the handle out before the tool wears out.

Gotta show us that wheelset that is 25/25..or is it 30/20, maybe 21/29??

[Veloo]

This was my first spoke wrench. A friend lent to me.
Truing stand was my bike suspended on some string. Took over a week to correct all the over tightening I did.

After that I never really enjoyed doing it.

[redir]

Mine is the green one in potatoes photo upper left corner. I don't know who makes it but I like it because it has a two sided side for quick attachment and the 3 corner side for when it starts to get tight.

[redir]

Originally Posted by Veloo

This was my first spoke wrench. A friend lent to me.
Truing stand was my bike suspended on some string. Took over a week to correct all the over tightening I did.

After that I never really enjoyed doing it.

I have this one too. I think my brother bought it in the 80's. It's a bit rounded off now. I think those were designed to take touring. Not really nice to use on a regular basis.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by redir

Mine is the green one in potatoes photo upper left corner. I don't know who makes it but I like it because it has a two sided side for quick attachment and the 3 corner side for when it starts to get tight.

That's a Pedro's one and actually not for nipples like the black(Park and Pedros) spoke wrenches.

Black 3.2mm
Green 3.3mm
Red 3.5mm

https://activesport.co/Pedors-Pro-Spoke-Wrench-Set-Of-4

Oooo, I see Pedros has a new one..ordered..But, 'old dog' type thing..

Let y'all know.

[redir]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

That's a Pedro's one and actually not for nipples like the black(Park and Pedros) spoke wrenches.



https://activesport.co/Pedors-Pro-Spoke-Wrench-Set-Of-4

Oooo, I see Pedros has a new one..ordered..But, 'old dog' type thing..

Let y'all know.

Oh yikes! I didn't realize there were spoke standards like that. I use it on all my wheels. So far I have not rounded off any that I know of anyway.

[November Dave]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Gotta show us that wheelset that is 25/25..or is it 30/20, maybe 21/29??

You highlighted my text one letter too late - the "~" makes all the difference. One set 24/28, one set 24/28, avg = 50 spokes/set.