[-dustin]

Park and Wheelsmith seem to be the 2 top dogs, but i figure the Park is popular 'cause it's dirt cheap compared to Wheelsmith (and even cheaper when compared to DT and FSA). how does the Park version hold up over the long run? how about the Wheelsmith?

 

[Wumpus]

Park -- Seems to be holding up Ok. May be time to send it back to get recalibrated.

 

[sanjuro]

The Hozan tensionmeter... or my fingers.

 

[Dartman]

I've been using a Wheelsmith for many years. It was the cheapest at the time. I've looked at the Park one but it seems quite a bit larger and a little more unwieldy in comparision.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

I have a Park that I sometimes use, however you build enough wheels you can do it by feel.

 

[dexterq20]

...you build enough wheels you can do it by feel.

 

[chicodude]

I use a guitar pick...

 

[Rockland]

Park. Mine has been used for many wheel builds. Probably needs to be recalibrated, but it's not a big deal. It's still a good tool for gauging relative tensions.

 

[amateur]

I have a Park that I sometimes use, however you build enough wheels you can do it by feel.

I second that. If I'm building a really stiff rim with straight gauge spokes I'll use the Wheelsmith one at my shop.

 

[jdcamb]

I have a Park. But mostly use my fingers. I will however ask the person I am building for if they want me to use the tool. Most say no....

 

[DirtyMike]

Park tools gauge here

 

[-dustin]

just curious, when i go by feel, i give 2 parallel spokes a sqeeze and compare that to a supposedly decent build. is that what you guys do, as well? that is the only way i have ever built, and i am generally confident in my wheels, but i think the gauge would help me either fine-tune, or at least not doubt what i'm putting together.

 

[jdcamb]

just curious, when i go by feel, i give 2 parallel spokes a sqeeze and compare that to a supposedly decent build. is that what you guys do, as well? that is the only way i have ever built, and i am generally confident in my wheels, but i think the gauge would help me either fine-tune, or at least not doubt what i'm putting together.

Parallel spokes then parallel spokes 180deg on the same side. Then the next series. Different spoke lengths have a slightly different feel, right??

So it would have to be the same rim, same hub, same type of spoke, same lacing, same nipple length, etc., I suppose. I don't tend to compare wheels.

 

[sanjuro]

just curious, when i go by feel, i give 2 parallel spokes a sqeeze and compare that to a supposedly decent build. is that what you guys do, as well? that is the only way i have ever built, and i am generally confident in my wheels, but i think the gauge would help me either fine-tune, or at least not doubt what i'm putting together.

Gert Schraner, the author of the Art of Wheelbuilding as well as DT in-house expert, wrote that he didn't believe in using tensionmeters, but then when did try one, he noticed his tensions widely varied, and he started using one regularily.

I am sure you could build one adequately without a tensionmeter (at least I hope so because I don't have one), but my best wheels have been with a tensionmeter and a micrometer.

 

[-dustin]

yeah, i've read both Schraner's and Brandt's books. i wasn't sure if Schraner was just trying to put in another plug for DT or not.

 

[splat]

Park here. I used to do it totally by feel , then I started measuing them and discovered , while they were evenly tensioned, he base tentetion was all over the place. and my tensions tended to be a bit on the high side

 

[Rip]

I do mine all by feel.