Sorting Spokes

Sorting spokes is a task that is guaranteed to come up during the processes of despoking and wheelbuilding, and occasionally at other times. It is a very simple thing to do.

Measuring spokes

This is covered by its own module.

NOTE: The drawers in the spoke motel are 2mm apart; if the spoke is in between two sizes, file it with the shorter size.

When to scrap

• Drawer is full: If the drawer is full and some of the spokes are in better shape than yours, you should scrap them.
• Spokes are rusty: If the spokes are fairly rusty, even if the drawer isn't full, they should be scrapped. Spokes are galvanized, so they rust white instead of brown.

Always measure

If you are measuring spokes to build a wheel, or measuring a spoke to replace a broken spoke in your wheel, there is one additional important instruction: always measure. If you need 280mm spokes, and you find a bundle of spokes in the 280 drawer with a tag on them that has 280 written on it, you must measure each spoke to make sure it's right. This will probably end up saving either work or confusion by the time you're done.

Nipple sizes

If you are trying to find nipples for spokes, there are two widths:

• 1.8mm
• 2.0mm

To check which size your spokes are, try to thread one into a 1.8mm nipple. If it doesn't go, it's a 2.0mm.

NOTE: These sizes have nothing to do with spoke wrench sizes.

WARNING: If you use 1.8mm spokes and 2.0mm nipples, the threads will strip out of the nipples once you tension the spoke.

See Also

• Park Tool SBC-1 Spoke Ruler
• Measuring Spokes