Wheelbuilding question

Re:

There is only one reason to use spoke washers, and it has nothing to do with cheap components

It is simply that the hub flange width is narrower than the flange width that the spoke is designed to fit

If you place your spoke into any hub flange hole ( with the head outside ) , and then rotate the spoke in a radial position as if built into a wheel then if the spoke head is seated into the flange hole, it will be obvious if there is a gap between the inner face of the flange and the spoke elbow

Obviously there will be a small gap/clearance otherwise you would not be able rotate the spoke into position. However it is desirable to keep this gap to an absolute minimum ie the spoke elbow/bend is as close as possible to the flange face

In the event that the gap is too wide then you simply place a spoke washer under the spoke head before placing it in the flange. This will
increase the effective flange width and solve the problem.

I have only done this once when building an NOS Sturmey Archer front hub brake into a new rim with DT spokes. In this instance the 'outer'
spokes were all fine, but the 'inners' had a slightly easier run to the rim eyelets and needed a single washer ( they are made of brass )
to correct things
 
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