Anyone any good calculating spoked? It’s baffles my head!

[A_Guy_Called_Graham]

I tried a few online calculators but baffle my head.

I’m looking to build a set of nos 36h Drore DX hubs onto 36h m232cd rims. Anyone able to help me out with spoke sizes before I order some? Tia.

 

[grantoury]

The explanation on Freespoke tells you how to measure rims and hubs for desired spoke length. I found it quite helpful.

http://www.kstoerz.com/freespoke/howtomeasure.php

 

[klunkrider]

^That's a lot of text, too much for me, but I'll take it's a decent description of what to measure.

My TLDR (too long didn't read) summary would be that you need about 3 measurements.

Rim erd or the diameter of the rim at the nipple seat.
The diameter of the circle of the holes in your hub flange.
The distance of that flange from either the centre of the hub/axle or from the face of the locknuts.

I would strongly recommend you measure these things youself and do not rely upon anyone elses measurements, even the manufacturers.

After that it's simply a case of plugging numbers into boxes.

I always use at least two calculators as a big difference in numbers is a great sign that you've entered something wrong somewhere. I really like https://www.prowheelbuilder.com/spokelengthcalculator because if you enter the distance of the flange from the locknut it'll tell you the distance of that flange from the centre of the axle/hub or vice versa. Lock nut to flange is pretty easy to measure, the maths to work out centre to flange from that is not hard but the prowheelbuilder calculator does it for you.

I would say that measuring things and typing numbers into spoke calculators is the easy bit of wheelbuilding. If you are finding that a struggle then paying someone to build your wheels might be the better option.

 

[basketcase]

+ 1 on prowheelbuilder - The easiest one to use, imho.
Sheldon Brown, if you need help, or explanation :
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#bibliography

 

[Tootyred]

You really need a grounding in what your measuring and trying to achieve before you start...else as others have said, i foresee more issues further down the line.

Try this..its £9 or something as a download and includes access to onebof the easiest and best spoke calculators I've come across.

Read the book first...it will be a big help.

Plus its got plans for diy jigs, dishing tools etc....can all be made from ply offcuts!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...cQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3fNfrpPlOntvIuh9RD_LDD

 

[A_Guy_Called_Graham]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

I should have added that I have my own jig and tools etc as been building my own wheels for 30+ years but mostly always BMX. I pretty much know most BMX sizes off by hand, but it’s has been a while since I’ve scratch build a pair of MTB wheels, and with them being a nice set of nos rims and nos hubs I wanted to double check everything before I go ahead.