FishFright
More wheels than sense
Could you recommend me a good quality spoke key for general tweaking?
The most dangerous of tools
- Thread starter FishFright
- Start date
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Tom B
Guru
- Location
- Lancashire
The one that I go back to time and time again is this
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cyclo-triple-spoke-key/rp-prod32403
It wouldn't be much fun for wheelbuilding, but for adding a ¼ or ½ turn here and there it is fine, the beauty is that it goes in my bag and will fit all of the bikes as it has the three sizes.
*** An un advertised extra bonus is that it is also used by my Mrs taped to the side of the shoe expanders she has, it gives a bit of extra width to the Stretch to accomodate her flipper feet. - YMMV
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cyclo-triple-spoke-key/rp-prod32403
It wouldn't be much fun for wheelbuilding, but for adding a ¼ or ½ turn here and there it is fine, the beauty is that it goes in my bag and will fit all of the bikes as it has the three sizes.
*** An un advertised extra bonus is that it is also used by my Mrs taped to the side of the shoe expanders she has, it gives a bit of extra width to the Stretch to accomodate her flipper feet. - YMMV
U
User6179
Guest
I have that spoke key , its no use for some bladed spokes as the blades are to wide to fit it on the nipple.
simon.r
Person
- Location
- Nottingham
Bizarrely the one I return to time and time again is this Hyper-Cracker. It must be at least 20 years old and the spoke key is an add-on but it's trued many many wheeels over the years.
U
User6179
Guest
I use a glass cutter for Mavic wheels , fits perfect and never deforms the nipples.
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Have you read the CRC reviews for that? Not something I would want to be relying on for a trailside emergency!
THIS IS THE SPOKE KEY I have used to build many wheels and although a little hard on the thumb/fingers once the tension gets high it makes an excellent wheel and is easy to move from spoke to spoke quickly.
I also bought some of these recently as I have a wheel with nipples that are bigger than my normal fayre.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-pro-spoke-wrench/rp-prod55954
Cheaper than the park tools version but look well made. I haven't used them yet so cannot comment on how they perform in action.
This also looks handy and I have been happy with the quality of other x-tools I own. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-spoke-key-3/rp-prod10188
The only possible downside to the combination spoke wrench is that I have been warned it can seriously slowdown the building process because you have to constantly check you are using the correct slot and if you get it wrong you can easily round off a nipple.
Tom B
Guru
- Location
- Lancashire
Yes and I was quite surprised. I have to say mine appears to be much more silvery and shiney material than that in the picture. Mine has seen plenty of use on some ignorant spokes, you do have to make sure you use the right size slot.
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
This is the one I swear by, but not much use to you I fear since it seems to be no longer available. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park-tool-triple-spoke-wrench-sw7/rp-prod5789. I shall have to look after mine very carefully. (The last one fell thru' a gap in the decking.)
Smokin Joe
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Man up and use a proper tool -
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
One of these;
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Rixen-Kaul-Spokey_44095.htm?sku=113236
Mark one side with a dot indicating loosening/tightening direction.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Rixen-Kaul-Spokey_44095.htm?sku=113236
Mark one side with a dot indicating loosening/tightening direction.
Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
That is by far the best spoke spanner ever made. I have one that's built about just under 2000 wheels and the two sides where the plastic is roughened are worn smooth.
A spoke spanner for occasional use doesn't need any specific features but if you use it all day, every day, then it needs to be:
1) Lightweigh. Heavy ones like the ParkTool bunny-ears tool tire your fingers and eventually you keep on dropping it. A skilled builder manipulates the spanner with just one hand like a magician that spins a pencil between his fingers. Weight matters.
2) Must have no sharp or knurled edges. Sharp-edged spanners like the triangular ParkTool one quickly hurts your hands and starts callouses which are sensitive.
3) It must grip the nipple on all 4 sides. This means that the spanner cannot be slipped over the nipple from the side but must be inserted from the spoke side by sliding it down the spoke, onto the nipple. However, this saves your bacon lots of time by not stripping nipples.
4) For brass nipples it must be 0.1mm oversize. This means that it easily slips onto the nipple and speeds up the build. For aluminium nipples you can first use oversize and them when it gets tight, go to proper size. This means you need a 3.2 and 33mm spanner in your arsenal.
5) It must have features that show you a heads or tails side of the nipple. This facilitates exact turns. For instance, one would have a personal rule that the spanner is always inserted on the nipple with the "tails" side facing you. That means, for a half turn, the spanner must now face you with a heads side. Once you stick to personal rules you can listen to the radio, talk to people and still accurately tighten a wheel without forgetting where you started.
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
I bought one of those only a couple of years ago. I can confirm that they're elusive critters: it was lost for at least half the time I've owned it.
rogerzilla
Legendary Member
The Pedro's one is the best. You probably want the black one, which is for 2.0mm nipples (that's the threading, not the across-flats dimension).
https://mobile.wheelies.co.uk/pedros-pro-spoke-wrench-set-of-4/p77094/
Not sure if they're sold singly any more but £25 isn't bad for a real handful of tool porn - and you might use 1.8mm ended spokes on a vintage bike.
The main thing is to get a four-sided key, not just a three-sided one.
https://mobile.wheelies.co.uk/pedros-pro-spoke-wrench-set-of-4/p77094/
Not sure if they're sold singly any more but £25 isn't bad for a real handful of tool porn - and you might use 1.8mm ended spokes on a vintage bike.
The main thing is to get a four-sided key, not just a three-sided one.
dan_bo
How much does it cost to Oldham?
Lost my hypercracker used it once every preston guild but when you need one you need one.
