I'm contemplating attempting a wheel build. I do most of my own work, including truing my own wheels, so I figure building a wheel is something I would be able to grasp.

A few questions:
1) I don't have a truing stand. Can I make do with other things, like an old fork, or should I just go purchase a truing stand?
2) I have a couple of old wheels laying around. Is it a good idea to practice de-lacing and re-lacing them before trying to build an actual wheel, or will the old spokes and nipples be too annoying to work with?
3) For UST rims, does the nipple drop into the insert, which is then screwed into the threaded eyelets?
4) Tensiometer: Do I need one?

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There's a lot of shame on a road bike. -- evdog

From the little experience I have, the stand makes a huge difference.

If you are comfortable truing up your wheels already, just go ahead and build up the new ones. From everything I have read and from speaking with experienced wheel builders, it is easier to start from scratch then to true a wheel so you are already ahead of the game.

I would suggest you lace spoke to hub, slide insert over spoke then screw on nipple a few threads just to get it started, then install insert into rim.

I have no idea.

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Long Live Long Rides
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I tried building a few wheels - its easy to assemble the pieces but I found it very hard to get it trued up. A good truing stand would make a big difference, you will definitely want one as well as a dish tool. In all but one case I had to take it into a shop to get a final true up- the one exception being a 24" rear I built for a freeride bike. Being very careful about tightening each nipple the same number of turns may help it turn out better, but I did not have the attention span for that while I was working. I wouldn't worry about the tensiometer.

i think having a truing stand is very nice, but you can get by without it if you set up an old fork with some feelers. you can use zip ties for this.

the tension gauge is another nice to have, but i got by without one. just have bjammin pluck them and go "i think you need another half-turn on those".

as far as trying out on others first, i wouldn't waste any energy with that. just go for it.

getting dished and trued will take the most effort. it took me a couple of days as i would just go in the garage in the afternoon with a beer and try to get it perfect.

i built mine almost a year ago and i haven't had to replace a spoke. i had to true them once.


oh, very important: spoke prep

also important: beer

^
Did you true your wheel for roundness?

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There's a lot of shame on a road bike. -- evdog

Yes, true for roundness. You can use an old fork upside down in a vive with some thing attached to the side to adjust for run-out.

Stop by the shop(call me first to see if I'm there) and you can use the dishing tool.
Good to see you on Sunday Mark, and are you up for another ride there this Sun?

Ben

i have a truing stand that has feelers for the bottom too. every time i true a wheel, i hit the sides first then the up and down, and then the sides again if necessary.

to dish, i just put the rim in the center as best as i could. then, when i was tensioning and truing, i got the feelers to where i didn't have to move them when i flipped the wheel around. (my stand only does one side at a time.)

if your spokes are sized correctly, and you turn evenly, the truing won't be too bad. i got a little out of whack on the first wheel, and it took a lot longer than the second.

overall, this is like making beer: just have fun. it's not that hard.

I'd love to be riding this weekend, but I'm going to be out of town.

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There's a lot of shame on a road bike. -- evdog

What about spoke recommendations? There seems to be so many choices. I don't like choice.

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There's a lot of shame on a road bike. -- evdog

i'm pretty happy with dt swiss comp

x2

Buy IT!!!!! Read IT!!! Best resource for wheelbuilding

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Wheelbuilding-Reference-Neophytes-Wheelaholics/dp/0964983532

Read what Shledon Brown has to say. Use the databases for spoke length calculations.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513EHRDXVFL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Practice, Practice, Practice..I used an old wheel and dismantled it and rebuilt it a few times to get the hang of it. You can always enjoy a while you build. Just do your final work sober!!!
I find wheelbuilding to be a great stress reliever.

All black

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There's a lot of shame on a road bike. -- evdog

Have fun, I was going to do the same but I got the sweetest deal on these.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul