I just watched Steve Jelf's Youtube video re-spoking a wood spoke wheel. THANKS, STEVE!!
Questions: I seem to recall a discussion once about getting the length of the spokes right. (Of course, I may be just imagining it.) If I buy ready made hickory spokes for a 21" wheel from one of the vendors, is there a need to adjust the length or are they "ready to use" as they are? (Not counting paint, stain, varnish, or whatever.) If there is a need to check and adjust length, how is it done?
Thanks in advance!!
Henry, the length is "ready to use" but you will have to determine if you have 1/2" or 5/8" tenon's. You can either measure the tenon on an old spoke or the hole in the wheel where the tenon fits. Be sure and check all the wheels you are going to respoke as there could be a "dukes mixture" of both size tenon's on different wheels.
Gordon
Thanks, Gordon!
One more question: In Steve's video the felloe and the spoke are painted. Is it better to paint the tenons and wood to wood contact surfaces for a tighter fit or better to leave those surfaces bare wood?
Bare is better. BUT I didn't mask the tenons and the flats. I just didn't spray them directly. The little bit of overspray wasn't enough to matter.
The Stutzman spokes needed no alteration.
This thread brings up a question a little off topic. When I bought my TT it came with an extra set of wheels with brand new, unfinished spokes which I was thrilled to get. That is until I realized that the spokes were 1/2" tenons in 5/8" holes. They did the whole set that way! Is there any way to salvage this without replacing the new spokes? Can the spokes be removed without damaging them?