Quick question to any wheel builders out there. I've never had troubles with aluminum rims but when I build up carbon hoops I find it gets difficult to get the nipples up to tension due to friction between the nipple and the rim.
Any suggestions? I thought about using some sort of lubricant between the nipple-rim interface but I don't want to use something that may degrade the carbon.
Thanks for helping me with my nipples.
What do you use for spoke thread prep?
If it's not carbon safe, that's probably an issue regardless. You could use graphite powder, given it's basically carbon.
I had been using Stan's spoke prep, including a little on the nipple/rim interface, but I've since learned it's basically PTFE so I am thinking I should use something else in the future...
Marine grease works great, it will not damage the rim.
In addition to marine grease, nipple washers are fantastic but need to be considered in regard to specific rim and nipple. They’ll also increase the ERD ~1.8mm or so, which might make your spoke lengths change.
The missing comma had me thinking something else.
I use BoeShield on the threads and nipple/rim interface. Lubes it up for the build and eventually dries to a corrosion proof coating that allows for truing while it also keeps the nipple from loosening. If it's good enough for a Boaing 747 it'll be ok on a wheel that rarely sees 40kph.
Boeshield is great. If I have time I use it for wheels by dumping all the nipples I need it a small container of it (submerged) until it dries to wax.
This is one of those classic topics that there seems to be minimal science behind and everyone has their own opinion that they spout as the only truth!
Some say that light oil is all you need as 'spoke prep' and on the nipple heads as the wheel should be built correctly and using parts that are suitable for the weight of the rider.
Some say to use anti-seize. "I'm an aircraft mechanic and if it's good enough for a Boeing 747 then it's good enough for a bike wheel".
Some use (too much?) DT Spoke Freeze which I swear from minimal experience is just red Loctite. I bought a pair of used road wheels from a well regarded person in North Van years ago and he much have used that stuff as I literally couldn't turn any of the nipples.
Some swear by Wheelsmith Spoke Prep or boiled linseed oil. Both do largely the same job. Act as a lubricant initially then dry to 'gum' up the thread interfaces. DT Pro Lock nipples work in the same way too but with a two-part epoxy that gets mixed together when you screw the nipples / spokes together and then hardens.
To answer the exact question I think the concept of 'carbon safe' greases is a bit of a myth. All 'bike' greases are fine. Maybe there is some weird super toxic grease out there that will cause issues, or if people are total tight-asses and want to buy something off Ali-Express because everything you buy in a shop is a rip-off, then that might be a problem (probably not....). But a tube of grease lasts ages and is cheap enough.
Some people (including me in the past), drop a little Tri-Flow in between the rim and the nipple when starting to get to tension to lube the nipple head. It works but I find that the lube seeps out over time and leaves a wet mark around the nipple hole when dirty which doesn't look very 'pro'. I dab a little grease on the underside of the nipple heads.
Spoke prep seems like a lot of $ for a couple small jars so how many wheels does it do ?
IMO with the amount of time you will put into building a wheel, real spoke prep is the smallest part
some guys don't mind the wet spot ^^
Paying customers might mind a wet spot ;)
As for Wheelsmith Spoke Prep, you only need one container unless you can't organize yourself and need colour coded threads. As for the amount of wheels.....hundred+ unless you dip the spokes too far into the stuff and then wipe 95% of it onto a rag at a very rough guess but I've never counted. You literally need to dip say 10 spokes at a time a couple of threads into the stuff, turn the spokes vertically so the heads are on a bench and roll the threaded sections together until a thin amount of Spoke Prep migrates down the threads.
I'm not saying you have to use it though (I do but whatever). Linseed oil is probably loads cheaper (unless you burn your house down with the stuff ;) ), especially if you have another use for the stuff.
i believe the 2 colors is to differentiate between drive and non-drive side on a wheel with different length spokes so for what you are investing on your time time for wheel building even if you do your own is that the place to save money, its like buying cheap paint imo
as for the linseed oil i have watched a rag left on a gravel drive-way spontaeously catch fire and its quite amazing
Posted by: Kenny
What do you use for spoke thread prep?
I use prolock nipples. They never loosen off!
I think I will try a little wax lube on the rim eyelets and see how that goes.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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