aliclarkson

I build wheels for a well known trials company, so yeah I've built a few. All nipples should be lubed regardless of their material. Sounds like a bunch of engineers talking. They think they know everything. From ACTUAL wheel building experience Brass nipples have much higher friction under high tension than Alloy, no amount of "but alloy sticks to drill bits" will make me change my mind. I've snapped Brass nipples when building wheels and I've yet to snap an alloy one even at higher spoke tension (yes I have checked with gauges).

I never said alloy was stronger than brass, I said alloy was strong enough. People don't complain when bars, frames, rims are all made of it, they shouldn't be scared of alloy nipples either. I've never broken an alloy nipple.

if you're good at building wheels, a tension meter tells you what you already know. I'm not saying I'm the best wheelbuilder in the world, but I do build wheels for a well know trials brand and I'd hazard a guess they take more abuse than pretty much any other type of cycling. I don't use a tension gauge as I know that all the spokes are turned the same amount. If the rim is bad quality, then you have no choice in applying different tension to get it straight so a tension gauge will already tell you what you know. Building wheels isn't some black art, you don't need 20 years experience and some kind of "gift" to make a wheel last. Just follow a pattern and a bit of common sense will get great results. I've not had to true my wheels for over a year now and that with heavy street use with failed spins and tailwhips and that was without a gauge. It doesn't surprise me that a company that makes a tool would suggest that people who didn't use their tool didn't do as good a job. The important part is the stressing of the wheel, most people just bend the wheel over a desk/lap or bend it with their arms and elbows or maybe press it against the floor. For a super strong wheel that's just not enough in my books, I find putting the wheel on the floor and stamping on it gives best results, though not advisable for lighter XC or road rims. I'd never consider using Brass nipples either, there's just no point, lubed alloy nipples will still be useable years down the line, they can allow tighter spoke tension (I'll explain if needed) and they are lighter, win win.