Spokes from
http://holmeshobbies.com/Sapim-Stainless-Custom-Spokes.html . First wheels set I ever built in my life I read and read on the subject to avoid any junk.
He builds custom wheel sets for some of the Endless Sphere crowed. These are electric motors that can shred spokes. When they are junk.
Anywhay I have a custom bike that my wheels went on. over ten horse power. Going on prolly 17,000 miles now.
My secrete when I built them I preloaded them properly. Something you folks cannot achieve with crap metal spokes. I have never followed up on my wheels since the day I built them on my sofa eating Bon Bons. lol.
Seriously I use absolutely no truing stand.
When I ordered my spokes I used a micrometer and had the dimensions of my rim. After this it was cake walk!
You see the spokes were for the wheel set I was building. Essentially they were all cut the same length. This gave me the opportunity to look right at the wire coming through the spoke nut. Long story short I used a screw driver making the same amount of turns and patiently observing my progress. I made a ton of laps. finally the screw diver did not fit as the spokes came flush.
Important to say I stopped a lot marked where I left out like at the valve stem is a great place to start. This is when I would take moments to work the spokes often making them sit over the top where they cross in a more natural manner.
My last laps were using a spoke wrench. When I was done where the seam meets up at the point the rim is joined together when they build it at the factory . I simple customized spoke tension to reflect. Resulting in a perfect straight wheel.
I have never had to touch these spokes since the day I built the wheel. A little secrete is the pre-load. The spokes never come loose. On a wheel with unkept spoke tension you are more likely to bust spokes. Especially on a cheap wheel set.
I went to the school of hard Knocks on this one the learning is over. I don't use a rag joint ether.
I have to agree there.