Two spoke colors
12-21-17, 01:54 AM
#26
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just do what the hipsters do, build the wheels with a bracelet or something hanging from the hub shell.
One of those silicon bracelets with a slogan on it is a popular choice
"how'd you get that in there without cutting it?" "they're custom built wheels"
and if you're doing colored nipples, don't use anodized aluminum ones. They crack and corrode. use brass
12-21-17, 01:55 AM
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I did a mixed build on some drum brake wheels for my commuter once.
Don't think anyone else ever noticed once the first layer of road grime had settled.
Don't think anyone else ever noticed once the first layer of road grime had settled.
12-21-17, 06:18 AM
#28
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Thanks. Not gonna lie, I spent a while browsing to learn more about powder coating after seeing your posts. I was curious about whether there would be issues powder coating stainless spokes, whether there were colors like gold, etc. It might be something I'm interested in doing at some point. I don't have the facilities for it, but it probably wouldn't be too hard to find a local powder coater willing to do some spokes.
12-21-17, 07:26 AM
#29
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I went a little crazy with spoke colours on my most recent build.
I powder coated the spokes white except for the ones meant for either side of the valve stem. I made those green.
The green worked with the bike decals.
Powder coated the hub shells white while I was at it.
I powder coated the spokes white except for the ones meant for either side of the valve stem. I made those green.
The green worked with the bike decals.
Powder coated the hub shells white while I was at it.
That is cool.
12-21-17, 07:42 AM
#30
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Hey, winter has barely started. The worst that could happen is you'll hate how it looks and you'll have plenty of time to do it over again.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
12-21-17, 02:25 PM
#31
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I show my process in this video. Hardly worth the investment in equipment unless one intends to make a bit of money with it, but a hobby kit like the Eastwood system works well enough for a small garage based commercial operation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfniHzwZyVw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfniHzwZyVw
Have you ever had any adhesion problems from just degreasing with acetone, rather than also etching the surface a little? Keep in mind I have zero experience in powder coating, so this question simply reflects info I'd read about online since seeing your original post.
12-21-17, 03:05 PM
#32
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Nope. I've used powder coated spokes on my last few wheel builds. Might happen again this winter if I get bored.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
12-21-17, 03:18 PM
#33
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Yeah that's cool. Would be awesome for folks like me who only want to use brass nipples, but are unhappy that they're only readily available in black and silver. I'm also thinking seriously about getting some gold powder w/clearcoat and see what some bladed spokes (CX-Sprint or CX-Ray) would look like in shiny gold. Could be totally ghetto, or totally cool, I suppose, depending on the context.
12-21-17, 07:03 PM
#36
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Thanks for posting this! Yeah I don't know if I would invest in the equipment, but I'll still look into it. It's possible I could get buy with the barest of bare-bones setups, so it might actually be feasible for me. I thought the facilities/equipment setup required would be greater than this, so it was good to see how you do it.
Have you ever had any adhesion problems from just degreasing with acetone, rather than also etching the surface a little? Keep in mind I have zero experience in powder coating, so this question simply reflects info I'd read about online since seeing your original post.
Have you ever had any adhesion problems from just degreasing with acetone, rather than also etching the surface a little? Keep in mind I have zero experience in powder coating, so this question simply reflects info I'd read about online since seeing your original post.
12-21-17, 07:06 PM
#37
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My original plan was to do all the spokes in green, but the friend who gave me the bike (gotta love having friends like that) suggested this scheme. he is an artist with a keen eye, so I took his advice with no regrets.
12-23-17, 04:52 PM
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Black left and stainless drive side, I enjoyed building them a bit different
12-23-17, 05:25 PM
#39
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ETA: also, what's up with the orange marker stuff on those spoke pairs? Since they're not oriented in any particular way I could see with respect to something like the valve stem I'm confused as to the specific purpose.
12-23-17, 05:57 PM
#40
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Says the guy who put up pictures of a bamboo bike. Dude I spent like 1/4 of a second looking at the spokes, and the rest of the time looking at the bike! Well played, Sir!
ETA: also, what's up with the orange marker stuff on those spoke pairs? Since they're not oriented in any particular way I could see with respect to something like the valve stem I'm confused as to the specific purpose.
ETA: also, what's up with the orange marker stuff on those spoke pairs? Since they're not oriented in any particular way I could see with respect to something like the valve stem I'm confused as to the specific purpose.
Love my bamboo frame, it’s a great all rounder.
The orange reflective things are clip on, having two spokes with them next to each other makes it stand out when rotating.
12-23-17, 05:58 PM
#41
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12-23-17, 06:35 PM
#42
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12-29-17, 02:48 PM
#43
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I got my rims ordered - HED Belgium from the HED site at a huge discount from everywhere else... couldn't pass them up. I think I'm going for the silver pulling, black pushing scheme, but haven't ordered the spokes yet.
Last edited by DiabloScott; 01-14-18 at 06:52 PM.
01-14-18, 06:53 PM
#44
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Update: DONE.
It's a subtle effect, not at all goofy looking, I like it. Especially how the black heads disappear into the black flanges.
It's a subtle effect, not at all goofy looking, I like it. Especially how the black heads disappear into the black flanges.
01-14-18, 07:03 PM
#45
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Just kidding,they look great sitting there.
I can imagine they look even better spinning down the road.
01-15-18, 01:09 PM
#46
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My wheels have black spokes, one of them broke (hit by a stick I think). When I went to the shop to buy a replacement, I told them I'd prefer stainless if they had it in the right size, but they came back with black, and I didn't want to make a fuss.
I thought it would look cool, like a badge of honor, and also I'd be able to identify the replaced one if I ever needed to.
I thought it would look cool, like a badge of honor, and also I'd be able to identify the replaced one if I ever needed to.
01-15-18, 01:25 PM
#47
It's MY mountain
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Black spokes cost more too - so I saved about $10 by going half-silver.
DT Competition
Black w Black brass nipple: $1.43
Silver w Silver brass nipple: $1.10
Wheelbuilder.com was happy to accommodate my unusual blend of spokes.
DT Competition
Black w Black brass nipple: $1.43
Silver w Silver brass nipple: $1.10
Wheelbuilder.com was happy to accommodate my unusual blend of spokes.
01-15-18, 01:40 PM
#48
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I dig it, @DiabloScott. 
03-24-18, 04:52 PM
#49
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Unretouched photo:
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