Are galvanized spokes still available?
10-16-23, 04:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,108
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 755 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
423 Posts
Are galvanized spokes still available?
Apologies if this is a recurring question. I was wondering if galvanized spokes are still available? Or even zinc spokes, which I haven't found any of on line for retail customers. I have a bunch of serviceable wheelsets but for rusty spokes, and even with non butted stainless spokes, I can't rationalize the cost. Any one got a source?
10-16-23, 04:59 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,319
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3471 Post(s)
Liked 2,845 Times
in
2,006 Posts
C&V is not a rational hobby.
I have not seen any as I have surfed around either, a seller on eBay was trying to sell a huge qty of various lengths, not that many in the range of useful lengths for 700c or 27” wheels though.
I have not seen any as I have surfed around either, a seller on eBay was trying to sell a huge qty of various lengths, not that many in the range of useful lengths for 700c or 27” wheels though.
Likes For repechage:
10-16-23, 08:45 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,151
Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
683 Posts
I'm kinda with you for esthetic reasons. Most/all of these good quality older bikes had galvanized spokes. Being humans, when stainless steel spokes got better we all switched to the shiny spokes. I've gone to stainless because I can't get galvanized spokes. I had a Raleigh DL-1 that I had started fixing up and it needed some spokes, so I went to the local bike shop and asked for galvanized 12" spokes. They laughed at me. "We don't have any galvanized spokes anymore".
I will admit that after the bike gets ridden some time, it is hard to tell it has a few stainless spokes.
I had seen some video's on at home galvanizing. I was thinking of trying this on some tools. This technique should work equally well on spokes. You will need some equipment and some space though. One minor advantage of galvanizing is that it is "self-healing" on small nicks. It can also be polished but it won't be shiny silver. More like shiny anthracite black. There are handrails that are galvanized in public spaces and with all the hands rubbing it, it gets polished and smooth. I may be mis-remembering, but I remember galvanized spokes being thinner than modern stainless steel spokes. I am thinking about my favorite Robergel double butted spokes.
Our @Dan Burkhart has been powder coating spokes. Another technique that requires space and equipment.
I will admit that after the bike gets ridden some time, it is hard to tell it has a few stainless spokes.
I had seen some video's on at home galvanizing. I was thinking of trying this on some tools. This technique should work equally well on spokes. You will need some equipment and some space though. One minor advantage of galvanizing is that it is "self-healing" on small nicks. It can also be polished but it won't be shiny silver. More like shiny anthracite black. There are handrails that are galvanized in public spaces and with all the hands rubbing it, it gets polished and smooth. I may be mis-remembering, but I remember galvanized spokes being thinner than modern stainless steel spokes. I am thinking about my favorite Robergel double butted spokes.
Our @Dan Burkhart has been powder coating spokes. Another technique that requires space and equipment.
10-17-23, 04:04 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,108
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 755 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
423 Posts
A quick search for Sapim zinc spokes shows availability in New Zealand... the price converts to 25 cents per spoke with nipple. I'm going to dig s little further. One thing I wonder is whether steel spokes would be harder to roll threads on to with one of those Hozan tools. Stainless can be relatively "soft".
10-17-23, 06:28 AM
#5
Senior member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oakville Ontario
Posts: 8,127
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 948 Post(s)
Liked 667 Times
in
377 Posts
A quick search for Sapim zinc spokes shows availability in New Zealand... the price converts to 25 cents per spoke with nipple. I'm going to dig s little further. One thing I wonder is whether steel spokes would be harder to roll threads on to with one of those Hozan tools. Stainless can be relatively "soft".
However, cutting them with the shear takes considerably more force than stainless of the same gauge, and they give much more resistance while the threads are being rolled. Probably shortened the life of my dies.
10-17-23, 09:51 AM
#6
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,701
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1307 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Liked 5,980 Times
in
2,331 Posts
In the early 80's the shops I worked at had all transitioned to stainless.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Likes For gugie:
10-17-23, 10:46 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,044
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3663 Post(s)
Liked 3,099 Times
in
1,867 Posts
If stainless spokes are too expensive, I would just start saving up money for them. Get a few at a time as funds permit. There's a reason galvanized spokes don't really exist anymore.
So really... $34 bucks for 75 spokes (~46 cents a spoke) is considered expensive?
So really... $34 bucks for 75 spokes (~46 cents a spoke) is considered expensive?
Last edited by smd4; 10-17-23 at 10:51 AM.
Likes For smd4:
10-17-23, 10:51 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,108
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 755 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
423 Posts
I've bought new "Wheelmaster" wheelsets with zinc spokes recently, so their in the supply chain somewhere.
This is the wheelset that got me thinking. Nice and true, low milage, ok bearings, but the spokes are toast. Hard to rationalize putting $40-50 into their restoration...
This is the wheelset that got me thinking. Nice and true, low milage, ok bearings, but the spokes are toast. Hard to rationalize putting $40-50 into their restoration...
Last edited by bark_eater; 10-17-23 at 12:03 PM.
10-17-23, 11:02 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,044
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3663 Post(s)
Liked 3,099 Times
in
1,867 Posts
I can still buy a CRT TV. Doesn't mean they're popular.
Likes For smd4:
10-17-23, 11:09 AM
#10
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 317
Bikes: 1980 Dawes Super Galaxy + 1981 Lotus Classique + 1986 Bianchi Sport SX + 2005 Van Dessel Project WR + 2021 Zizzo Liberté
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 148 Post(s)
Liked 489 Times
in
223 Posts
Still listed here: https://woohoobikes.com/en/70-spokes
For SLE spokes it says galvanized steel in the listing.
No experience with this shop; they're in Poland. I doubt it's economical with shipping.
For SLE spokes it says galvanized steel in the listing.
No experience with this shop; they're in Poland. I doubt it's economical with shipping.
Likes For EVlove:
10-17-23, 11:13 AM
#11
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,848
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1409 Post(s)
Liked 1,366 Times
in
859 Posts
I switched to stainless and never looked back.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
