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So I've got my truing stand, dishing tool, spoke tension gauge and nipple driver - but what I don't have is a decent spoke key/wrench.
When I did my wheel building course I used the Spokey ones quite a bit which I quite liked.
Any recommendations?
And what sizes would be best to get? (Suppose I should measure the nipples on my wheels).
But will also need a general one for truing/sorting mates wheels - so a decent universal one would probably be a good addition too.
I like the park ones tbh, didn't take to the spokeys... I think probably it's not about how good they are, after a point- after all, spoke keys are super simple. It's just about finding the tool that feels right in your hand.
(Park do some that are 4 sided, with a gap in the 4th, so they enclose the nipple much more than a normal spoke key. And that's ace, for crappy alu nipples, but also kind of annoying to build with so, do watch for that)
Red Spokey for almost everything and then a universal one for the occasional random wheel you get with funny sized spokes
Ive got the Park Pro ones and the Spokey ones. The spokeys are a better fit and apply gentler force to the nipple as they bend ever so slightly.
I now almost exclusively use the Spokeys.
My Red Spokey is still doing the trick after 15 odd years
Some people prefer spokeys and some prefer Park.
I'm in the Park camp but YMMV 😉
Both good though.
Spokey pro here. I found the park ones really uncomfortable to use.
What i also have is a spoke spanner which is great towards the end of the truing where the turns are getting tighter and smaller.
I’ve always been an unnecessary tool snob so naturally I used P&k lie spoke keys, never had the pleasure of using their Truing stand though
Spokey Pro's every time if I have the choice, they just feel the most comfortable in my hands, and if you drop stuff on a regular basis like I do, the "3 and a bit sides" feature saves you having to pick them up off the floor so often (build regularly with them, and you'll aquire the knack of fitting them without it being awkward too). I've got plenty of others out of necessity, such as Park and DT, but always pick the Spokey if possible (and I absolutely detest using the multi-fit jobbies).
Multi-fit ones are horrible to use. Every time you put it down there's a faff to find the correct size bit of it.
Spokey Pro less than £10, just get a red and a yellow and you're good to go.
APF
Thanks guys - will sort a couple of spokeys out.
I like the look of the P&K Lie ones - a bit pricey though!
...i've got the DT Swiss one, and no complaints, however, having never used the spokey, park or P&K cant really compare.
I have a bit of a collection, Spokey, Park (both 'loop' and forged 'master' ones), a few cheapies and I tend to end up using my DT Swiss one more often than not, esp as I'm often working on bladed straught pulls and the DT Aero spoke holders work beautifully with the DT wrench.
For VFM the basic Park 'loop' jobbies are king though (hence why so many brands have ripped off the design), 8.99 for the 4-sided version, get a black one and red one and you're pretty set for anything you're likely to come across.