What size spoke key?

Malcohol

Hi there.

I've just replaced a spoke. Unfortunately, I've been using a cheap spoke key (a.k.a. nipple wrench) and it's wearing the flats off the spoke nipples. (Of course, it may also be that I've over-tightened some of the spokes.)

I want to get a better spoke key for the next time I perform this operation, but it seems there's many different standards for sizes. Perhaps someone on this forum can advise me.

The spokes' nipples fit in the slot marked "14" in my current spoke key. From my browsing, that probably means 14swg (standard wire guage). When I look on-line, e.g. at Park Tools' website, their spoke keys are given in sizes such 3.23mm. I can't find anywhere that tells me whether such a tool is going to be compatible with my spokes. Can anyone tell me which tool I need?

Thanks for any help,

Malcohol

niceonetom

I use something like this on my various wheels.

Chips Lovell

Have you checked the manufacturer's website?

My solution was to buy three different sized wrenches and one invariably fits.

I recommend four sided wrenches, having rounded out nipples myself with cheaper ones.

Malcohol

Thanks for the replies, folks.

el tonto wrote: »

Have you checked the manufacturer's website?

I have. They describe their tools in terms of nipple size:
"SW-0 is sized for nipples of 0.127 inch (3.23mm)"
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=16&item=SW-0
I guess this is the width of the nipple.

From other browsing, I find that:
"U.S./British 14 gauge is 2.0 mm"
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#spokes

But what size nipples do 2.0mm spokes take, or is there even a standard relationship?

My solution was to buy three different sized wrenches and one invariably fits.

I'd really rather buy one really good quality tool than three not-quite-so-good tools for the same price, if you see what I mean.

I recommend four sided wrenches, having rounded out nipples myself with cheaper ones.

This sounds like a good idea.

Malcohol

Malcohol wrote: »

But what size nipples do 2.0mm spokes take, or is there even a standard relationship?

OK. Seems there is no fixed relationship between spoke gauge and nipple size (which makes me wonder what the numbers on my multi-spoke key mean). I found the following in something called Barnett's Manual, 5th edition. It refers to the Park Tools:

"
Black wrench fits 2.0/1.8mm-gauge spokes with 3.2mm nipples
Green wrench fits 2.0/1.8mm-gauge spokes with 3.3mm nipples
Red wrench fits 2.0/1.8mm-gauge spokes with 3.5mm nipples
"

Looks like I'll just have to measure the nipples and find out.

Good luck,

Malcolm

kincsem

I bought a Vernier caliper and a micrometer from inspection.ie without having a clue what to measure on my bikes. This thread tells me.

cgf

niceonetom wrote: »

I use something like this on my various wheels.

Have this one http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3976

Does a good job.