Topic: stupid ? spoke torque without a torque wrench??

[chippyfive50]

I have just laced up some new EXCELS with SS spokes, and they look nice and are dead straight.
i have read all of the info on wheel building in the FAQ's and other posts, but was wondering if anyone had any
tricks as to getting the proper torque on the spokes without a $100 spoke torque wrench.....
i can get them all even tension by "ear",      but getting the torque??

[volthause]

It's situations like this that always beg the question, at what point did $100 become more important than your safety?

I'm not bagging on you, just trying to broaden the scope of your discussion a little bit. If you can't torque them correctly without a wrench, and if the torque of the spokes is paramount to safety, then just buy the wrench.

[eldar]

If the rim and hub are all true and the spokes are tight, do they need to really be torqued much?

[Jonesy]

Do they make spoke tension gauges like they have for bicycles? It clips onto the spoke and applies a perpendicular load to the spoke and measures the deflection. This deflection can then be translated into spoke tension.

[cappy]

Chippy,

You have two kids at home.  Buy the wrench, so I can borrow it.

Welp, See ya later,

Cappy.

[chippyfive50]

i just bought a torque wrench crappy to go with "our" park ts7 stand, so you can bring a keg of bitburger STAT....

[putnaja1]

Hey chippy, what size wheels are you building?