In a message dated 7/5/03 8:39:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time, StuartMX4@aol.com writes:
> As someone new to wheel building, I have been keeping out of this, but Kurt
>
> Sperry's comment prompts me to say that the Webb's in Lincolnshire who
> showed
> me what is what were insistent that building the wheels up dry worked best.
This depends entirely on how you define "best". One of the big advantages of using some kind of lube, is that in 10 or 20 years, the nipple doesn't seize to the spoke. If you never, ever get your wheels wet, it may not be an issue, but back when I worked in shops, I ran across way too many wheels that would not true because the nipple was frozen to the spoke. Also, if you lube the thread and the nipple seat, the "feel" that I get with the spoke wrench allows me to more easily equalize tension. Threads need lubrication. Brian's "More Masi Tales" indicated that Faliero wanted every single thread on the bicycle lubricated on initial assembly.
Brian, did that include spoke nipples?
I've been using grease on the threads and either grease or a pinpoint oiler
on the nipple seat for many years.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA