Cycling UK Forum

Has anyone used such things? Are the cheap ones one eBay (£18) any use?

Have you tried the search function? They’ve been discussed a few times.

they're okay for getting tensions "in the right shop" and comparing NDS and DS rear wheel spokes but for fine tuning? not so much.

Thanks
I’ve always used finger and thumb, as a guide. Seems to have worked for many years.

If you have an iPhone, save yourself a few quid and get this app, I have access to a Park Tools tensionmeter and the app is at least as good, possible better. There may be an android equivalent, but I haven't come across it.

There may be an android equivalent, but I haven't come across it.

Looks like this is similar for android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... ensioner_3

Steve

KM2 wrote: ↑2 Jun 2023, 9:54am Has anyone used such things? Are the cheap ones one eBay (£18) any use?

Good little toy IMO.

I bought mine from eBay last year.
£16

Did you find it useful though?

I bought one similar to Mick F for a similar price. Prior to this I'd been tensioning my spokes to a known musical note tone (no idea what it was). Once you get one spoke done up to the right tension its easy to use the tool to get all the other spokes to match and then it's just a case of fine tuning for truing. Worth it imo.

Thanks, I’ll buy one.

KM2 wrote: ↑3 Jun 2023, 2:45pm Did you find it useful though?

I bought one a cheap tension meter a couple of years back, mainly out of curiousity because I wanted to check on the wheels I had previously built. In summary, I found the existing wheels to be pretty good, tensions in the right ball parks & reasonably even. Now when I build of re-rim I run it over to check that nothing is remiss.

In other words, it gives peace of mind.

Yep.
Peace of mind ........... plus, I like gadgets!

I've been building wheels for years, and never needed anything other than a good eye, a good pair of hands, and a good spoke key.
It was only because of discussions on here, that I found a cheap one, and had a go with it.
I found a spoke or two less tight than they should have been although the wheel was true. I tightened them up and the wheel remained true.

Peace of mind.

Thanks everyone for your responses.
You’ve convinced me.