Can anyone give me some arguements for the different types of nipple lubes out there. My only experience has been using Permatex Anti-Sieze (thanks Mike T.). Anti-Sieze works great from a lubrication standpoint as my wheels have been exposed to plenty of dirt, wetness, and even salt and the nipples still turn freely. Over time, I do feel that I have to watch the trueness of the wheels a little more closely as Anti-Sieze has no thread locking properties.

I'm getting ready to build up a new set of road wheels and would consider using something else if there are any advantages.

- Linseed Oil?
- Spoke Prep?
- Nipple Cream (heard of it but not sure it exists)
- plain old grease?

Steve-O (I hope this thread gets past the naughty word censor!)

i've been using spoke prep and never had a spoke loosen. my friend who used plain old grease had to tighten a few spokes just about every ride (i'm the one with spoke wrench so i have to do it).

Steve I've used nothing but anti-seize for many years and I don't remember the last nipple that loosened off. Sufficiently tensioned, stress-relieved and equalised spokes don't loosen. I've proven it 64 times for every set of wheels I've built.

My present wheels (Mustang/CX-Ray/240) are coming up on two years old and have yet to be touched since the day they were built.

I guess if you're a "belt and suspenders" kind of guy then so be it. Me, I don't need glue.

I'v used Permatex anti seize like you do on the wheels I'v built and never had a problem. I'm with Mike T that proper tension should hold the works together.

I had Liktons in Oak Park build my roadie wheels and they used tri-flow on the nips. On the non drive side rear they say they used green, light duty Loctite 290 because of the lower tension on that side.

I haven't had any issues with that rear but if you recall, I had a priblem with one of my front nips tumbling around inside my rim on the North Shore Century in Sept. I wouldn't reccomend tri-flo...that's for sure.

My next set's gonna be anti-seized and Derek just got one of those Park tensiometers that I'm gonna' try.

Steve I've used nothing but anti-seize for many years and I don't remember the last nipple that loosened off. Sufficiently tensioned, stress-relieved and equalised spokes don't loosen. I've proven it 64 times for every set of wheels I've built.

My present wheels (Mustang/CX-Ray/240) are coming up on two years old and have yet to be touched since the day they were built.

I guess if you're a "belt and suspenders" kind of guy then so be it. Me, I don't need glue.

Well... I'm a little tone deaf and don't use a tensiometer so some added "threadlocking" insurance may help me a little, hence the question;-)

These wheels are going to be 700c all around wheels and will see up to 4k miles/year of start/stop, all season, pothole filled rides. On a prior set that I built using Permatex I have touched them up about about every 2k to 3k miles. If I can avoid that it would be nice but maybe I'm asking too much. I do feel pretty confident in my building skills as this will be my 8th and 9th wheel that I've built from scratch.

Hey Rick... If you read this post then I'd be curious to find out more about what you're working on for Derek?

Well... I'm a little tone deaf and don't use a tensiometer so some added "threadlocking" insurance may help me a little, hence the question;-)

These wheels are going to be 700c all around wheels and will see up to 4k miles/year of start/stop, all season, pothole filled rides. On a prior set that I built using Permatex I have touched them up about about every 2k to 3k miles. If I can avoid that it would be nice but maybe I'm asking too much. I do feel pretty confident in my building skills as this will be my 8th and 9th wheel that I've built from scratch.

Hey Rick... If you read this post then I'd be curious to find out more about what you're working on for Derek?

Hey Steve...Derek does his own wheels so I'm not doing anything for him. He's busy playing with his new tensiometer right now....just checking the wheels on his MTB and roadie and on his GFs (crash Kaylee lol) roadie. I'm gonna' grab it when he's done and fiddle with my wheels.

I'm undecided if I'm gonna' build my new King set when those Arrow XCL rims become available. Everybody rants about how great B4Me's builds are and I might have him do it...we'l see.

nipple cream here...

http://www.rocklube.com/products_detail_nipplecream.html

never used it but RnR extreme is GREAT chain lube.

I use dried linseed oil. Advantages to other thread compounds: even, consistent coating easy/never clumps or dries out like liquids can. Disadvantages: hard to find, esp in small containers/expensive (unless you find someone to sell a smaller amount).