So the time has come for my first attempt at wheel building (due to drunkenly cross threading a sprocket on and stripping the threads on a Suzue hub....evidently Newcastle Brown in quantity and bike fettling aren't happy bedfellows!).
I've just ordered a Zenith hub and plan to use the old Ambrosio rim - I can't find the Zenith hub dimensions so will measure it when it turns up (this one if anyone happens to have the sizes)....BUT if it does happen that my existing spokes are the right size, what are the thoughts on re-using them and the nipples as well?

By the way, it was this this youtube video that persueded me to have a go....fingers crossed!

Spokes don't cost too much, buy fresh have peace of mind.

snap snap snap snap snap snap and er snap. definately don't bother if there alloy nipples

Roger Musson says:

"Spokes last a long time and providing you take care of them when building and limit any damage to them when using the wheel the spokes can be reused many times and will easily outlast many rims."

This guy knows his stuff, and his book is a must-have for wheelbuilding IMO.
http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

Oh and this:

"Brass nipples are tough enough to be reused several times"

just watched the 3 vids about how to build a wheel. He makes it look way simpler than it is.for a start He starts truing the wheel before he even winds down the nipples to the end of the thread - that should be the benchmark to start by, nevermind putting a quarter turn on, when you've still got 3 threads showing. It'd take about 6 weeks to true a wheel like that.

mebs his spokes weren't long enough for the thread to go all the way in before going taut

then he's got the wrong lengths

Not necessarily. Spokes stretch so if you do it all the way down then when it stretches there is no thread to tighten them up again.

I did this once - reused old spokes, it works, but it adds quite a bit of time undoing the old wheel, cleaning, swapping damaged nipples etc.

I would not do this again, unless money was a big issue.

I've done it and the wheel went out of true quickly which did not happen when I used new spokes. I have read many people say if you are swapping a rim over (same for same) you can reuse spokes as long as you keep the spokes in the same place then every thing should be find. I have also read something to do with spokes becoming work hardened and that is whey unless they go back in the same position you should not reuse spoke. I don't know about work hardening to comment on this.

Harsh comment RPM considering you don't know me and haven't read my tome.

Cheers,
Roger
PS If it were a wheel previously built by myself then I would always re-use the spokes but as Zippie says, it takes a little longer so for commercial reasons I normally cut them out. If you have no commercial pressure and the lengths are appropriate then why not reuse them. The spokes have been operating well below their yield stress and fatigue limits and will be in perfect condition. I think it's important that you only re-use spoke from a previous build done by yourself, that way you know the history and can be confident they will perform just as well.

RPM got served!

I have to say that I think the comment was pretty harsh and I was just going to say that Roger's book is really good, although it looks like the author got the defence in first! I don't know him and bought the book online so I'm just a happy customer. The book is very clear and easy to follow and has a lot of useful tips.

cheers all....looks like it'll be new all the way....now the fun starts...

I didn't say all the way down, I meant the top of the nipple covers the thread, which ensures an even starting point - there is still loads more thread/nipple room to tighten it up.

+ the video guy is a gimp

Hi Roger

Glad to have you aboard.

Apologies Sammy I misread your comment.

I can't afford to read it..

it was just a standard cheeky response, I don't actually think you're a cunt.

i think if i was forced to choose between spending £9 on a wheel building book or £10 on some new spokes/nipples i would go for the new spokes.

good wheelbuilding advice is freely available, it's not rocket science even numptys like me can do it after looking at the sheldon/park website.

(i took the wheels to my lbs who looked them over with their dt spoke tensionometer thingy. they said they were well built with even tension)

Ha Ha Ha Ha

Whimp !!!!!!!!!

Ok - so i've built my first wheel! even made it to the shops and back! fiver for new spokes and nipples - good on ya condor! ;-)

if you see a big old bloke on a fluoro yello bike with a disintegrated back wheel...thatll be me!!
cheers all...

five english pounds for spokes and nipples from condor? but i thought they were supposed to be rip-off merchants?

that surprised the hell out of me too!
must admit (whisper it...) I find them ok in there - I quite like blb too!