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A retired mechanic in Tucson handed me his 40 year old spoke wrench and I finally got why he never used a tensiometer
I was building a rear wheel at the co-op in Tucson when this older guy named Ray sat down next to me and watched for 20 minutes without saying a word. When I reached for the tensiometer he just shook his head and handed me this worn out Park spoke wrench he had been using since 1983. He said he built wheels for 40 years and never owned a tensiometer, just went by feel and the pitch of the spoke when you pluck it. I tried his way on the next 3 wheels and every one came out true within half a millimeter. Now I still use the tensiometer for final check but I tension by feel first like he does. Any of you older mechanics still tension by ear or am I the only one who switched back?
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shane_hayes1mo ago
Switched back myself after twenty years of tensiometer worship, plucking spokes like guitar strings.
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