Stevan,
Yes, Faliero wanted a little light oil on the threads of the spokes. I agree with you; there is nothing more frustrating than a wheel that can't be trued on account of frozen spokes.
Brian Baylis (SSOT) La Mesa, CA
>
> 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