Hexagonal head spoke nipples - what's the advantage?

On Sun, 18 Feb 2007 12:58:14 GMT, [email hidden] (BigBenBiker)

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

In layman terms, please?

They're for machine built wheels, so the robot can tension them with a
socket from outside the rim. No advantage for hand builds.

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary

(BigBenBiker) said:

Hi All,

In layman terms, please?

I can't see why they're any better at distributing efford around the
rim hole - specially if you have eyelets on the holes - than the round
head nipples...

No difference there.

Quoted message said:

Besides, given the diferent shape of the head, does its size allow for
equal fit in the rim hole/eyelet,

The DT ones do.

Quoted message said:

or do they require slightly longer spokes?

If the head is taller you get more threads inside, so a longer spoke
is optional but the normal spoke length is still okay.

I like hex head nipples because they don't round as easily as the
square flats do.

Werehatrack, AFAIK, most machine-laced wheels use the slot in the head
to install the nipples. Then machine-truing (at least Holland and Mach
1 machines I've seen) normally use the square flats. So in my
experience wrenches outside the rim (on the hex) are mostly turned by
hand.

email hidden said:

I like hex head nipples because they don't round as easily as the
square flats do.

That's only if you removed the tyre and airtube, and have one of those
"weered" tools for turning the nipples from inside the rim. except
for the DT hexagonal spokes, which aparently can stillbe turned with a
screw driver, but I'm not sure if that's possible a high tensile
strenght.

OK, I'm relaxed now with my round nipples :-)

Thanks,
jbr

Ride your 2 wheels, but in order to ride them yet another day!
bbb

Kinky Cowboy said:

They're for machine built wheels, so the robot can tension them with a
socket from outside the rim. No advantage for hand builds.

They are of benefit in building wheels with closely spaced spokes,
like 36 hole ISO 305 rims, 48 hole 406 rims, or 72 hole 622 rims (I
have some).

Rotating a spoke wrench in those cramped quarters can be a real
chore.

Chalo