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What causes it?
Friction between nipple and spoke
What can be done about it?
You can unwind it
How can it be prevented?
It can be minimised by lubricating the threads and reduced by using thicker spokes, but it can't be entirely prevented. Friction between male and female threads is the main mechanism by which a threaded fastener is prevented from loosening in service. If you could actually cut the friction to zero, which would be the only way to completely eliminate wind up, the spokes would immediately loosen to zero tension as soon as you let go of them :-)
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Overturn and then loosen a bit. Two steps forward - one step backwards. Makes sense?
I also this:
From Gerd Schraner -
Spoke windup Any thoughts or tips?
Only build with bladed spokes! (... they are actually really easy to build with)
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For circular cross section spokes I use a paper clip in the middle of whatever spoke I'm tensioning, pointing inline with the braking surface of the rim. As I tighten the nipple, say 1/4 turn, I keep an eye on the paperclip and add more to the turn based on how much the paperclip moves with the spoke. After I'm finished with 1/4 I wind the nipple back to bring the paper clip back into line with the rim.
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gbj_tester
Simba
svenhöek
Philip_J_Fry
@arup
Haven't searched and this may have been addressed already but I have a question about spoke wind up. What causes it? What can be done about it? How can it be prevented?
I usually lube the threads and the contact between nipple and rim but every now and again. Very annoying as it generally occurs towards the latter stages of a build when you've trued it and are reaching optimum tension when the creaking starts. Exactly when you need to do those micro turns you can't.
Adding extra lube (I generally use chain lube or linseed oil) and squeezing spokes to get better alignment helps a bit. Any thoughts or tips?