Snowflake wheel

I thought the "point" or something like that was to be able to lace a wheel if you had bought spokes that were too long? Not sure why you would purposefully buy them too long in order to do this.

i could be mistaken but back in the day soldered/tied spokes were to create a stiff wheel that stays true. whacky mountainbikers wanted the same thing so somebody somewhere tried this for a very stiff wheel that doesn't go out of true as often- easy to make but hard to get nice and straight and a fucker if you get a bad buckle.

but that's what i remember from years ago before i built wheels but it makes sense i guess?