Why 16mm nipples?

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  • Yo. Having some wheels built. Popped in to LBS to check progress. 'Hi, sorry got the spokes, just waiting on the 16mm nipples'. 'OK, bye'.

    Once I got home and engaged my brain, 16mm seemed kinda 'Oops I ordered the wrong length spokes but it's okay cos, you know, long nipples'...

    Rims are TB14s, any excuse for 16mm nips? Oddly deep spoke bed or something?

    Couldn't remember where the wheelbuild thread was...

  • The thread length is the same between nipple lengths for most manufacturers.
    16 mm nipples are useful for some deeper section rims.

  • Oh okay. So why would you need them on a box section rim?

    Been waiting a while for the wheels, and nipple length is allegedly the hold-up.

    Please and thank you.

  • Option A: You are only using 16mm nipples on rims with really thick spoke bed(carbon mostly) so enough body protrudes over the top of the rim. If you are using 16mm nipples on any other rim you are trying to cover up the fact that your spokes are too short.

    Option B: The nipples they have ordered are double square or hex because that's what they like to use.

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Why 16mm nipples?

Posted by Avatar for DisappointingBob @DisappointingBob

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