Wheelsmith Spoke Prep

The spoke prep is great for building up wheels. It really helps with getting the spokes tensioned right. I found you do need to be careful with using just a very small amount on the spoke, too much and it gems up the nipples.

Reviewed on: February 17, 2013
Reviewed by: Tim, Washington

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I've built three sets of wheels with Wheelsmith Spoke Prep. The 2 color system helps me keep the left and right spokes organized while I lace the wheel. The compound dries quickly and it helps prevent spoke windup during tensioning. I highly recommend this product!

Pros: Awesomeness

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 13, 2013
Reviewed by: Paul P., Virginia

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Great spoke and nipple prep. A bottle will last a LONG time. A smaller volume size would be nice...

Reviewed on: January 28, 2013
Reviewed by: David B., Oregon

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makes lacing up your wheels easier and helps keep your threads in place once you're done. what more can you ask?

Pros: pulls double duty as a lubricant and a thread locker

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 08, 2012
Reviewed by: Dan R., Ohio

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Works great, much better than using locktight, or oil.

Pros: Just plain works

Cons: $$

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: August 13, 2012
Reviewed by: Daniel W., Rhode Island

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This was definitely the missing ingredient building wheels for me. My wheels prior to using the spoke prep stood just fine, but the spoke prep gave me that control I was craving in the fine tuning, before my nipples would spin just a little too freely, even at the end, and I feel like the spoke prep really reels that in.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: August 04, 2012
Reviewed by: tyler b., Washington

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I'm not sure what to think of this stuff. I've only used it with one set of wheels. Before that I've always just put a little grease on the spoke threads before starting.

Using the Spoke Prep, I'm pretty sure I followed the directions correctly. It's easy enough to get what looks like a nice even coating on the threads and after letting them dry the nipple threads on OK.

Unfortunately, I had problems with the wheel I built using Spoke Prep. The nipples didn't turn well once I got them tight, but that's probably because I was using a rim with no eyelets and didn't lube the spoke holes. After putting it on the road, a couple of my spokes came unthreaded. That may be because I didn't get the NDS tension high enough. So all of my problems are probably my fault, but it didn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling about the spoke prep.

Since I have the stuff I'll try it again with my next wheel build, but right now I'm not convinced that it's been more useful than simple grease.

Would Buy Again: No
Would Recommend: No

Reviewed on: July 17, 2012
Reviewed by: Andy, Beaverton, OR

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If you are a casual wheelbuilder a pair of bottles will be more than enough. Make sure there is no contamination on your spokes because it will become brittle and peel off. Plan ahead because it takes some time to dry.

Pros: Will last a few hundred spokes.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: April 18, 2012
Reviewed by: Daniel M., Rhode Island

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Jury still Out

I have been building my own wheels for some years now, trusting my spokes to tension and torque to stay put, and I had always wanted to try Spoke Prep. I built up a new wheel and put it into service, and after 4 months (1200 miles)some of the spokes had come loose. I re-tensioned and put back into service, no harm done, but I will need to keep an eye on it, just like a torqued wheel. So far, the advantage sees lot on me, and the price is rather steep. I am not sure if I would recommend this product. Time will tell; it depends on corrosion resistance.

Pros: Easy to use,
Goes a long ways,
Two colors for different length spokes on the same wheel,
Adjustable (does not dry hard like Loctite)


Cons: Ammonia-based compound (stinky),
Sensitive to contaminants,
Complicated Instructions.

Reviewed on: October 31, 2011
Reviewed by: Icebiker3, Frozen Tundra, Wisconsin

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Spoke prep.

This prep work great use this when applying nipples or you will be sorry latter.

Pros: easy to use effective.

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: August 06, 2011
Reviewed by: Mark L., California

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it is time consuming to use this, but when you consider the cost of spoke nipples with prep already aplied in them such as dts, then it it is very worth the time it takes to use , and you can be sure that the time you spend building your wheels is not wasted by loosened spokes

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: April 08, 2011
Reviewed by: Laerzio C., Alberta

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I found this product to work as advertised and it seemed like a worthwhile investment when building up a nice set of wheels.

The initial set up was simple and I learned the trick to getting just the right amount on the spokes before letting them dry. I was happy to discover that it didn't take too long for them to dry (maybe 1 hr). After my first few rides, it was nice to be able to retension the spokes with just a light amount of friction.

Cons: A little expensive and would have preferred to pay less for a smaller size.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: March 21, 2011
Reviewed by: One-G, Redmond, WA

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This makes building wheels easier than just using oil. The different colored product makes keeping track of spokes easier. Spoke prep also helps to keep wheels in true. I've had it on a set of wheels I built a while ago and they've yet to go out of true.

Pros: helps with assembly, makes keeping track of spokes easier

Cons: expensive

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: March 15, 2011
Reviewed by: Michael G., Virginia

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Good product that's worth the money. Holds well and keeps the wheel true over it's lifetime. As mentioned in the other reviews, having the two colors helps keep spokes separated. The lubricating properties also help to prevent spoke twist when building. A little goes a long way so these will last or many builds.

Pros: Excellent product and the standard for wheel builders everywhere.

Cons: A lot of product for the occasional home builder, a smaller cheaper pack would be nice.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 05, 2011
Reviewed by: Eric M., Washington

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Works great during building, and to prevent loosening. Two colors help immensly to keep track of left and right spokes. More effective than using oil, but much more expensive.

Pros: Two colors.
A little goes a long way.

Cons: Expensive, compared to other options.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: January 07, 2011
Reviewed by: David M., Oregon

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This is what you use when you build wheels. Acts as a lubricant and also to prevent the nipples from loosening. I would never build a wheel without it. The different colors are helpful to distinguish drive and non drive spokes. Don't use too much and don't get it on your clothes, it really stains.

Pros: Makes for a better built wheel, helps separate drive and non drive spokes.

Cons: Stains clothing

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: December 05, 2010
Reviewed by: Brian K., Oregon

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Hand Built Perfection

If you want a great wheelset, build them yourself, and use this stuff!!! Hand made wheels that are trued and tensioned properly will last years! I built a set of Pro II/Mavic 823 with this stuff. Made it easy to torque the nipples down initially, haven't lost tension in even one spoke after 100s of miles of DH and hard riding.

Pros: Helps lubricate during install, keeps tight after assembly. Two colors so you don't mix up your spoke lengths. Couldn't be better.

Cons: None, none at all.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: December 02, 2010
Reviewed by: Raleigh H., Oregon

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Spoke Prep Compound

Works as described. It was still easy to thread on the nipples, and hopefully this will help them stay put. No motion yet, as they are the wheel still spin true.

Pros: Easy to use, works as described.

Cons: None.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: November 21, 2010
Reviewed by: Nathan G., California

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I have both colors but it is probably not necessary for the way in which I build. I only prep one group at a time. I could see how someone who threads all the spokes at once.

Pros: Colors, releases better than loktite, but still holds

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: November 21, 2010
Reviewed by: David S., Wyoming

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Helps with wheel building, good product. It is handy having two colors for different length spokes. Its a bit expensive but it does a good job, so I think it is worth considering for your next wheel build

Pros: works well, two colors

Cons: expensive

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: November 05, 2010
Reviewed by: Terry T., Hawaii

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Just works

I've spoken to wheelbuilders who use all kinds of different stuff for lubing the threads on spokes. Why bother? This stuff works better than any of it.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 17, 2010
Reviewed by: blake c., Colorado

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Works as advertised

I've built a couple of wheelsets using this stuff and have had no problems.

Pros: Works as it should.

Cons: Spendy. I wouldn't mind trying something less expensive when I run out of this stuff.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 05, 2010
Reviewed by: Paul S., Oregon

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Wheelsmith spoke prep

Very handy to have two colors for rear wheels as the spokes all start to look the same. Stuff improved my wheel building experience and has virtually eliminated loosening and also reduced spring back from spoke rotation.

Pros: two colors, reduces friction during building and loosening after build is finished.

Cons: not cheap.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 23, 2010
Reviewed by: Daniel P., Washington

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stayed good in jar for two seasons now, works as intended, I used white lithium grease before which produced less windup but this seems like a better binder

Pros: good after several seasons, works as intended

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 20, 2010
Reviewed by: Ryan F., Oregon

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Great Spoke Prep

Spoke Prep does the job it's intended to do. Having two colors makes it easy to distinguish spoke lengths when threading rear or disced wheels.

Pros: Two Colored Prep, Good Lube and Threadlock

Cons: Cost

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 15, 2010
Reviewed by: Zimney, Portland, OR

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