Stainless Steel Spokes Compared to Carbon Steel Spokes

[@dalecs47]

Hi: As a followup to my video about constantly breaking spokes in my rear wheel. The solution was that I went to a different shop. I had all new spokes, nipples, and a new rim installed. Since then, about 1,500 miles later, I have no broken spokes and no problems with wheel alignment. So I think my previous problems with breaking spokes was just down to the first shop getting a batch of defective spokes. Thanks.

[@newtonpo1]

Excellent knowledge and explanation. Thank you!

[@gtranquilla]

This is what I seem to recall: Aircraft grade bolts are annealed such that the inner steel retains a flexible ductile nature whereas the annealed surface is both harder, I.e., less ductile yet more brittle. The two conditions make for an exceptionally reliable aircraft graded bolt that can be more trustworthy for critical structural integrity. Spokes benefit only from compression of the spoke diameter between the double butted ends, e.g., 2-1.8-2….

[@fredericauger8573]

Is there a specific stainless steel grade that is better? And why?

[@markjmaxwell9819]

I still think double butted stainless steel is the best spoke. The old 14g stainless steel spoke is hard to beat.

[@sharkbaitsurfer]

Thank you Bill - tight and informative!

[@sergiikryzhanovskyi2670]

Good video, thanks. And how does it work with galvanized spokes?

[@BillMouldWheels]

I never use them.

[@edsinofsky]

Great video. thanks. I just got a carbon wheel set with Sapim x-ray spokes and anodized aluminum nipples. I am concerned about corrosion as I live near the ocean and have seen it on my sailboat. Should I be? Is there anything oily I can put on to keep it at bay?

[@BillMouldWheels]

Ed, there's isn't a lot you can do as prevention. If it occurs, consider changing the nipples to brass which will not corrode. Bill

[@peteuthai]

Thank you Bill

[@BillMouldWheels]

Thanks, Jack

[@dalecs47]

HI: Can you share a way I can tell a good stainless spoke from some kind of cheep alloy or junk? I am retired, from Seattle, now living in Manila, Philippines. I ride a Ghost dual sport style bike, 700 C wheels. My rear wheel did well for about 7,000 miles. But the rim cracked so I replaced the rime and spokes. I specified stainless, but I have broken many spokes since then. (Never broke any of the original spokes) They always break at the hub end. These days I average 2 or three broken spokes ever 60 miles. Bike shops in Manila sell a lot of bad parts, mostly from China. I don't know how to tell a good spoke from a junk one. Any ideas? Thanks.

[@BillMouldWheels]

There are many reasons that you may be breaking spoke other than their quality, but in answer to your question, cheap carbon steel spokes are strongly attracted to a magnet, but stainless steel only weakly so.

[@dalecs47]

@@BillMouldWheels Thank you.

[@dalecs47]

@@BillMouldWheels Currently most bike shops in Manila are short of high quality parts due to shipments from China not arriving. Eventually I plan to get a new rear wheel more along the lines of what is used on higher end touring bikes. 36 spoke, extra strong rim, heavy duty spokes. I am a heavy rider and I often pack a lot of things with me, tools, water, lots of water, and so on. For now I plan to simply go to a different bike shop and have all the new spokes, which have been failing, replaced. Hopefully with spokes from a different batch or manufacture. I will try to find a mechanic who can "Build" the wheel. That is hard to find here. Most the bike repair guys slap the wheels together quickly without taking time to really evenly tension the spokes and so on. The only plus side to that is I can have a wheel put together for less than $5. I would certainly be happy to pay more if I could get more. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks.

[@dragonmanmark]

Are black spokes chromium plate? If not how do they compare to stainless steel spokes?

[@gtranquilla]

Some of my straight length DTSwiss spokes are attracted to a strong neodymium magnet but some of the others are not or very slightly attracted. I realize that various types of ss vary in their attraction to magnets, I.e., 314 versus 316ss are just two of many. Have you experienced any such issues..?

[@BillMouldWheels]

Graydon, I'm currently rebuilding two wheels that I was shocked to see. They are Mavic carbon composite rims laced up to Mavic straight pull spokes made up from cheap carbon steel spokes that are rusting. Yes, rusting.

[@gtranquilla]

@@BillMouldWheels - great to know….Austenitic Stainless Steels Most stainless steels falling under this category are non-magnetic because they contain high amounts of austenite. Even though some of the metals like grade 304 and 316 have iron in their chemical composition, they are austenite, meaning they are non-ferromagnetic. They can be made partially magnetic through special thermal treatment or work-hardening which can form ferrite in some locations. This is why, austenitic grades display vary slight magnetism on any edge that has been mechanically worked, such as the edge of a sheet.

[@BillMouldWheels]

@@gtranquilla Thanks for all of that!

[@jackbeames7643]

Great vid 👍

[@justinkase1360]

Carbon steel is far stronger than stainless. Chrome plating can cack and cause problems. I would not want chrome-plated carbon steel spokes, there are better coatings available.

[@ismaeldelgado6615]

Than you!

[@RynaxAlien]

Steel is cheap crap. Titanium is much better

[@johnbarron4265]

Wrong. With titanium you're limited to straight gauge construction, which is inefficient at distributing stresses. Double-butted steel spokes on the other hand are lighter and stronger, and stiffer than titanium spokes.