Handy Tricks 7: Bike Mods and Projects

Step 3 Spoke Nut Screwdriver

This is the quick way to remove spokes.
Grind a slot in the middle of a flathead screwdriver bit. Don't shoot sparks into your eye.
Then spin the spoke nipples off the spokes with a drill just like Franziska.
If it's a rear wheel you might need to remove the freewheel to get the spokes off.

Save the spokes. In the U.S. they're often made of stainless steel and make good TIG welding rod etc. etc.

Comments

[dstras]

yah - safety first, no?

I want them to be resourceful and dig making/modding your own tools, _BUT_ I wouldn't want my students (or kids) taking shop tips from this -- lets model sensible tool use. Please. You don't need OSHA to tell you that this is not good practice.

[jwolski]

Be sure to use the safety guards that come with your tools. Those cutoff disks can break and send chunks of it flying. Judging by the sparks coming off of that disk, the pieces will fly right at the user's face.

As others mentioned, this is also an easy way to lose a finger. Please be careful people.

[harigast]

lose a finger doing this? that thing isnt a light saber. if anyone has used one alot you know that you cant really chop off a finger unless you wanted to.

[wrenchead]

CUT-OFF wheel on an air tool? Admittedly not as cool as a lightsabre, but you can seriously injure yourself.  They are designed to cut through metal which is a fair bit tougher than your finger.

Loose, they'll hurt and can give you a good gash.  If your finger is pinned between the wheel and oh, say a chuck in a drill, yes, you could easily cut it off faster than you can say "get a ziplock bag and start the car".

Just be careful, secure your work [vise, clamped to the edge of a table... anything] and wear eye protection.

[clipless]

Sweet, I was just about ready to do this. I'm building a set of wheels and I stripped one of the nipples. The problem is that the spoke is sticking through the end so I can't use a regular screwdriver.

[Ginge]

This looks like an instructable on how to lose a finger!!!

[IAMSatisfied]

Whew! I'd have to agree there... Tim, do you think you could put that in a bench vise so as not to tempt potential Darwin Award nominees? ;-)