2 Sets of Spokes - 16 inch

[otis71]

I haven’t tried the Caswell but I bought a can of Eastwood spray cad and in my opinion it looked horrible. Harleys heat resistant silver spray paint looked more realistic than the Eastwood. I doubt there’s much difference between Caswell and Eastwood.

[joe fxs fxr]

I know you guys are looking for exact, but doesn't the AMCA judging guide allow stainless spokes after bead blasting to substitute for cad plating?

[Iacovos]

I know you guys are looking for exact, but doesn't the AMCA judging guide allow stainless spokes after bead blasting to substitute for cad plating?

Good point! Thanks

[T. Cotten]

I know you guys are looking for exact, but doesn't the AMCA judging guide allow stainless spokes after bead blasting to substitute for cad plating?

So we should lower our expectations, Joe?

Askin' for a friend, of course.

....Cotten

[BigLakeBob]

They still deduct for wrong nipples I think. I remember a statement from Don D (past chief judge), about the nipples. His said he can walk around about any swap meet and aquire correct nipples. I agree, whether you have to buy a complete junk wheel or not, they are still out there. Re plating required probably. Lastest Palmers shows the difference I believe.

[joe fxs fxr]

So we should lower our expectations, Joe?

Askin' for a friend, of course.

....Cotten

Not at all! That's why I started the sentence the way I did. But this topic will be read by many people in the future, and I wanted your opinions on the subject to be known. CAD plating is getting harder and harder to find.

They still deduct for wrong nipples I think. I remember a statement from Don D (past chief judge), about the nipples. His said he can walk around about any swap meet and aquire correct nipples. I agree, whether you have to buy a complete junk wheel or not, they are still out there. Re plating required probably. Lastest Palmers shows the difference I believe.

Yes, I believe you are correct. If one were to go with stainless spokes from say, Buchanan, one would also have to file off the "B" on the spoke heads. So, this is just another way to make a bike look as it should.

[T. Cotten]

I know you guys are looking for exact, but doesn't the AMCA judging guide allow stainless spokes after bead blasting to substitute for cad plating?

So we should lower our expectations, Joe?
....Cotten

Not at all! That's why I started the sentence the way I did. But this topic will be read by many people in the future, and I wanted your opinions on the subject to be known. CAD plating is getting harder and harder to find....

Let's just say then, Joe...

The judges have lowered their expectations beyond "you guys".

Believe me, Folks, I'm all for faking it, and always have been.

But if it takes a loophole to get away with it, it ain't faked very well, is it?

....Cotten

[marksg]

Hey Joe,
They only accept the stainless if they look like Cad. Also all the stainless are the wrong thread for the correct nipple. So very difficult to fool the judges with the stainless spokes. The wrong nipples are easy to spot. I helped Don D at Daytona this year and we found most wrong rim, spoke or nipple. Full point deduct each wheel.
When I look at a restored bike and see the wrong wheels or even a wrong seat post, I walk away knowing it isn't a well restored bike. I love seeing when someone goes to the trouble to get it right.

[T. Cotten]

Hey Joe,
They only accept the stainless if they look like Cad. Also all the stainless are the wrong thread for the correct nipple. So very difficult to fool the judges with the stainless spokes. The wrong nipples are easy to spot. I helped Don D at Daytona this year and we found most wrong rim, spoke or nipple. Full point deduct each wheel.
When I look at a restored bike and see the wrong wheels or even a wrong seat post, I walk away knowing it isn't a well restored bike. I love seeing when someone goes to the trouble to get it right.

It should be difficult to fool anybody, Mark!

Much less the judges....

It used to be that bikes were judged to help them along the way.

Please explain if you are a judge, why you would walk away? Thanks,

...Cotten

[joe fxs fxr]

Hey Joe,
They only accept the stainless if they look like Cad. Also all the stainless are the wrong thread for the correct nipple. So very difficult to fool the judges with the stainless spokes. The wrong nipples are easy to spot. I helped Don D at Daytona this year and we found most wrong rim, spoke or nipple. Full point deduct each wheel.
When I look at a restored bike and see the wrong wheels or even a wrong seat post, I walk away knowing it isn't a well restored bike. I love seeing when someone goes to the trouble to get it right.

Ah, that's the problem. I thought you could use the correct nipples with the bead blasted stainless spokes. That's what's great about this forum - the education gained by an exchange of ideas. Thanks!

[Iacovos]

Hey Joe,
They only accept the stainless if they look like Cad. Also all the stainless are the wrong thread for the correct nipple. So very difficult to fool the judges with the stainless spokes. The wrong nipples are easy to spot. I helped Don D at Daytona this year and we found most wrong rim, spoke or nipple. Full point deduct each wheel.
When I look at a restored bike and see the wrong wheels or even a wrong seat post, I walk away knowing it isn't a well restored bike. I love seeing when someone goes to the trouble to get it right.

I completely agree with you Mark, I would go the extra mile to get it right! First I will try to find OEM and if this proves impossible, then get correct reproductions.

The reason to get it right is not for judging of personal sentiments.

Thanks also for the input regarding the spokes and nipples.

[marksg]

Sorry Cotten, I didn't explain well. Two different cases.
If helping judge, it would be a simple point deduction.
If I am looking over a vintage restored bike, I start looking for the wrong parts or more correctly I start noticing the correct parts. When I see that someone has gone to the trouble to reuse or acquire the correct parts (i.e. spokes, nipples, pogo, wiring, headlamp & proper plating) I spend more time enjoying the restoration. When the obvious parts are not correct, I usually walk on by quickly.
I am pretty new to this hobby but I have sourced the correct date codes for the rims I will need to have re-chromed as well as found the correct spokes I will need to have cad plated.
For me, that is the fun with this hobby. Knowing the date code on a rim that no one will ever see.