How to Tighten wooden wheel spokes

rhurst
rhurst Member
in "How To" - Skills, mechanical and other wise
In the process of removing all the paint on my wheels and found two loose spokes.
The wood is in good shape.  What is the process to tighten the spokes?
Robert

Comments

  • Jay_G
    Jay_G Expert Adviser

    So many people submerge the entire wheel in water for a day or two and let the wood take up the moisture.  This should tighten up the spokes.  Then let them dry out a bit and refinish.  Others talk about linseed oil, but I have never had much luck with that.

    My spokes were loose at the hub so I just tightened up the bolts around the hub until they were snug.

    Jay

  • rhurst
    rhurst Member
    Mine are tight at the hub loose at the rim. Wheel is on the car but I can wrap a wet towel around the two spokes that are loose.
  • charles4d
    charles4d Expert Adviser
    edited October 2019
    Maybe steam the joints with a steamer
  • charles4d
    charles4d Expert Adviser
    Also try rosewood oil swells the wood joints we used it in the furniture  building and restoration  business 
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    The wood spoke goes through a cupped hole in the inner rim. We found a socket to use as a drift to shrink the cup. We took the wheel off the car to do this. Soaking in water is only a temporary fix..
  • KEL 39
    KEL 39 Member
    Here is a tool used long ago with shims.
    May be you could do the same with washers modified!
    Ivan L.
  • RichardD
    RichardD Member
    Have used Chair-loc before..
    >> http://www.westernwooddoctor.com/chairloc.htm

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