A FIX for spoke threads
Here is a definitive anti-friction, anti-vibration treatment for spoke threads. Apply to clean threads like paint. Allow to dry, then build and ride, reaping benefits beyond the reach of other products.
Why FIX?
- Richer in PTFE (aka, Teflon) providing unmatched friction reduction especially important for thin spokes and high tension. Less friction = less windup = more accuracy = less effort = faster builds = better wheels.
- When dried, its rubbery texture is less crusty.
- Anti-vibration thread friction is very low but permanent even after adjustments.
- No ammonia—better for nose and environment. Water based.
- Easy to speed cure with a heat gun.
- Compatible with all lubes needed between nipple and rim and to resist nipple surface corrosion.
Available in 15, 30, and 60ml bottles with instructions. For OE quantities, please inquire. 15ml fixes about 75 wheels, 30ml~150 wheels, and 60ml~300. Each bottle comes with a handy York tip that, if clogged, can be easily cleared with a spoke. We use LPDE extra soft bottles for easy dispensing.
Each experienced builder prefers a particular spoke thread treatment. For many, FIX is the hands-down best and yields the most luxurious and effective building experience. Imagine nipple adjustment at high tension with a smooth, almost hydraulic feeling.
High performance and heavily used bicycle wheels need nipple thread treatments. Here are some popular thread solutions and considerations.
For many experienced users. pro’s outweigh the con’s for each of these methods, There is certainly no best way to address the challenges of corrosion resist, building friction, and vibration loosening. If you, like me, prefer FIX, then you are willing to master its application so it does not add excess time. It offers the pleasure of super low thread friction, compatibility with any lubrication before or during the build. Once you have been spoiled, it’s hard to go back to any other thread treatment.
The chart below shows the relationship between nipple friction and spoke tension. For the sake of discussion, only 3 curves are showed— a FIX coated thread, an oiled thread, and an oiled and Loctite treated thread. Granted, this chart is not literal but it’s meant to convey a relationship.
A wheel needs some (hopefully small) friction at zero tension to resist vibration induced loosening. However friction should be as low as possible in the rest of the tension range, especially the tensions encountered in building.
You can see how a FIX treated wheel would be a delight to build and easy to adjust even at finished tensions. I trust your choice for wheelbuilding thread treatment, but maybe it’s time you tried another idea!
Click here to download a users guide.
Hello Ric, First of all, thank you for the awesome resource that both you and this website are for the wheelbuilding community. Secondly, as a long time user of spoke prep, how is this product different in terms of application? One of the drawbacks I’ve seen with spoke prep is that having too thick a coat of it on the threads can cause wind up, and the somewhat tedious process I’ve come to using to apply it to avoid that wind up. Does this product allow for a quicker, “sloppier” application, that would still give all the benefits, and avoid wind up at the same time? Mainly I’m wondering if this could speed up my building process (the way, for example, your nipple shuffler has) without hurting the build, or better yet, make for a better build. Thank you again.
Hi Jack, We each build differently so only a hands-on test will fully answer your questions. FIX is more flexible, rubbery, so too much is a smaller problem. I have not really tested sloppy application but assume (until more users report) that it is more application friendly.
How does this compare to Wheel Fanatyk CLEAR building oil?
I use CLEAR and FIX, soaking nipples and coating spokes prior to lacing. Others use CLEAR and a post-build application of wicking Loctite (220, 290, Spokefreeze, etc). Or one can use CLEAR with a locking nipple like DT Pro Lock or Sapim Secure Lock. Use a combination that you’ve tested and find easy to do.
Ric,
Question regarding spoke cleaning. I just received my bottle of purple goodness and haven’t had a chance to use it yet but read that it’s suggested to do a double dip between Paint Thinner then Acetone to clean the threads prior to application of Fix. Has there been any testing done with using White Lightning’s Clean Streak as a one-step cleaner? That is what I used to do prior to using Spoke Prep.
Also read about pouring a little into the tin lid from bottle and dipping spokes in the puddle. This is a bit different from what I recieved, plastic bottle with applicator type lid. Is it easier to still do the puddle dip of a group of spokes or is the applicator tip used to apply Fix to each spoke individually, which would lengthen the overall application time, I’d imagine? I know that YMMV, i’m just curious if this new bottle/applicator was seen as an upgrade in use or a cost cutting move from glass/tin vessel.
Thanks Ric, looking forward to using this, along with my new Height Gauge Tool for hub measuring.
The cleaning method I describe was devised to avoid contamination. Guaranteed works. Anything else must be tested, validated, etc. and I guess you need to for another strategy. The flexible bottle with spout is very convenient. I like it much better than dipping in a puddle. Hold spokes all even in one hand, dribble a tiny bit of FIX on the threads, roll the spokes gently and watch FIX rise up. When more than half of threads are coated, you’re done. Once you tried smaller numbers, you’ll be confident coating many at a time. It takes a surprisingly small amount of FIX.
what is the shelf life of fix , does it dray out in the bottle ?
Hi Brice, hope all’s budding out your way. The principle ingredients have stated shelf life of a few years. I’ve had it bottled for over 8yrs with no apparent change. Water soluble, so storage must be airtight. The most complex ingredient is stated to prefer storage above 40F and below 85F. I never sought that but it’s probably been the case. On the spoke the life is indefinite. Like a good exterior paint (it’s not, just similar) only UV is going to try and break it down. Hope that helps.
Hi Ric. I read your Fix use guide and had a question on applying Fix. What is the correct quantity to have on the spokes? I build a few wheels from time to time for friends and family, so speed isn’t my main objective, and I’ve been using a method that conserves treatment. Basically I stretch a scrap piece of inner tube over the opening and poke a small hole in it. Each spoke gets inserted and removed which scrapes off the spoke treatment from smooth surfaces and leaves the threads filled. Would this leave too little Fix on each spoke? It’s slow, but clean and there’s no cleanup at the end which meets my needs provided I’m using enough Fix to be effective. Thanks for your help!
There’s no approved amount, testing is easy. Try it on spokes and nipples out of a wheel. Usually, enough to fill the thread valleys but not hide the peaks is sufficient, on at least 1/2 of threads. Surface tension makes it spread over a small group of spokes held tightly with threads aligned, and then some slight movement. Your system sound great but I’m pretty sure I go faster just putting a drop or two on a few spokes held snuggly and rolled a bit.