Spokes feature 10mm of thread at 56TPI (threads per inch). This is an industry standard irrespective of spoke gauge (diameter/thickness).
During industrial manufacture, spoke threads are always cold rolled – a process which forces the spoke material into its threaded form, on a microscopic level this causes the metal to flow into the desired shape which increases strength and provides smoother faces on the thread.
Spoke threads should never be cut to size. The following illustration explains shows the difference in thread diameter between the two:
How we trim spokes and roll the threads
We use a Phil Wood Spoke Machine – These are the most established spoke machines which produce consistent high quality results and have been produced since the 1980s.
There are processes that need to be followed in order to use and maintain the machine to keep it at maximum performance. As an engineer James Barnham has totally refurbished this spoke machine with over £1200 of new parts so knows about it more than most ever will. Photos of the refurbishment can be viewed here. The results speak for themselves.