[Flystagg]

I'm about to order up some new spokes for a wheel build, and I arrived at the option for silver or black spokes, and I have to say for this project I have no real preference, so....

Is there any appreciable weight difference between silver and black spokes, The spokes are stainless steel, so they have to be powdercoated not anodized, seeems like over 64 spokes all that black paint should add up to something, or are the silver spokes clear coated, and weigh the same?

 

[rockyuphill]

The DT Swiss and Wheelsmith websites list the same weight for black and silver spokes of the same size and weight for groups of 32 or 64. Silver spokes are bare stainless steel. You'd expect the black finish has to weigh something, but no one admits to it.

 

[Flystagg]

anyone have spokes laying around they can get up on a scale, to most this weight might be negligible, but if its going to add 10 grams to a wheelset I want to know

 

[mechBgon]

If I get a chance at work, I'll see if we have both black and silver in an identical gauge/length, and get this answered for you.

 

[mechBgon]

If I get a chance at work, I'll see if we have both black and silver in an identical gauge/length, and get this answered for you.

Here is the result. Weights are for 50 spokes. Yes, I double-checked to make sure I had exactly 50 of each, and weighed them several times to be sure the results weren't a fluke.

Weird, huh?

 

[rockyuphill]

Apparently the black ain't a colour, it's a dark matter coating that produces a negative gravity.

 

[Flystagg]

Thanks a lot, I guess color doesn't have a significant impact, and other variables from batch to batch play a bigger role. If anyone else wants to add more data, feel free, but I'm going to go order some black spokes now.

 

[lyndonchen]

Apparently the black ain't a colour, it's a dark matter coating that produces a negative gravity.

LOL