@LabSpokane You grasp it along with the nearest parallel spoke on the same side and squeeze them together hard a couple of times. This creates the overload conditions to plastically set the elbow and the spoke length. When a wheel is fully tensioned and equalised the temporary overload should only result in a slight elastic detensioning of the wheel, and not loosening of spokes and nipples, nor pringling of the rim when its circumferential stress limit is exceeded.

@azonenberg @MLE_online

@LabSpokane Not in my experience. I've built plenty of wheels with good old 13g plain gauge, to spindly DT Revolution spokes. There's nothing inherently wrong with thinner spokes in their durability if the wheel is built correctly. Too many people don't stress relieve the spokes after each round of tensioning and equalisation. That is what most frequently leads to galling, noises during riding, and eventual fracture.

@azonenberg @MLE_online