Wheel Building Issue

[planet x alan]

ive followed this guide to build a 3 cross wheel... laced it up, its only 2 cross. took it apart, tried again following it step by step (used common sence 1st time round) yet i still end up with a 2 cross wheel.... i cant work out where ive gone wrong....

any ideas?

[Tomm]

Are you sure it's not 3x? This might be a stupid question (and a bit patronising!) but the first cross is very near to the hub flange and it's easy to miss. If you put in half the spokes (The trailing spokes) then it's simply a case of putting the leading spokes in over-over-under the ones that are there already. You can't really go wrong?

EDIT: That's a rubbish guide, it's not nearly detailed enough. There's a much better one HERE or HERE.

[planet x alan]

definately 2 cross. but i think the other guides you put a link to should help. they look more detailed with pics... thanks very much. i'll have another go tomorrow as my fingertips are sore atm.

thanks

[Mark W]

Tomm's right - you can't really "accidentally" 2X a 3X wheel unless you really balls up, simply because you're counting the number of spokes you've gotta go over/holes around the rim to go, so it kinda takes care of itself?

If you scoot into the FAQ, I did a wheel-building guide in there that has a picture which describes all the crosses and stuff in detail, which may help.

EDIT: You may wanna doublecheck with whoever you got the spokes from that they gave you the right spokes for 3X and not for 2X, by the way.