DT Swiss Squorx 117mm Nipple Driver
A long driver for DT's Squorx nipples, used for the part of a build that is pure repetition: winding every nipple down the thread to the same starting point before any tension goes into the wheel.
What it does
A nipple wrench that fits properly is the cheapest insurance in wheelbuilding. A loose fit rounds the nipple, and a rounded nipple on a tensioned wheel means cutting the spoke out and rebuilding that section of the wheel.
Doing that by hand with a wrench is slow and, worse, inconsistent - and a wheel that starts with nipples at different depths starts with built-in error that has to be chased out later. A driver runs them all down evenly in a fraction of the time, so the wheel begins round and the tensioning stage is actually about tension.
DT Swiss has been making spokes in Biel, Switzerland since the business was carved out of the old Swiss wire works, and the engineering culture shows most in the dull parts: threads that are rolled rather than cut, tolerances that let a part be serviced instead of replaced, and spares that still exist for hubs sold a decade ago.
Fit and compatibility
For DT Swiss Squorx nipples. The 117mm length clears deeper rim sections than a short driver will.
How we use it at ProWheelBuilder
Every wheel we build is tensioned with wrenches that match the nipple exactly. We keep separate wrenches for separate nipple heads rather than forcing one to do everything, because the cost of a rounded nipple is measured in rebuild time, not in tools.
ProWheelBuilder builds wheels in Georgia and is not the manufacturer - DT Swiss makes this. We keep it on the bench, which is why the notes above are first-hand rather than copied off a box.
Warranty
DT Swiss's warranty. DT Swiss covers its products against material and manufacturing defects for 24 months from purchase, excluding wear parts such as bearings and tubeless tape. Carbon rims and carbon wheels bought new since 1 January 2020 carry an extended guarantee to the first owner against defects in material and workmanship, and DT Swiss runs a paid crash-replacement scheme on carbon wheels for up to ten years from purchase.
ProWheelBuilder. Our own one-year warranty is a wheel warranty - it covers wheels we build, not tools or accessories. This item is covered by its manufacturer, as set out above.
Full terms are on our Policies & Warranty page.
DT Swiss Squorx nipple driver questions
Is this just for speed?
Speed is the obvious benefit, consistency is the real one. Every nipple starting at the same depth means the wheel begins true and you spend the tensioning stage tensioning instead of correcting.
Will it tension the wheel too?
No - it is for running nipples down before tensioning. Final tension goes in with a wrench, by feel and against a tension meter.
Is ProWheelBuilder the manufacturer of the DT Swiss Squorx 117mm Nipple Driver?
No. DT Swiss designs and manufactures it. ProWheelBuilder is an independent wheel builder in Georgia that stocks it and uses it on the wheels we build.
Not sure? Text or leave a voicemail on 470-253-0929 or email info@prowheelbuilder.com — you will be talking to the people who build the wheels.
