Wise 2086 - Tell us your experince

Nice....What kind of machine do you have it mounted on???
The only thing that would make this unit better, IMHO, is a "knot button". I'm down w/setting M2 for over tension for a "knot pull" but it would be cool to have a button to push that would pull only one pull 10% more. This rig definitely puts any machine w/a good mounting system and clamp base/clamps into the "shop quality" category but this one feature is something all shop quality machines have

I have a frankenmachine it's stand is gamma, it's turntable mount is babolat star 3 and tension head is wise.
 

wally

Rookie
Prince Neos 1000 + Wise

I've had this setup for two years. Bought the Wise off the big auction site and haven't looked back since. I did send it in to Herb Jan 2008 for an upgrade to the new whisper drive, cleaning & calibration. There wasn't anything wrong with the way it worked, I just figured since I bought it used a trip back to Wise for the upgrade and calibration check was well worth it.

I string for a high school boys team a few college level players and some private clients. Having the Wise when you're looking at a stack of 8 racquets is really a blessing. I can concentrate on stringing and let the Wise handle the tension. The hands free capability with the foot pedal is a godsend especially when dealing with some of the stiffer polys.

I'm extemely pleased with my setup, which has more than paid for itsself. Not sure I'd have the same ROI from more expensive setup
 
Last edited:

yanansi

New User
here it is mine
DSC00653.jpg
 

dgdawg

Professional
Actually, Herb knows what he's talking about. You shouldn't be using the machine to pull knots anyway.

I'm thinking you were referencing to my response to the fact the wise doesn't have a "knot" button. This is not to pull a knot. It's for your last pull before tying off. You press it and get the last pull @ 10% higher tension to compensate for tension loss when tying off. Virtually every shop quality machine will have this. I just thought it would be nice if the wise had it too. I still bought one with out it.
 

austintennis2005

Professional
I have 2 Wise heads. I have one of the first models that came out. It broke once, so I sent it back (fixed under warranty). Stringing with the old crank for 4 weeks got old. I bought another one (a newer model with the hidden string thickness adjuster). I keep the older one for my backup. Wouldn't go back to the crank if I can keep from it.



would you consider selling one of them???
 

rscottdds

Rookie
You press it and get the last pull @ 10% higher tension to compensate for tension loss when tying off. Virtually every shop quality machine will have this. I just thought it would be nice if the wise had it too. I still bought one with out it.

I'm sure it would be a nice feature for some people, however I don't even use all the bells and wistles that the Wise has now. It's set on constant pull and I just dial in the tension and go to town. I have occasionally pulled at the "lock out" setting to see what the difference would be for a particular string (when stringing for someone that usually has their racquet done on a lock-out) and have occasionally used the memmory buttons for the "knot" pull as mentioned above, but honestly it's not that big of a deal to increase the tension of the last pull by using the up arrow. All the other buttons collect dust (pre-stretch, pause, Kilos/Lbs, test, count and speed).
-Robert
 

dgdawg

Professional
I'm sure it would be a nice feature for some people, however I don't even use all the bells and wistles that the Wise has now. It's set on constant pull and I just dial in the tension and go to town. I have occasionally pulled at the "lock out" setting to see what the difference would be for a particular string (when stringing for someone that usually has their racquet done on a lock-out) and have occasionally used the memmory buttons for the "knot" pull as mentioned above, but honestly it's not that big of a deal to increase the tension of the last pull by using the up arrow. All the other buttons collect dust (pre-stretch, pause, Kilos/Lbs, test, count and speed).
-Robert

Yeah...Maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on this. I have a Silent Partner DG with a "knot" button and I always used it. I've used the second tension memory button on the wise a couple times and forgot to switch back to the orig. memory button and strung 1/2 the X's 10% higher tension than the mains. Guess that's my fault for being an airhead. I would be kind of neat if the counter feature, or another less usefull function, were replaced with a button that would perform one pull 10% higher.
 

rscottdds

Rookie
Yeah...Maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on this. I have a Silent Partner DG with a "knot" button and I always used it. .

To further the debate, I don't think there's much, if any, playability difference between pulling more tension for the knot or leaving the tension "as is". Consistency is the name of the game and as long as you string the same each time the playability will be the same.

I actually do pull at 8lbs difference for the knots when doing a one piece. The last main on the long side doesn't have a knot so will be at reference tension while the short side main will lose some "knot tie" tension. When I do a two piece I rarely pull a "knot" pull as both outside mains will be the same.

However, I'm not sure why I would ever need the "count" button so a "knot" button would certainly get more use. It would be a nice feature as long as it didn't increase the cost of the machine or make it less reliable (the more complicated things are the more they tend to break down)

-Robert
 

jim e

Legend
To further the debate, I don't think there's much, if any, playability difference between pulling more tension for the knot or leaving the tension "as is". Consistency is the name of the game and as long as you string the same each time the playability will be the same.


-Robert

I do agree with you, to a degree, but years ago, customers use to pull on that end main to check the tension on it, and they still do that today.
You may not see that when you return it to them, but I guarantee you most will shortly after you give it to them, so I increase the tie offs the 10%. Even years ago when I strung woodies on my old serrano machine in the 60's, I use to add an additional weight to the end of the weight bar, (I used a heavy hammer tied to the weight bar with an elastic strap), just to up the tension a little with that automatic drop weight machine on the tie offs.Now so much easier just to push the knot button.
It also keeps the end mains straighter do to the offset weave of the adjacent main.!
But I do agree there is no playability difference weather you increase the tie offs or not, but most people seem to want that end main tight.And it keeps the end main tie offs very close to the reference tension do to the knot pull back, so I really see no reason not to increase the tie offs, and the knot button now is very handy indeed!
 

wally

Rookie
I do agree with you, to a degree, but years ago, customers use to pull on that end main to check the tension on it, and they still do that today.
You may not see that when you return it to them, but I guarantee you most will shortly after you give it to them, so I increase the tie offs the 10%. Even years ago when I strung woodies on my old serrano machine in the 60's, I use to add an additional weight to the end of the weight bar, (I used a heavy hammer tied to the weight bar with an elastic strap), just to up the tension a little with that automatic drop weight machine on the tie offs.Now so much easier just to push the knot button.
It also keeps the end mains straighter do to the offset weave of the adjacent main.!
But I do agree there is no playability difference weather you increase the tie offs or not, but most people seem to want that end main tight.And it keeps the end main tie offs very close to the reference tension do to the knot pull back, so I really see no reason not to increase the tie offs, and the knot button now is very handy indeed!

Unless I'm stringing a hybrid I use an ATW or Box pattern to avoid the "sloppy" outside main problem. I've seen clients tug, flex etc the outside mains.

With hybrids I will up the tension 5-10% on the outside main or quickly flip on the prestretch on the wise (defaults to 10%)
 

dgdawg

Professional
Unless I'm stringing a hybrid I use an ATW or Box pattern to avoid the "sloppy" outside main problem. I've seen clients tug, flex etc the outside mains.

With hybrids I will up the tension 5-10% on the outside main or quickly flip on the prestretch on the wise (defaults to 10%)

I have also had customers (esp. new) grab the outside M and move it. One guy said: "nice, this string is finally tight" The wise is such a nice machine, the only thing it's missing, IMHO, is this knot button. I may be going out on a limb here but with a good mounting system, clamps and the wise, you have one of the most accurate machines out there. It would be nice to have this one feature that every other shop quality machine has. Someone should start a thread saying they want this feature and send it to Herb. (if there's enough interest, I'll do it) Maybe he'll upgrade if enough people show interest.
 

000KFACTOR90000

Professional
I have also had customers (esp. new) grab the outside M and move it. One guy said: "nice, this string is finally tight" The wise is such a nice machine, the only thing it's missing, IMHO, is this knot button. I may be going out on a limb here but with a good mounting system, clamps and the wise, you have one of the most accurate machines out there. It would be nice to have this one feature that every other shop quality machine has. Someone should start a thread saying they want this feature and send it to Herb. (if there's enough interest, I'll do it) Maybe he'll upgrade if enough people show interest.

dgdawg - I'm interested in the 10% knot feature.

I've forgotten to switch back the tension on my crank in the past and started the crosses plus 10% - very annoying and a waste of string and time.
 

dgdawg

Professional
Would be great for you guys to post your Stringer with the Wise hookup!

Post PICTURES!!

Pic's of my Comet 11/Wise set up.

Base clamps-Silent Partner/DG
Clamps-Silent Partner Aria/Opus
Mounting system, table, stand-Comet 11
Tension Head-Wise 2086

I'm going to try and send some to Al & get them on Photo Stronger. It's a nice set up. I've come to the conclusion that the Eagnas base clamps suck.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/DanRayk/DSCF2421.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/DanRayk/DSCF2422.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/DanRayk/DSCF2430-1.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o254/DanRayk/DSCF2435.jpg
 

rasajadad

Hall of Fame
I'm sure it's been discussed before, but I just pulled the trigger on a Wise and I wanted to share my experience:

I looked at the offerring on TW as well as the Wise site. TW sells the machine with free shipping, foot pedal and diablo as Herb does just the machine. When I called Herb to see if the website is correct, he said yes, TW is a very good customer and they can choose to give away whatever they want.

While he may have a great product, his marketing skills are lacking. I can't understand why you'd have to pay significantly more to go direct to the manufacturer. Plus he wasn't interested in taking the order over the phone. He prefers you order online.
 

000KFACTOR90000

Professional
I think it's the best thing he's done going with tw. He's got a great product (apart from missing a 10% knot feature) but tw is 1000 times better with customers :) and easy to deal with internationally.
 

LttlElvis

Professional
When I talked to him and was ready to buy, Herb referred me to his website to make the purchase also. I think it's great that TW is selling the package now. If something were to go wrong right away, free shipping back to TW no questions asked. From what people have written here in the past, you have to pay for shipping both ways.
 

dgdawg

Professional
rasjadad, thanks for the post.

Great knowing this before I decide to purchase. :)
drak & co.-I speak from experience, order your wise thru TW. I can tell you a very drama filled story about Herb and my 1st "wise go around". I'll just leave it at: If TW wasn't selling the wise and didn't assure me that I would never have to contact Herb Wise in respect to my 2086, I would not own one. KFACTOR9 pretty much nailed it. The smartest thing Herb ever did IMHO is to let TW sell his machine. He has a very remarkable product but his personality is in his a**. Additionally, the foot switch is a must have for poly's and the diablo is necessary to reduce pressure on soft string and, if you choose to raise your table for 360° rotation, which I recommend. The lack of a knot button sux. Ask herb about that & see what happens. He might use a comment like he use on me. Quote "you're foolish to think that is important."
__________________
 

Ljubicic for number1

Hall of Fame
I think it's the best thing he's done going with tw. He's got a great product (apart from missing a 10% knot feature) but tw is 1000 times better with customers :) and easy to deal with internationally.


They wont even send a wise internationally? Tried to order it 12 months ago and they flat out refused to take the order.:cry:
 

Ljubicic for number1

Hall of Fame
Yep, sounds like herb. Where are you located? Contact TW. Isn't there a TW Europe?


Sorry it's TW I was talking about. I ordered it 12 months ago when they first started to stock it. They replied with, we cant send stringing machines or tennis balls internationally. I argued that its a accessory and not a stringing machine but got nowhere.

I am in Australia, there is a agent here but he is a bandit and has over a 100% mark up on the US retail price.

Has anybody here had TW send one international?
 

000KFACTOR90000

Professional
Sorry it's TW I was talking about. I ordered it 12 months ago when they first started to stock it. They replied with, we cant send stringing machines or tennis balls internationally. I argued that its a accessory and not a stringing machine but got nowhere.

I am in Australia, there is a agent here but he is a bandit and has over a 100% mark up on the US retail price.

Has anybody here had TW send one international?

Maybe ask in the tw questions/comments section? Postage of $98 usd dollars comes up to Australia so on the face of it looks like they're ready to go.
 

rasajadad

Hall of Fame
I just received mine yesterday afternoon, set it up on my Revo in the three minutes claimed on the website and strung my first racquet.

Here are my initial observations-
The packaging / shipping container was top-notch. There was obviously some thought and care that went into protecting the product.

It took me a while to figure out how to start the mains as the racquet handle got in the way.

I love having the foot pedal! It makes the whole process of tensioning easier.
 

dgdawg

Professional
I just received mine yesterday afternoon, set it up on my Revo in the three minutes claimed on the website and strung my first racquet.

Here are my initial observations-
The packaging / shipping container was top-notch. There was obviously some thought and care that went into protecting the product.

It took me a while to figure out how to start the mains as the racquet handle got in the way.

I love having the foot pedal! It makes the whole process of tensioning easier.

Nice! Congratulations. If you want 360° rotation, go to the auto parts store and pick up a wheel bearing for a compact car. Slip it over the post under the table that slides into the stand. It works well. You can also use a thick washer or two depending on how much height you need. I find the foot pedal really helpful for polies.
 

rasajadad

Hall of Fame
Nice! Congratulations. If you want 360° rotation, go to the auto parts store and pick up a wheel bearing for a compact car. Slip it over the post under the table that slides into the stand. It works well. You can also use a thick washer or two depending on how much height you need. I find the foot pedal really helpful for polies.

Thanks for the tip.
 

l_gonzalez

Professional
Hey, does anyone know how much the Wise weighs with the foot control, diablo and all the packaging?

I might be be going to the States in a month or two and was thinking of picking up a Wise while i'm there, would it be too heavy/bulky to put in a suitcase?
 

dgdawg

Professional
Hey, does anyone know how much the Wise weighs with the foot control, diablo and all the packaging?

I might be be going to the States in a month or two and was thinking of picking up a Wise while i'm there, would it be too heavy/bulky to put in a suitcase?

Hey man-great idea. I don't know exactly how much it weights but you could stash it in your clothes easily enough. If you have an issue w/it, you're screwed tho. I know there's a British Co. that sells and services them but I don't know the Co name.
 

l_gonzalez

Professional
^^^ Yeah I deal with W@D all the time, buy tons of strings from them but depending on exchange rate i could be saving £100-150 buying it in the States.

I know it's a risk but i'm willing to take it.

I saved like £400 buying a Prince Neos 1000 from some company in California and getting it shipped over, and that was taking into account shipping and customs fees. I did get lucky with customs though, as the seller declared the machine as only being worth $100 so custom fees were negligible.
 

1012007

Hall of Fame
If you buy from the same company as you did with the neos, there would be more of a chance they would offer you a warranty and be prepared to ship it back to you if it did requite fixing.

If they refused to offer you warranty, surely paying an extra £100 at W@D is worth it
 

rasajadad

Hall of Fame
Hey, does anyone know how much the Wise weighs with the foot control, diablo and all the packaging?

I might be be going to the States in a month or two and was thinking of picking up a Wise while i'm there, would it be too heavy/bulky to put in a suitcase?

I'd say the unit along with the electric plugs, tools, and foot pedal comes to about 12-15 pounds. The packaging it come in is quite secure and makes for a bulky presentation. While it would fit in a suitcase, I'd definitely use the foam it comes in to secure and cushion the head unit.
 

Hankenstein

Hall of Fame
^^^ Yeah I deal with W@D all the time, buy tons of strings from them but depending on exchange rate i could be saving £100-150 buying it in the States.

I know it's a risk but i'm willing to take it.

I saved like £400 buying a Prince Neos 1000 from some company in California and getting it shipped over, and that was taking into account shipping and customs fees. I did get lucky with customs though, as the seller declared the machine as only being worth $100 so custom fees were negligible.

I can also recommend this company! They are really really good to deal with,, fast answers, have provided me a ton of help!
 

jagmeister

New User
drak & co.-I speak from experience, order your wise thru TW. I can tell you a very drama filled story about Herb and my 1st "wise go around". I'll just leave it at: If TW wasn't selling the wise and didn't assure me that I would never have to contact Herb Wise in respect to my 2086, I would not own one. KFACTOR9 pretty much nailed it. The smartest thing Herb ever did IMHO is to let TW sell his machine. He has a very remarkable product but his personality is in his a**. Additionally, the foot switch is a must have for poly's and the diablo is necessary to reduce pressure on soft string and, if you choose to raise your table for 360° rotation, which I recommend. The lack of a knot button sux. Ask herb about that & see what happens. He might use a comment like he use on me. Quote "you're foolish to think that is important."
__________________

Sorry to resurrect this older thread but I wanted to update everyone that TW will not deal with Wise warranty issues. I purchased my 2086 from them last fall. It just crapped out and they referred me to Wise.
 
Top