Head torch would be my solution.I don't have much light in my living room, and I tend to string at night...
What kind of stringer do you have?Head torch would be my solution.
Would like to see more home made reel dispensers. I'm pondering whether I can build something that includes an auto-measure - perhaps clicks for every foot you pull or something.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Necessary depends on the person and situation... I could have made it smaller but I didn't feel is was necessary...Takes up a bit of space and not really necessary. But good job
Unnecessary. Just keep tidyNecessity is the mother of invention. Necessary depends on the person and situation... I could have made it smaller but I didn't feel is was necessary...
A RAB crank with Wise. I'm now waiting for you to tell me that such a contraption comes for free with the top end models.What kind of stringer do you have?
A RAB crank with Wise. I'm now waiting for you to tell me that such a contraption comes for free with the top end models.
Search for cable caddy or cable rack... Many reasonably priced ones available.
How about something like this for high volume stringers
While I'm all for building stuff... For something like this... Only if I have the scrap material around.
and if you want to measure the string as you pull it, it becomes awkward as you have to almost guesstimate since it would be difficult to have a measuring device at every location where the string is.
I use a 24' tape mesaure as I pull the string off the reel.
The typical racquet is 27 inches long.
9 racquet lenghts= 20.25 feet=most mains,
8 racquet lenghts = 18 feet= most crosses.
Easiest to measure that once racquet is mounted on machine.
This can be tweeked once a certain racquet is strung.
I have been trying to conserve strings too lately. When string starts costing $20 a set every string job you save is money in your pocket. I was brought 5 sets of a poly string ($15 set) yesterday to string. Rather than using that string I used 35' off my reel. 15.5 racket lengths plus about 3". I can then use half the full sets for hybrid jobs reguiring 20' and save another half set off the reel. If I end up just using the sets when the reel is gone it doesn't matter anyway. And If a fellow stringer wants some string I've got a set ready. For poly I prefer reels anyway less coil memory.Yes I do try and eek out as many racquets as possible out of a spool, but besides simply trying to be economical I really do hate filling waste can after waste can with string and in particular with new string.
How you measure string, of even if you don't measure and just use arm lengths, would seem to be simply a personal preference. I just happen to prefer an actual measurement and the yardstick with the hooks on the ends works for me and is relatively quick; particularly with my new setup. Per racquet I do record the length cut and will try and track down to 6" the minimum amount of string needed. Is it necessary...nope, is it detrimental....nope.
Yes I do try and eek out as many racquets as possible out of a spool, but besides simply trying to be economical I really do hate filling waste can after waste can with string and in particular with new string.
I do appreciate everyone sharing their preference, you can learn a lot on this board.
Okay, bumper tape... I never wanted to use it because I hated the thought of replacing it or peeling it off and putting it back on after the racquet is strung. So what I'm doing now is snipping the tape slightly 1/2 way across the width at one end, just to get it started. Then you can tear it in half along the center. Apply each half on either side of the string channel and after that you can keep the tape on even while stringing, or until it is beat up enough to warrant replacement.
I've taken to using bumper tape instead of using lead on the inside of the rim. I can use it across 12:00 position on the outside of the hoop without worrying about it getting in the way of the machine's mount. And the small amount of weight makes more of a difference at about 1 cm higher on the racquet.
Okay, bumper tape... I never wanted to use it because I hated the thought of replacing it or peeling it off and putting it back on after the racquet is strung. So what I'm doing now is snipping the tape slightly 1/2 way across the width at one end, just to get it started. Then you can tear it in half along the center. Apply each half on either side of the string channel and after that you can keep the tape on even while stringing, or until it is beat up enough to warrant replacement.
Cause the tape tears easily enough straight, where's if you use a knife, you may not always be straight and since, you don't have a smooth or straight surface, cutting becomes awkward and you may inadvertently knick your racquet. If you just tear it at the width you prefer, you don't need an exacto knife..
I suppose I had imagined the tape not tearing so perfectly down the center. Leaving one piece narrower and the other wider... with ragged/tattered edges, as opposed to a clean, sliced edge. But then again, I've never actually tried tearing the head tape lengthwise like that.
Anyway, it was just a thought.
You guys have done it already and know what works. I've tried neither method (as of yet), and probably will never need to.
If someone really wants head tape on their stick, they can put it on there anyway they well please.
It's already bad enough to have to handle that sticky, gummy stuff when a racquet (with head tape on it) gets dropped off (which, fortunately, is almost never).
If someone really wants head tape on their stick, they can put it on there anyway they well please.
It's already bad enough to have to handle that sticky, gummy stuff when a racquet (with head tape on it) gets dropped off (which, fortunately, is almost never).
I always want to charge them extra if I see they have tape on it.
Yeah, I've never liked head guard tape either.
Possible suggestion:
This MAY be an easier solution. Note: I have not actually tried this, but thinking it through, it's what I would do (or at least attempt) before I had to resort to cutting a piece of head tape cleanly into 2 pieces (or 3, if doing thirds) and then trying to put each one evenly onto the bumper etc.
How about this? With no strings in the racquet, put the single piece of tape on top of the bumper (the way everyone does), keeping the tape pulled taut above the string channel as you do so.
Once it's on there, the portion of tape that is directly over the string channel (and actual holes) will be "suspended" above the channel (and therefore, not actually stuck to anything). Next, take an Exacto knife/razorblade and just slice one long slit straight down the center of the tape (where it's being "suspended" above all the holes).
Now, when stringing, all the strings can pass through the long slit (going in both directions), but will then reside below the surface of the tape once tension has been applied.
Sort of like Head CAP grommets, but obviously much easier to pass through.
In my mind, just seems easier to apply only one piece (nice and centered), rather than cutting loose tape & then fiddling around with 2 separate skinny strips.
That is exactly what I do. Hard court players using frame that you can't get replacement bumpers for thank me for extending the playing life of their frames.If the bumper is worn down into the composite, I add tape to the frame of one color and a contrasting tape color for the top layer. Sell them the rest of the roll, when they see the base color, replace the top layer.
If you wanted to get extra fancy, you could also opt to use the Exacto knife to cut out the narrow strip that is "suspended" directly above the string channel (essentially making 2 long slits, rather than just 1).
Any thoughts?
Yeah, I've never liked head guard tape either.
Possible suggestion:
This MAY be an easier solution. Note: I have not actually tried this, but thinking it through, it's what I would do (or at least attempt) before I had to resort to cutting a piece of head tape cleanly into 2 pieces (or 3, if doing thirds) and then trying to put each one evenly onto the bumper etc.
How about this? With no strings in the racquet, put the single piece of tape on top of the bumper (the way everyone does), keeping the tape pulled taut above the string channel as you do so.
Once it's on there, the portion of tape that is directly over the string channel (and actual holes) will be "suspended" above the channel (and therefore, not actually stuck to anything). Next, take an Exacto knife/razorblade and just slice one long slit straight down the center of the tape (where it's being "suspended" above all the holes).
Now, when stringing, all the strings can pass through the long slit (going in both directions), but will then reside below the surface of the tape once tension has been applied.
Sort of like Head CAP grommets, but obviously much easier to pass through.
In my mind, just seems easier to apply only one piece (nice and centered), rather than cutting loose tape & then fiddling around with 2 separate skinny strips.
If you wanted to get extra fancy, you could also opt to use the Exacto knife to cut out the narrow strip that is "suspended" directly above the string channel (essentially making 2 long slits, rather than just 1).
Any thoughts?