which cheap 1st stringer should I go with?

[aussie]

Originally Posted by WildVolley

I string on an SP Swing and it's a solid machine. Not perfect in all respects, but the clamps seem solid if they are properly adjusted.

For those of you that string on a Klippermate, how do you drop to parallel without a clutch? I've never seen a video of someone stringing with a klippermate.

To use the Klippermate, you just feed the estimated amount of string between the 2 string gripper jaws. The jaws then lock onto the string as you move the tension bar clockwise. If the rod falls below horizontal, lift the rod a little, and feed a little more string between the jaws and lower the rod again. Generally the rod is then at horizontal. If the rod doesn't quite reach horizontal, lift the rod and release a little string through the gripper jaws, and lower the rod again. Pretty simple process and works as well as a clutch system.

You get the hang of it fairly quickly. Yesterday I strung a Prince TT Scream OS in 50 minutes and I'm very, very pedantic with getting the tension rod to as close to perfectly horizontal as possible (not that you need to reach perfectly horizontal). If I was to string with the tension rod to be in the 1.5 inch range either above or below horizontal, I would take 15 minutes off my stringing time.

In short, the Klippermate will do as good a job as the other entry level portable drop weights such as Gamma X-2, SP Swing etc. And don't get too fussed about the 2 point mounting system of the Klippermate - it works well, is very easy to quickly mount a frame and I"ve never had frame damage on a large variety of racquets I've strung. The Klippermate clamps, as many will testify, look agricultural, but do a damn good job of clamping strings.

[TenniseaWilliams]

Originally Posted by WildVolley

I think they are essentially the same thing. Just know that there is no ratcheting feeling or sound with the swing.

I exaggerated the lack of space under the string bed with the Swing. While it is tight, you can do a push weave of crosses in one pass. I don't know what technique I was trying to do in the past. There is still probably less than 3" between the string bed and the bar that holds the racquet.

I would think the clutch would be slightly more accurate, would be possible that perfectly horizontal could be between two of the ratchet teeth. This is probably a small issue.

The lack of space would be more troubling to me personally. Especially on the last few crosses.

And I do like the Klippermate clamps. Easy to use and to adjust. Just not very pretty or impressive.

And there are some positive points for 2 point mounting, namely that it is much faster to setup for different racquets, and doesn't have the potential to block holes.

[Mansewerz]

I think i'll be going with the ATS super stringer

[ARNICOLINI]

I have the klippermate and its a solid stringer. Like the poster above said it gets to be pretty easy to adjust using the method he said. I would say that there is very little advantage to using a clutch once you get some experience on the Klippermate.

90% of your speed will come from practice and even then it will be mostly from weaving your crosses, being familiar with the process and the string pattern of the racket.

Do yourself a huge favor and do not worry about speed for 6 months but instead focus on technique and quality! Speed will only come with alot of practice. I only string my own rackets and I have had a stringer for about a year and I am at about 55 min a racket, I am not trying to break any speed records and my weaving technique is not built for speed.

I purchased the stringer to save $ and to be able to experiment with alot of different strings and tensions. Also my schedule makes it hard to get to a tennis shop during their normal hours.

Go for the Klippermate!

[spectraflamed]

I am going to go with the x-2 however it seems the weak point is the clamps. Would be wise to buy different clamps (Kilp sound like the best)? Can I use Klip clamps on a Gamma? Sorry if the questions are stupid but I am getting amped to get this thing in the next week or 2.

[Mansewerz]

I ordered an ATS super stringer today.

[Zhou]

Congratz on your choice. Happy stringing!

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by Zhou

Congratz on your choice. Happy stringing!

Thanks, but it may have been a bad idea. I'm ready to run through the wall cuz i'm so anxious to get it!!!!!!

[ARNICOLINI]

Originally Posted by spectraflamed

I am going to go with the x-2 however it seems the weak point is the clamps. Would be wise to buy different clamps (Kilp sound like the best)? Can I use Klip clamps on a Gamma? Sorry if the questions are stupid but I am getting amped to get this thing in the next week or 2.

You certainly could order the clamps from Klipper. Yes you can use the klipper clamps with the X-2.

[spectraflamed]

Well I got my stringer I was ready to buy the x-2 when I came across a hardly used SP Swing for a lot less than the x-2. Thanks everyone for the advice even though my thread got sort of hijacked by another member.

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by spectraflamed

Well I got my stringer I was ready to buy the x-2 when I came across a hardly used SP Swing for a lot less than the x-2. Thanks everyone for the advice even though my thread got sort of hijacked by another member.

did you find it on the bay?

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

did you find it on the bay?

any answers to this spectraflamed?