Stringing machines you would not recommend

[superstition]

Are there any stringing machines you have personally used that you would not recommend, or machines you have personally seen others use that you would not recommend?

Blanket "don't buy this brand" stuff isn't what I'm looking for here. I'm looking for opinions concerning what specific machines should be avoided and why.

For instance, if you've used a machine that lacks a certain feature and would not consider buying it because of that, post about it. Or, if you've used a machine with a flawed design, post about it.

Thanks!

[iplaybetter]

this is a feature, not a machine, but i highly value 360 rotation

[Mansewerz]

Oh, this is also a feature. I would stay away from lockout electronics like:

silent partner Jive
a couple Mutual power electronic machines (forgot which)

low end Eagnas machines (mostly the electronic ones, not so good)

not trusted Eagnas machines

Gamma progression II (the one with flying clamps and 6 point mount, waste of cash IMO, save up for a better machine or get a Mutual Power dropweight for the same amount but w/ better features)

[superstition]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

low end Eagnas machines (mostly the electronic ones, not so good)

not trusted Eagnas machines

Do you have first-hand experience with these?

[Voltron]

Originally Posted by superstition

Do you have first-hand experience with these?

I'm not sure if he does, but I do, and yeah, they're pretty much garbage. Most low-end electric machines I've gotten to try have been pretty bad IMHO. I've used a few low-end silent partner ones as well (don't remember the names, sorry bout that) and didn't like those much either.


Honestly, if I had to do this all over again, I would have made sure my machine had these features: 6 point mounting, locking table (or whatever that's called) definitely fixed clamps, and certainly 360 degree rotation. What I got was an Alpha Revo 4000, great machine, but it needs a locking table.

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by Voltron

I'm not sure if he does, but I do, and yeah, they're pretty much garbage. Most low-end electric machines I've gotten to try have been pretty bad IMHO. I've used a few low-end silent partner ones as well (don't remember the names, sorry bout that) and didn't like those much either.


Honestly, if I had to do this all over again, I would have made sure my machine had these features: 6 point mounting, locking table (or whatever that's called) definitely fixed clamps, and certainly 360 degree rotation. What I got was an Alpha Revo 4000, great machine, but it needs a locking table.

Doesn't it have a brake.

[superstition]

Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone made a hierarchical (in terms of importance) features list yet?

[iplaybetter]

Originally Posted by Mansewerz

Doesn't it have a brake.

yes, but its a screw brake, and its the only thing that you can say against the machine

[Max Winther]

Originally Posted by superstition

Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone made a hierarchical (in terms of importance) features list yet?

For me, the list goes as follows:

Fixed Clamps
6 Point Mounting (or comparable 4 point)
Quality and Ease of use of tension head
360 rotation
Disc brake

I probably forgot a few features, but thats how I see it. Fixed clamps are a must for a consistent, repeatable job. 6 point or high end 4 point mounting is next because your sacrificing your frame if you have a 2 point. Not sure of the experiments and stuff that has been done on that, but I just feel better with my racquet strapped in a 6 pt than a 2.

To me, it doesn't really matter what type of tension head your machine has. All 4 (Dropweight, crank, Electronic lockout, and electronic CP) have pros and cons depending on your racquet volume and your tolerance to accuracy. What does matter is how well the tension head is made and if its easy to use. 360 and disc brake can be interchanged depending on whether your stringing on 03's a lot or if you want to cut down your stringing speed.

There are various electronic features such as pre stretch and knot tying functions, but that only involves a small share of all machines out there that a recreational stringer would need, so I left those out. If anyone cares to add a feature that I forgot, feel free.

[iplaybetter]

i agree that 6 is better than 2, but 6 is equal to or less than four

[SethR]

I don't understand how 360 table rotation can be on a drop weight? The racquet handle is always going to hit the weight arm? Not the tensioner, but the weight arm? The only way I can tnink is to drop the arm back all the way down after pulling and that takes more time and energy than you maight gain with 360 rotation.

[WildVolley]

To follow up on Seth's question: What is meant by 360 rotation?

Isn't the racquet handle hitting the tension mechanism the main thing that hinders 360 rotation?

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by WildVolley

To follow up on Seth's question: What is meant by 360 rotation?

Isn't the racquet handle hitting the tension mechanism the main thing that hinders 360 rotation?

Not on my swing. drop the arm, then turn

[SethR]

A lot of machines the tensioner is permanently lower than the racquet so it can swing over it and spin 360 degrees around.

Mansewerz, that is my point. Are you saying you lift the arm up? Put the string in and lower it to pull? Clamp off in the racquet? Raise the arm to release? Lower again so you can spin the racquet 6 inches over the tensioner? Then raise it again to start the process over again? Thta's assuming you get it level on the first shot and you don't have to go up and down 1 or 2 more times?

Wouldn't it be easier, faster and more efficient to keep the arm up then lower to pull, clamp off, raise to release and just spin the racquet the other way?

360 rotation doesn't make sense to me if you have to do 2 extra steps to make it work.

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by SethR

A lot of machines the tensioner is permanently lower than the racquet so it can swing over it and spin 360 degrees around.

Mansewerz, that is my point. Are you saying you lift the arm up? Put the string in and lower it to pull? Clamp off in the racquet? Raise the arm to release? Lower again so you can spin the racquet 6 inches over the tensioner? Then raise it again to start the process over again? Thta's assuming you get it level on the first shot and you don't have to go up and down 1 or 2 more times?

Wouldn't it be easier, faster and more efficient to keep the arm up then lower to pull, clamp off, raise to release and just spin the racquet the other way?

360 rotation doesn't make sense to me if you have to do 2 extra steps to make it work.

Yea but on crosses, my clamps are on top of the stringbed, so otherwise, the tension rod would hit them. Plus it takes like 2 seconds.

[Deck]

I agree with SethR, the 360 degree rotation is not that big a deal. I just received my Alpha Revo which I have the 360 degree rotation compared to my KlipperMate which didn't. The time difference is almost nil between the two machines during the stringing process. The big difference is the starting time with the mains. No starting pin is necessary and the fixed clamps have very little drawback compared tp the KlipperMate floating clamps. Of course the crank is faster than the drop weight also.

[hollywood9826]

It doesnt bother me to turn the racquet all the way around. I never did on my DW beofre and I cant do it now that I added a wise to the it.

On crosses my handle dont come close to the tensioner, I just swing it the other way around.

[Mansewerz]

Originally Posted by hollywood9826

It doesnt bother me to turn the racquet all the way around. I never did on my DW beofre and I cant do it now that I added a wise to the it.

On crosses my handle dont come close to the tensioner, I just swing it the other way around.

The clamps on my stringer would hit the tension rod on crosses because my machine calls for me to clamp above the string bed instead of over it though.