Beginner stringing machine in Europe

[glpsace]

Hello everyone,

I live in Portugal and I´m absolutely tired of the poor stringing jobs I´ve been getting over the years. I decided to buy in the near future a stringing machine for my own personal recreation. I just have 2 problems:
First I don´t know how to string but I see around here that I can learn from youtube and so on.
The second problem and the biggest is that I´m very short budgeted.

So I guess a drpweight is my only option, because of price and because I´ll do it home and for myself without pressure so a manual machine is no problem in that department.
The problem is that I understand very little and ususally the ones cheaper that we can find here in Europe are the Pro pro´s challenge models that lacks on quality and everything you already know. Anyway I would like your help choosing between models that look almost the same but might have diferences in clamps and so on that might be better or not. Please advice:

http://www.keller-sports.com/accesso...orts-m-10.html

http://www.racquetsolutions.co.uk/St...hine/p-93-408/

http://www.escapetennis.com/boutique...lg=lg_fr&num=5

http://www.escapetennis.com/boutique...lg=lg_fr&num=5

Finally despite the much expensier Stringing machine, I have heard lovely things about this company and the quality of their machines:

http://www.stringway-nl.com/en/index.html

Please advice

[Zaphood]

Hi, I myself went through the same process what you are currently doing and ended up with the Pro's Pro XP-Plus. They are actually Eagnas machines that are branded Pro's Pro here in Europe. You can read lots of reviews of them on this forum and I have to say that the machine is very good for the price you pay for it. The parts are robust and no issues what so ever. I had a small problem with the locking mechanism of the base clamp but that was fixed very fast through the warranty. i ordered mine from a company in Austria called Arfaian (www.arfaian.com) and it was delivered within a week. Do consider this one as it really is a priceworthy machine. Good luck in your quest.

[glpsace]

Thank you for your answer. Indeed if ever to get a Pro´s Pro it would be from their website indeed. Regardless of which model with this company, general consensus is that you should at least tchange the clamps right away for better ones. Any suggestion? Do you guys know if the stringway clamps fit on the Pro´s pro machines?
I know the stringway is much expensier but the quality is first rate! I just don´t know if it is worth it for me since I would be stringing only for myself like once or twice a month. I was thinking of the ML90 (they gave me a little discount on that) but over 400€ makes me wonder if the 170€ Pro´s Pro challenger would suit me just fine.

[Zaphood]

In my experience the Pro's pro/Eagnas clamps aren't that bad actually, by reading this forum it seems that the Gamma clamps get a lot more heat than the these do. Anyway I have not had any problems whatsoever with mine, and I have already strung closer to a hundred racquets with them.

[glpsace]

Thank you for your answer.

From what I read, there are very mixed reviews of the Pro´s Pro products. Regarding the Challenger I, the main concern and problem are the fixed clamps which quality is sort of dubious. I was looking more inclined to Stringway because of the fabulous quality material used in their stringing machines (at least here in Europe), 10 years warranty and a great customer service (once again here in Europe since they represent themselves). But a ML90 (dropweight machine) with flying clamps (the fixed ones are much expensier) still cost me 435€ plus 42 Euros for shipping costs. A little over my budget at the moment. Meanwhile a Challenger I cost me 171€ plus 18€ shipping. So comparing prices... you tell me which is more atractive for someone who will use it exclusevily for its own pleasure and doing 2 or 3 rackets a month.
Still it seems that the Stringway (good quality) flying clamps can be used with the challenger I. And since we need 2 units and they cost 42€ each. Together with the challenge I is still much cheaper than a stringway ML90. That would at least solve the clamps problem. Is this a good option?
Did anyone uses Stringway clamps with the Challenger I? Do they go without problems on a diferent machine?
I´m really not sure whay to do.
Also, regarding stringway can anyone compare M90 with ML90? I guess the diference is the tension holder which favours much the ML90... but is it really worth the extra 50€?
Finally, flying clamps compared to fixed ones... how harder is it and how less convenient for someone who time is no prblem?

Sorry about all the questions.

[meowmix]

Have you considered ordering a machine from the US? Most places are willing to ship overseas if you're willing to pay the cost of shipping. And with the € being relatively strong at the moment, you might actually end up getting a pretty good deal by ordering a dropweight from the States.

If you do, I strongly recommend the Alpha String Pal. The machine (IMO) is the best you can get at the low cost end of machines. It combines the excellent clamps that you would get from Klippermate with an excellent gripper, that, IMO is superior to either the Cam gripper you'd get from a Klippermate and the Rotational Gripper you'd get from an x-2. Alpha also includes a set of badmitton clamps, and comes with excellent customer service. Best of both world. It comes in (when I bought it) at $139, throw in come strings, and shipping to Europe, and you should be able to beat any price you can get in Europe.

Oh, and as far as string times go and ease of stringing, don't worry about it. I'm not a very handy guy, but it took me about 5 minutes to figure the machine out. Assembly took me about 15 minutes. And now, after stringing roughly 20 rackets over 10 months, I'm down to 45 minutes a stringjob (no poly on crosses or natural gut involved, those take me about an hour). That includes cutting strings, mounting, stringing, and adjusting the strings in the end. And the quality of my stringjobs is very reliable

[glpsace]

I have in the past bought a few products from the United States and decided not to do that neveragain.

First the warranty won´t be valid around here, therefore any problem with the machine and I´m in deep trouble. Especially brands like Alpha that are not even represented in Europe. Second if using Fedex or any equivalent, they will charge mad costs for the custom paperwork and carrier taxes. Sometimes almost the same as the price of the product. Then I have to pay VAT and custom fees. If I decide to choose a carrier that doesn´t do the custom papaerwork it is a nightmare since custom in my country are so slow and little professional. Twice I waited 2 months to get the packages and not before I contacted them everyday, by phone, mail, fax... it was too stressfull.
So as you can see might not be a good idea at least in my opinion. But thank you for the advice.

I guess I will go for the M90 of SW with the triple and double flying clamps.
Do you think that a very cheap 200m real of co-poly is a good string for practice? (I would string and cut and do it again until I would be at ease).

[meowmix]

Oh wow, I did not realize it would be that complicated.

As for co-poly, you'd be better off not learning on that stuff. Polyester, whether a copoly or not, is a major pain to string. You may end up liking co-poly's, but I would recommend that you purchase a cheap reel of synthetic gut- something like Gosen OG Micro, Forten Sweet, etc. These strings are a lot easier to weave, and have a much smaller learning curve. Once you get comfortable stringing these, then you can start stringing polyester. Keep in mind that all strings are strung the same way, but polyester will present difficulties for a completely new stringer.

Note: you may still want to purchase the copoly, especially if it's cheap. A lot of people like to play with poly, so even if you don't play with it, you can string it for other people. But I would strongly recommend that you purchase a reel of a cheap synthetic gut to go along with that.

[sidzej]

If you go for SW, you won't regret at all. I bought ML100 in May 09 and I am very pleased with my purchase. It is an excellent stringing machine and SW flying clamps are great too (double + triple). I am stringing with Jaycee's method and it is not as complicated as it may look like.
I would also support previous post, do not learn to string with co-polys, but use some cheap synt gut instead.

[glpsace]

Thank you guys... Indeed I must have been very tired last night (time is diferent here in Europe... it was like 3 AM)
You are absolutely right. I have read many times that poly has its quircks and it is not easy to string well. Of course a Synthetic gut is the opinion I will follow. Now let me find a very cheap one... Its only purpose is to be strung and cut....

[glpsace]

Originally Posted by sidzej

If you go for SW, you won't regret at all. I bought ML100 in May 09 and I am very pleased with my purchase. It is an excellent stringing machine and SW flying clamps are great too (double + triple). I am stringing with Jaycee's method and it is not as complicated as it may look like.
I would also support previous post, do not learn to string with co-polys, but use some cheap synt gut instead.

That is indeed the machine I wanted but the proce was too steep for me even with flying clamps. Already the M90 was over my budget... but I said what the heck! Better to spend a little more now then in a few months
I have another question for you... did you got all the tools one needs for starting in this hobby? I mean to cut strings ecc... Or are there any tools that will surely be needed and should be purchases separately.

Thank you

[Zaphood]

I would still reconsider the flying clamps, stringing with fixed clamps tend to do a better and quicker job.

[glpsace]

Thank you but is mostly a question of money. I´m already stretching by much my budget and 100€ more just to change for fixed clamps it is almost impossible to me at this point. In the future I can always update if I really want or have the money to. But for a start I´m more than satisfied with the flying clamps idea. I have all the time in the world and pacience... I will string only for my own pleasure... and it should be fun. So I guess the harder it gets the more acomplished and satisfied I will feel in the end. Even if that means restarting several times at first and so on... that is why I plan to buy a 200m real of Synthetic string just to be strung and cut, and strung and cut... it will have no other purpose than be used for practice until I feel a little more at ease to be abble to string with other more dificult types of string and surely more expensier... money is always an important aspect of the equation for me... and tennis is a very expensive hobby

[meowmix]

^You might want to try hitting with the synthetic gut you string up, you might find that you find it surprisingly more playable than you think.

As for tools, the basic tools should be provided with the machine. There's an excellent thread regarding which tools you should purchase somewhere in this section- search for it. A starting clamp is a pretty good idea, but not necessary (I don't use one). A set of good awls are also a good idea, but once again not necessary (I don't have them). A nice set of stringbed cutters are also nice, but not necessary (read: I don't have them).

Heck, if you're just beginning and on a budget, I'd say forget purchasing any extra tools, and just use the ones the machine comes with. If you REALLY start to string in larger volume, then the tools start becoming a very good idea.

[meowmix]

Oh wow, just read in the other thread that you're getting the machine with the triple clamps! That decreases even more any need for fixed clamps- those floating clamps are the absolute BEST on the market, and probably have less drawback than most fixed clamps.

[glpsace]

Sorry, forgot to mention it in this thread. Yes, Swingway Netherlands (they are absolutely spectacular in delaing with your questions and never seen so much efficiency and speed in answering emails back... even today, Mr. Fred was working and answering all my endless boring questions) offered me the triple clamp upgrade for 10€ more. I think only I would be mad not to consider the offer... I understand little... but still... it is almost intuitive to accept such offer.

[andtapes]

Na minha opinião vc esta reclamando dos encordoamentos realizados mas com estas maquina que vc mostrou so vai ficar pior, porque elas não te dão consistência.Se vc quiser mais informações entre em contato existe opção de maquinas melhores nestas lojas.

[andtapes]

http://www.escapetennis.com/boutique...lg=lg_fr&num=5

http://www.keller-sports.com/accesso...orts-e-10.html

[glpsace]

Thank you for your advice. Nevertheless the options your are giving are even worse options. It is major known fact around here that those electronic machines are worse than a dropweight because too much variants can give you wrong tensions despite what displays in the lcd. I have found a very good dropweight with the best flying clamps on the market which is a feature even more important than the reamining equipment. I decided for stringway and still came cheaper that those electronic machines you are suggesting. Plus I will be abble to work with a double and triple clamps which interests me since I want to start with Jaycee method.
From what I read if you want to go with good electric system than you will have to spend real big money, well over the thousand of Euro, even a few thousands. Meanwhile people like Jaycee (a respected stringer in France) promises that with Stringway flying clamps you can achieve very similar results that professional, expensive stringer machines provide.
Just my two cents at the present time.
Thank you

[andtapes]

Originally Posted by glpsace

Thank you for your advice. Nevertheless the options your are giving are even worse options. It is major known fact around here that those electronic machines are worse than a dropweight because too much variants can give you wrong tensions despite what displays in the lcd. I have found a very good dropweight with the best flying clamps on the market which is a feature even more important than the reamining equipment. I decided for stringway and still came cheaper that those electronic machines you are suggesting. Plus I will be abble to work with a double and triple clamps which interests me since I want to start with Jaycee method.
From what I read if you want to go with good electric system than you will have to spend real big money, well over the thousand of Euro, even a few thousands. Meanwhile people like Jaycee (a respected stringer in France) promises that with Stringway flying clamps you can achieve very similar results that professional, expensive stringer machines provide.
Just my two cents at the present time.
Thank you

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