Hmmm... Starting knot or starting clamp on crosses?

[glpsace]

For my limited knowledge (I´m not even born yet!) in the stringing craftmanship, I decided to give a go to Jaycee stringing method, 2 piece with flying clamps. Right or not, it seems to me the right method to start with my Yonex frames. First because I will always do 2 pieces and second because I will always start crosses from top to bottom. The only custom changes I will make for sure about his methos its regarding the tension diference between mains and crosses (Yonex work better with crosses 2 pounds under from the mains - Jaycee does the contrary) and the strings that he pulls 8 pounds higher, I will only do it between 3 to 4 pounds. Not because I do not agree but as I like high tensions on my frames, overgoing the adviced maximum tension by Yonex by 8 pounds seems quite dangerous on such sensible frames as the yonex ones. Don´t know if this will kind of ruin his method but I´m willing to give it a try.
I see that Jaycee, in his method, prefers a starting knot in the crosses but I´m not sure if a starting clamp wouldn´t suit me better. I would then tie this knot in the end by pulling it again and making a Parknell, obtaining therefore 4 equally done knots. But there is a logic behind this issue. Since some of the frames will be older as a R-22 and RX-32 and grommets are almost impossible to find, I´m kind of scared (also because lack of experience) about the damage that a starting knot (bulkier and making more pressure in the grommet) could inflict to those sensible plastic pieces. So my concern is not only a simplified task by using the starting clamp but more of an extra protection to the grommets that a clamp could give instead of a starting knot.
Anyway, what do you think? Am I crazy at all or dou think mt claims are justified?
Also did anyone ever tried the Jaycee method with a starting clamp instead of a starting knot? For those of you not familiar with his method here goes a diagram:

http://www.tt-stringer.com/files/Pt1...thod_mains.pdf

http://www.tt-stringer.com/files/Pt2...od_crosses.pdf

First link are the mains, second one the crosses.

Thank you for reading

[jim e]

As far as using a starting clamp instead of using a starting knot, I think the clamp is the way to go.
I use a starting clamp to start my crosses for two piece jobs, so all knots are the same as they are all tie off knots (the so called Parnell knot),and you would not be tying off on a main string and pulling tension against it, and when using thin gut or other 'fragile' multifilament strings, and especially at higher tensions, it is not uncommon to snap that first cross string right at the knot or at the two sharp turns the string makes, With using a starting clamp, you do not pull tension against these turns. The USRSA stated at the stringers symposium in Oct.2008 that they will be updating their recommended procedure, for using the starting clamp use to start crosses.Starting knots could be a thing of the past.

[glpsace]

Thank you very much for your post. Really makes it clear.

Now back to Jaycee method. I saw that beside the method described in the links above he have another method written in french where he doesn´t ties the mains at the end of the main job but he does it after weaving a cross. That is some sort of a diferent method. My question relies on the fact which method he adopted before and after? I´m not sure but I was under the impression that the limks I provided you are the latest "version" of his methods and therefore some sort of "evolution" of the one in french. Can someone confirm this?

[A Very New Stringer]

What are the benefits of the jaycee method over yulitle's method? I thought that jaycee's method left one main in the middle not directly tensioned while yulittle's method tensions all of them.
http://www.stringerspad.com/flyjc.html

[glpsace]

Now that I could see the diagrams compared between each method, you raise a very pertinent question that I honestly hadn´t see in my ignorance. I believe that Jaycee compensates the double pulling by increasing the tension aplied in those double pulls. I think this is indeed very debatable.
For me, I just realized that raising 8 pounds on a Yonex frame for those double pulling is not recomendable due to the sensible nature of those frames. So after analising closely both methods again... I guess Jaycee method just isn´t going to be working for me. I guess I was missing the relation between double-pull and raising the tension to compensate that. Damn! Thank you for helping me see more clearly.

[zapvor]

i use a starting knot and it works fine for me.

[topanlego]

I have never done a starting knot so I can't comment on that. Starting clamp is easy. Probably easier to tie off at the end then trying to figure out another knot.

Also, if practice makes perfect, on a 2-piece you would be doing at least 3 tie-offs. That would make your tie-off knots much more practiced and perfected than the starting knot. Might as well forget the starting knot.

[glpsace]

Thank you all for your answers.
Indeed it seems logical for starters to be abble to concentrate on only one type of knot (I feel inclined to use a parnell knot exclusively) instead of at least two. I agree with your logic. With so many variants and details in mind at those first attempts, if I keep it simple I will have more chance to succeed with fewer beginner errors. So, I will use a starting clamp and will for sure use the same knot reproduced in the 2 piece job.
Thank you