Eagnas Stringing Machine - Professional

[hyperion99]

Cons of getting Eagnas professional manual stringer.

[Faithfulfather]

Lower build quality and not so great customer service. Not a terrible machine if on a budget. A decent initial stringing machine.

[Davis Cup Fan]

Con is victor of eagnas customer sevice.

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by Faithfulfather

Lower build quality and not so great customer service. Not a terrible machine if on a budget. A decent initial stringing machine.

Thanks.

is there any other company that you would recommend for an economical stringer?

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by hyperion99

Thanks.

is there any other company that you would recommend for an economical stringer?

Gamma and klippermate both have entry level stringers for under $200 new. Both are capable of providing quality string jobs. Neither have 6pt mounting or fixed clamps.

[jxs653]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

Gamma and klippermate both have entry level stringers for under $200 new.

In terms of build quality, Klipper is the winner. Gamma has too much plastics.

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

Gamma and klippermate both have entry level stringers for under $200 new. Both are capable of providing quality string jobs. Neither have 6pt mounting or fixed clamps.

I'm trying to look for a stringer around the $500 range.
Any thoughts ?

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by jxs653

In terms of build quality, Klipper is the winner. Gamma has too much plastics.

The plastic on gamma machines is just a cover over the metal base, so Klippermate really has no advantage in build quality. The main differences with those machines is metal vs composite clamps and ratcheting vs non ratcheting tension mechanism.

Originally Posted by hyperion99

I'm trying to look for a stringer around the $500 range.
Any thoughts ?

How much will you be stringing ?

Alpha Pioneer DC+ is $469
Gamma Progression II 602 FC is $499

Both are dropweight machines. Which is fine for results, but probably a bit slower than a crank (lockout), so if you're doing 1-2 a day a dropweight is great while if you're doing 5+ a day you may want a crank.

If you are doing a large volume and feel you need a crank then you have to decide if you want to:
1) pay $650-750ish for alpha or gamma
2) Look around for a used Neos 1000 type machine
3) Try Eagnas (many people have used Eagnas without problems, but if you have a problem, people seem to agree you're up a creek without a paddle)

p.s. I've ignored electric tensioning machines because at this price range I think most people will tell you to stay away from them.

[Steve Huff]

I agree, don't get a cheap electronic machine. If you get a nice crank, you can always upgrade with a Wise tennis head later.

[hyperion99]

Thanks everybody for their opinions!

[jxs653]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

The plastic on gamma machines is just a cover over the metal base, so Klippermate really has no advantage in build quality. The main differences with those machines is metal vs composite clamps and ratcheting vs non ratcheting tension mechanism.

No, not only the cover, but isn't the tensioner--that round thing that bites string--also plastic? Also even some metal parts of the Gamma feels plasticky and cheap. Klippermate feels like far more dense, quality metal to me.

I like Klippermate tension mechanism better too. You mentioned ratcheting and non-ratcheting and I don't know which is which, but I feel both Gamma and Klippermate need more or less the same amount of adjustment/readjustment of string when stringing (it is just a matter of how used you are to the machine.) One serious drawback of Gamma is when you over-tension the string--that is when the bar is abve the horizontal position (yeah sometimes it happens); then you have to release the string to tension it again, and it is really a pain to release the string from the tensioner. You'd know what I mean if you had that experience. Klippermate has zero problem with that.

I like Gamma over Klippermate in one thing though which is that you use the hex screw driver both to lock the gliding racquet mounter in position and to hold the weight bar from falling toward the racquet. It is more convenient than Klipper.

[tbuggle]

eagnas combo 910, if you're considering an eagnas.

decent machine, but eagnas is not for sissies. be warned.

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by tbuggle

eagnas combo 910, if you're considering an eagnas.

decent machine, but eagnas is not for sissies. be warned.

Have you found the eagnas machines to be problematic?

[Lakers4Life]

Though most issues can be fixed, the most problematic are the base clamps. It's an old design, and when it wears out it's a PITA to get parts. You are better off getting new clamps. Even the screw type clamp are better in the long run. They do make updated clamps, easier to adjust, but Eagnas does not sell them. Like these:

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

Though most issues can be fixed, the most problematic are the base clamps. It's an old design, and when it wears out it's a PITA to get parts. You are better off getting new clamps. Even the screw type clamp are better in the long run. They do make updated clamps, easier to adjust, but Eagnas does not sell them. Like these:

Question I got an old Eagnas professional Stringer that I got a while ago around 2007.
My major problem is when I'm sliding the clamps up and down the racket the base of the clamps lockup on me. preventing me to move the clamp.
After several tries it loosens up.
I always clean my stringer like 1 a week and put teflon lubricant on the sliders.

Is that what you mean when the base of the clamps wear out?
Is this a problem with most swivel clamps?

Thanks

[Lakers4Life]

Originally Posted by hyperion99

Question I got an old Eagnas professional Stringer that I got a while ago around 2007.
My major problem is when I'm sliding the clamps up and down the racket the base of the clamps lockup on me. preventing me to move the clamp.
After several tries it loosens up.
I always clean my stringer like 1 a week and put teflon lubricant on the sliders.

Is that what you mean when the base of the clamps wear out?
Is this a problem with most swivel clamps?

Thanks

Not exactly, the base clamp will not lock completely when you move lever. It's usually a cam adjustment, but there comes a point when an adjustment does not help. As for your problem, it's binding, which can be attributed to the same adjustment, but if you loosen it, it might not lock properly.

There are two adjustments, a Coarse adjustment and a Fine Adjustment. The Coarse adjustment is the nut at the bottom of the machine. There are two nuts, the bottom nut (closes to the end) is a lock nut, and the other is the adjustment nut. The fine adjustment is the one inside the base clamp, that you access with a 3mm allen wrench.

Many of the newer clamps have the Fine adjustment screw on the outside, like the Gamma Switch Action Clamps.

[Fearsome Forehand]

If you do a search for Eagnas, you will find many threads like this. Although, it seems this thread is consistent with the others.

I think it boils down to how much you string. Are you stringing just for yourself and maybe a few friends? Or, are you planning on being the next Nate Ferguson?

For the casual stringer, I think Eagnas is fine. If you are a pro and will be stringing hundreds of frames, then go with Alpha or Gamma.

I have had several Eagnas machines and the only one I would not recommend is the Hawk 10, their cheapest one. The cam gripper tended to bite strings and the hold down clamps were marginal at best. But, for $89 or whatever I paid for it, not so bad. I upgraded several times and now have a Hawk 800 which is an upright crank with six point mounting and good clamps. I got a great deal on it used and so far, so good.

As mentioned above, the guy that runs the Eagnas warehouse in the LA area is kind of a character. I will say in my limited dealings with him via email, buying a few things here and there, he has been fine. But, he apparently does not suffer fools well and if you make ridiculous requests he will tell you to get lost. Sort of the opposite of someone like Mark at Alpha who is Mr. Customer Service.

If you want a great machine and great customer service ante up the $800 and buy the Alpha Axis Pro upright crank. If you want to save several hundred dollars and plan on stringing only for yourself, you should be okay with an Eagnas.

As far as your clamp problems, it sounds like you have to loosen the nuts on the underside of the turntable. If they are too tight that would interfere with the gliding back and forth. If the rest of the machine is sound, you could send the clamp assemblies to the place in Missouri for a tuneup. Name escapes me, but they have a good rep for servicing stringers. Tennis Machines? They are in the St. Louis area. or, you could buy new base assemblies from Eagnas assuming the clamps themselves are good.

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by Lakers4Life

Not exactly, the base clamp will not lock completely when you move lever. It's usually a cam adjustment, but there comes a point when an adjustment does not help. As for your problem, it's binding, which can be attributed to the same adjustment, but if you loosen it, it might not lock properly.

There are two adjustments, a Coarse adjustment and a Fine Adjustment. The Coarse adjustment is the nut at the bottom of the machine. There are two nuts, the bottom nut (closes to the end) is a lock nut, and the other is the adjustment nut. The fine adjustment is the one inside the base clamp, that you access with a 3mm allen wrench.

Many of the newer clamps have the Fine adjustment screw on the outside, like the Gamma Switch Action Clamps.

Ok,thanks a bunch!

[hyperion99]

Originally Posted by Fearsome Forehand

If you do a search for Eagnas, you will find many threads like this. Although, it seems this thread is consistent with the others.

I think it boils down to how much you string. Are you stringing just for yourself and maybe a few friends? Or, are you planning on being the next Nate Ferguson?

For the casual stringer, I think Eagnas is fine. If you are a pro and will be stringing hundreds of frames, then go with Alpha or Gamma.

I have had several Eagnas machines and the only one I would not recommend is the Hawk 10, their cheapest one. The cam gripper tended to bite strings and the hold down clamps were marginal at best. But, for $89 or whatever I paid for it, not so bad. I upgraded several times and now have a Hawk 800 which is an upright crank with six point mounting and good clamps. I got a great deal on it used and so far, so good.

As mentioned above, the guy that runs the Eagnas warehouse in the LA area is kind of a character. I will say in my limited dealings with him via email, buying a few things here and there, he has been fine. But, he apparently does not suffer fools well and if you make ridiculous requests he will tell you to get lost. Sort of the opposite of someone like Mark at Alpha who is Mr. Customer Service.

If you want a great machine and great customer service ante up the $800 and buy the Alpha upright crank. If you want to save several hundred dollars and plan on stringing only for yourself, you should be okay with an Eagnas.

As far as your clamp problems, it sounds like you have to loosen the nuts on the underside of the turntable. If they are too tight that would interfere with the gliding back and forth. If the rest of the machine is sound, you could send the clamp assemblies to the place in Missouri for a tuneup. Name escapes me, but they have a good rep for servicing stringers.

Would it be better to just buy a new set of bases/clamps from eagnas?

[Fearsome Forehand]

Depends on how much they are versus just having the old ones adjusted if you can't fix them yourself. Eagnas may, or may not sell the parts depending on how old the machine is. But, I imagine whatever bases they have are interchangeable.