Help me choose - Australian limitation >.>

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stephenclown

Professional
Hopefully someone can help me choose a stringer that is both good for a beginner and has the option to be upgraded into the future if I decide to do more stringing for others in the area. This I guess is better if it can be fixed with electronic tensioner from wise/etc. I also chose to exclude floating clamps due to the potential to be stringing more racquets for some cash on the side.

I can't find Alpha in Australia - but I think spinfire are more than likely a subsidiary/partner due to basically the same machines being sold here under different paint jobs.

All prices in AUD

Gamma Progression II 602 FC - $795 (dropweight)
Gamma Progression ST II - $1295 (crank)
Spinfire Flame - $795 (dropweight - Pioneer DC Plus rebrand?)
Spinfire Inferno - $1100 (crank - Alpha 4000 rebrand?)

I don't think the gamma crank can be justified for an extra $500 AUD. Do you think it is worth $300 for the Spinfire crank option?

I am pretty sure all 4 of these options fit a Wise tension head.
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
One vote for the Gamma PII 602 FC. And yes, I believe all of your options can be retrofitted with a WISE.
AFA the Spinfire machines, are they shipped from China? because there is a factory there that seems to make the Alpha machines. Warranty is what's important, so that's why I said Gamma. I think you can also upgrade the FC if needed. 3¢
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
esgee48 said:
One vote for the Gamma PII 602 FC. And yes, I believe all of your options can be retrofitted with a WISE.
AFA the Spinfire machines, are they shipped from China? because there is a factory there that seems to make the Alpha machines. Warranty is what's important, so that's why I said Gamma. I think you can also upgrade the FC if needed. 3¢
Click to expand...

Oh I thought the Alphas were out of Taiwan in the past? Guess china is cheaper these days anyway. Spinfire has 2 year warranty.

Just spoke with Spinfire directly and they are indeed manufactured in China and he couldn't confirm if they are rebranded Alpha as the other guy wasn't in today. Said he had a feeling the better ones were virtually Alpha machines (specifically mentioned the inferno) and they probably all come out of the same factory.

Gamma could be the best option and the PII 603FC seems like it is reasonably priced as well. Parts probably easier to obtain and probably higher tolerances in manufacturing process as they are well known.
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
Well actually the other brand around the 2 prices seems to be AEF Flyer 200 - $625

this seems like another one from the same factory - very close to the Alpha/Spinfire but 1 year warranty and different build in between the fixed clamps

Edit* Doubt I will go for AEF at all, seems a little too risky.

One thing that I did check though is that the Spinfire does have linear gripping and I will be doing natural gut hybrids. In this instance would the spinfire be better than Gamma due to its rotational gripping?

I may just purchase an Alpha REVO 4000 from the US for 1200 inc shipping. Still 100 cheaper than the crank Gamma here and it seems like it is favoured for quality :)
 
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C

ctn

New User
You can pick up the Spinfire Flame on the bay for AUD $675 with the current 15% off sale from TWA bay store. Spinfire Inferno is AUD $935.

I picked up the Flame with the 18% off sale few weeks ago.

I was also considering the AEF Flyer 200 but if you look closely, it uses different base, clamps, gripper etc.
 
Tennis_dude101

Tennis_dude101

Professional
stephenclown said:
One thing that I did check though is that the Spinfire does have linear gripping and I will be doing natural gut hybrids. In this instance would the spinfire be better than Gamma due to its rotational gripping?
Click to expand...
I string natural gut with my Pro Stringer(rotational gripper) without issue so you shouldn't have a problem. I've never strung with a linear gripper so can't comment on that.


TD
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Gamma's ELS stringer uses a rotation gripper. I don't think it matters so long as the string does not slip there when you are applying tension. Linear grippers can be adjusted for pressure whereas rotational ones cannot. When stringing gut, just be careful not to place the same piece of string in the gripper multiple times.
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
ctn said:
You can pick up the Spinfire Flame on the bay for AUD $675 with the current 15% off sale from TWA bay store. Spinfire Inferno is AUD $935.

I picked up the Flame with the 18% off sale few weeks ago.

I was also considering the AEF Flyer 200 but if you look closely, it uses different base, clamps, gripper etc.
Click to expand...

I was looking at the Spinfire machines but not quite sure about their build quality and ongoing support, 2 years is a bit low. I won't be buying for a little while, just making sure I make the best decision possible.

I was thinking that Alpha were probably the best after the bay sale as its only $100 more than the Spinfire crank but looks like it may be slightly better tolerances out of the factory. 935 for the inferno is pretty damn good.
 
C

ctn

New User
I'm fairly happy with the build quality of the Flame. I think it comes out from the same factory as the Alpha.
Alpha has a ratchet on the dropweight, Flame does not. That's about the only difference I can see visually.
If you get it from the bay, don't forget cashrewards for more discount :) knocks another 1.25% off the price.
I paid around AUD $635 for the Flame after discounts.
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
Imago said:
Try contacting Siboasi
http://www.siboasiballmachine.com/stringing-machine-1/

I bought a tennis ball machine from them and the support was fabulous. Friday spoke to them and explained the problem - the spare part was delivered to me on Monday. From China to Bulgaria!
Click to expand...

I just looked at their machines on youtube. They look to be really high quality and their electronic machine is a wrap around tensioner.

Are you happy with their machine?

Also what was the pricing and which tennis ball machine did you buy? They look like really good quality and they have dual band feeding, so that is really good!
 
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Imago

Imago

Hall of Fame
stephenclown said:
Are you happy with their machine?

Also what was the pricing and which tennis ball machine did you buy? They look like really good quality and they have dual band feeding, so that is really good!
Click to expand...

Looks like 2015, remote control is more like 4015. Always with me.

court16.jpg
 
Crisp

Crisp

Professional
I can confirm the spinfire machines are in fact made at same factory as alpha machines. I have a furnace or ghost 2 if purchased fromalpha. Who am I to confirm.... Just a person who did a hell of alot of research before purchasing furnace.
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
Crisp said:
I can confirm the spinfire machines are in fact made at same factory as alpha machines. I have a furnace or ghost 2 if purchased fromalpha. Who am I to confirm.... Just a person who did a hell of alot of research before purchasing furnace.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, they do look the same, I am sure they are also good :)

I think I like the look of those Siboasi more, the store on alibaba has done a lot of sales so it looks reputable. 5m or so revenue per year and 20k transactions in the last 6 months. They specialise heavily in ball machines and stringers so it seems like they have history there. very high quality by the looks of it watching on youtube. Very smooth operation and seems to work really well with the tension head.

Was quoted 2k delivered for their 2nd top model. 1200 delivered for their tabletop electronic. I will probably go the 2k one by saving in the next few months. Then i will be stringing in the area as a goal to earn more cash as well.

2 year warranty on electronic is fine and I want to always try new things. Risks are often fun :)

Do they look good?
 
Crisp

Crisp

Professional
I contemplated this option the siboasi but in the end stayed safe with a "home" brand. Hope it works out for you as it is significantly safer than paying a big brand price
 
S

stephenclown

Professional
Crisp said:
I contemplated this option the siboasi but in the end stayed safe with a "home" brand. Hope it works out for you as it is significantly safer than paying a big brand price
Click to expand...

They look legitimate imo. They arent as cheap as pros pro and they look significantly better. 2 year warranty is fine I think. Its 1 year free replace on everything. They also dont have the excessive markup of pros pro / eagnas as they are a manufcaturer themselves and service the chinese industry mainly.

I am hoping it is a good risk. If it does 100 strings it pays for itself. Am hoping to get customers and doing 10-30 per week. Thats my goal!
 
Imago

Imago

Hall of Fame
stephenclown said:
Was quoted 2k delivered for their 2nd top model. 1200 delivered for their tabletop electronic. I will probably go the 2k one by saving in the next few months.
Click to expand...

I would not pay $800 for stand table - if there is no other difference between the two models.
 
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