Slack in the mains + 2 other questions

Znak · Feb 19, 2019

Question 1
I'm unsure if I awake last night or not, but I was stringing my racquets up and was getting this weird slack/drawback, but only when doing the mains:

Question 2
A simple one, why is it whenever I lay out the finishing tape on my overgrip (or even replacement grip), it looks good when done; then the next day I can see it's slipped about an inch and has left a glue residue. Any way to avoid this slipping from happening? I've tried different brands of tape and always the same thing. I'm wondering if it's because I do it too tightly, but if it's any looser I get wrinkles.

Question 3
I have to store my stringer in my closet for space issues, but it gets really dusty really quickly. Do any of you have any DIY ideas for covers I can use or make for a tabletop machine? I remember when I was a kid, printers would have plastic covers and I tried looking up if those were for sale online, but they were too small.

Thanks in advance as always!

Irvin · Feb 19, 2019

Clamp string first then hold the base when securing the base., use a grip band instead of tape to hold the OG, use a pillow case or towel to cover machine.

Znak · Feb 19, 2019

Irvin said:
Clamp string first then hold the base when securing the base., use a grip band instead of tape to hold the OG, use a pillow case or towel to cover machine.

Thanks @Irvin I'll report back the next stringing if that fixed it. How aggressively should I be securing the base? 10 being as hard as I can, I usually give it between at 6-7 would you say that's too much or adequate?

Irvin · Feb 19, 2019

Znak said:
Thanks @Irvin I'll report back the next stringing if that fixed it. How aggressively should I be securing the base? 10 being as hard as I can, I usually give it between at 6-7 would you say that's too much or adequate?

I'm not sure, with my machine it takes very little pressure at all just don't let the base turn as your string draws it back. My machine has very little drawback also. You may also want to make sure the clamp is centered on the direction the clamp base will move when you remove tension.

1HBHfanatic · Feb 19, 2019

im gonna add to @Irvin comments
1 also consider cleaning your clamp rails clean, alcohol/rag, will go a long way to help
2 anything under tension will creap, try not pulling so much on the finishing tape
3 a simple cloth cover/towel/pillow case ^^^^^, etc will work

Znak · Feb 19, 2019

1HBHfanatic said:
im gonna add to @Irvin comments
1 also consider cleaning your clamp rails clean, alcohol/rag, will go a long way to help
2 anything under tension will creap, try not pulling so much on the finishing tape
3 a simple cloth cover/towel/pillow case ^^^^^, etc will work

Thanks for the additional tips! I do usually clean my clamps with a pipe cleaner on a regular basis. However, I'm not as disciplined for the other parts of the machine I must admit. Should I also be cleaning the gripper with alcohol? Good to note about the tape, I'll try giving it less tension next time, thanks!

Irvin · Feb 19, 2019

Znak said:
I'll try giving it less tension next time, thanks!

Less tension? Try no tension, you want to tape the edge then wrap it around without any stretch. The glue on the back will hold it in place and any stretching will tend to pull on you. Make sure you don’t touch or contaminate the end of the tape either. I quit using the tape a long time ago and now just use the rubber grip bands to hold the OGs.

Irvin · Feb 19, 2019

Grip bands https://www.amazon.com/Best-Tennis-...ocphy=9010791&hvtargid=pla-570858553825&psc=1
Wow what a mark up

10shoe · Feb 19, 2019

1HBHfanatic said:
1 also consider cleaning your clamp rails clean, alcohol/rag, will go a long way to help

Alcohol is not a very good solvent for cleaning the rails. A lot of stringers use a gun cleaning solvent called
Hoppes #9. Personally, I prefer a product called Oops! More readily available, smells better too. Use alcohol
to remove the residue of the solvent afterward.

jim e · Feb 19, 2019

I have used alcohol for years for cleaning rails clamps etc.
Works fine for me, but I use the 91% alcohol.

Arzivu · Feb 19, 2019

jim e said:
I have used alcohol for years for cleaning rails clamps etc.
Works fine for me, but I use the 91% alcohol.

Do use also use it for cleaning the string gripper?If so,does it need extra care?

apriliano · Feb 19, 2019

2. Not enough tape.

jim e · Feb 19, 2019

Arzivu said:
Do use also use it for cleaning the string gripper?If so,does it need extra care?

Yes, I use it for gripper, my machine has linnear gripper. All clamps and don't forget the starting clamp. I use a white shoe laces soaked in the alcohol, close clamps enough to pull lace through , then take can of compressed air to dry it out. Has worked for years.

1HBHfanatic · Feb 19, 2019

10shoe said:
Alcohol is not a very good solvent for cleaning the rails. A lot of stringers use a gun cleaning solvent called
Hoppes #9. Personally, I prefer a product called Oops! More readily available, smells better too. Use alcohol
to remove the residue of the solvent afterward.

good point, i guess there are better produtcs out there for this type of stuff
i use rubbing alcohol because its readily available

Karma Tennis · Feb 21, 2019

10shoe said:
Alcohol is not a very good solvent for cleaning the rails. A lot of stringers use a gun cleaning solvent called
Hoppes #9. Personally, I prefer a product called Oops! More readily available, smells better too. Use alcohol
to remove the residue of the solvent afterward.

I've mentioned previously.

I remove the rails. Let them soak in a tub of boiling water and a reasonably powerful dish-washing detergent for at least 30 minutes. Then scrub them with a nylon bristle brush and copious amounts of hot water. Dry them off. And final clean with Isopropyl Alcohol.

Do the same thing with the clamp bases from time to time as well ... especially focus on the bottoms of the clamp bases. Even when they look reasonably clean, it is surprising how much gunk you can remove from them.

Karma Tennis · Feb 21, 2019

Irvin said:
For a better price and selection check the auction site for ELASTIC RACKET BANDS.

Grip bands are too heavy.

Finishing tape doesn't ruin the specs of the racquet you have spent hundreds of hours customising in order to get ... JUST RIGHT

Karma Tennis · Feb 21, 2019

Znak said:
Question 1
I'm unsure if I awake last night or not, but I was stringing my racquets up and was getting this weird slack/drawback, but only when doing the mains:

This happens to me on occasion, especially at higher tensions.

If it happens a lot it is usually a sign that its time to clean the machine rails and clamp bases. (Sometimes a bit of grit or residue gets trapped between the clamp base and the rail and that will cause this situation)

Also try placing downward pressure on the clamp base as you lock it. That can help.

Znak · Feb 21, 2019

Karma Tennis said:
This happens to me on occasion, especially at higher tensions.

If it happens a lot it is usually a sign that its time to clean the machine rails and clamp bases. (Sometimes a bit of grit or residue gets trapped between the clamp base and the rail and that will cause this situation)

Also try placing downward pressure on the clamp base as you lock it. That can help.

Good point, this was mostly happening at 60lbs. When you say cleaning the machine rails and clamp bases, you're not actually disassembling anything are you? Just cleaning around?

Karma Tennis · Feb 22, 2019

Znak said:
Good point, this was mostly happening at 60lbs. When you say cleaning the machine rails and clamp bases, you're not actually disassembling anything are you? Just cleaning around?

My old machine is quite easy to disassemble. I remove the clamp bases. And then I remove the rails.

tennytive · Feb 22, 2019

I've had the drawback occasionally but noticed when I pulled the next main, the clamp moved back and was closer to the frame like it was supposed to be. I have an older machine and getting the base just right before locking down isn't always so easy. I use a large cloth cover over my machine and after taping the OG on my racket I use a black rubber grip band over the tape so you really don't see it. Electrician's tape works better than the OG tape for me.

Kevo · Feb 22, 2019

Karma Tennis said:
Grip bands are too heavy.

Finishing tape doesn't ruin the specs of the racquet you have spent hundreds of hours customising in order to get ... JUST RIGHT

LOL. I know some people are pretty picky about their specs, but that's taking it to a new level!

Kevo · Feb 22, 2019

Adjusting and cleaning you clamp bases should help eliminate/minimize that sideways drawback. It probably doesn't matter much though since that slack should be taken up on the next pull, but it is good to clean things every so often. You don't want full slippage to occur.

I get the thing with the tape sometimes too. It helps to trim the grip and finish it neatly so there's not so much bulk at the top where it meets the handle, but I've found the tapes that don't leave residue also tend to unstick. So my solution is to use the grip bands or a thick rubber band. It will solve either tape issue nicely.

I have an air compressor in my garage that I cover with some plastic bag I pulled off of something new out of the box. Can't remember what it was, but the plastic bag was the right size. So just keep an eye out for any old plastic bag that's big enough to cover your machine.

Slack in the mains + 2 other questions

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