hyperion99
Semi-Pro
Cons of getting Eagnas professional manual stringer.
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?
Gamma and klippermate both have entry level stringers for under $200 new.
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.
In terms of build quality, Klipper is the winner. Gamma has too much plastics.
I'm trying to look for a stringer around the $500 range.
Any thoughts ?
eagnas combo 910, if you're considering an eagnas.
decent machine, but eagnas is not for sissies. be warned.
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
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.
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.
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.
I just remembered, it's been a while since I've purchased from Eagnas, ala Victor. I had asked how much to upgrade my base clamps, and he told me, $70 each, which I thought was overpriced. He then told me it's cheaper to sell my machine and buy another machine with better clamps. Victor is easy to talk to if you know his character, if you are going to an A hole about it then he will treat you like an A hole. I would do the same.
The base clamps I recently posted are about $100 for the pair, shipped form Austria.
Supposing if I'm going to sell my stringer what stringer would you recommend me from Eagnas?
Who is Victor?
Why stick with Eagnas? If they offered newer base clamps and such, why not, but they don't.
Victor is the General Manager of Eagnas USA, it used to be called Maxline. Most people when they call Eagnas, talk to Victor, an older Chinese (err Taiwanese) fellow with a heavy Chinese accent. Those of us who live in Los Angeles and have gone to the office to pick up products, know it's a small hole in the wall warehouse with a office in the front, with disassembled machines all over the place. It's been rumored that Victor is a close relative of the owner of Lily-Lee the Company that makes Eagnas and other brands. I think they also make Lobster Ball machines.
Gamma, Prince, Alpha, Pro's Pro, and Stringway, in that order.
The reason I put Stringway last is by usefulness. Though there are many loyal followers who would disagree, just like Prince Neos/Ektelon owners.
sounds to me like you need to adjust your base clamps, although I haven't tried to cipher how they become tighter and bind up, vs. becoming looser. Perhaps the cam/switch/whatever action vs the threads could that.
adjust them. use the machine, learn etc. then next go round don't stop short of Gamma or Prince. Anything more is just butter.
I hope you used thread lock on the set screws.
Eangas Plus 6500 owner