Starting clamp. How important is it?

scf · May 22, 2017

I'm totally noob in stringing. Just have done some reading/watching and ordered a stringway ML100 with flying clamps. The thing is not clear to me is do I need an additional (starting) clamp? I guess that it's not a must, but can make the job easier. So what do I miss if I don't have it? What can I do and what can't without it?

Irvin · May 22, 2017

How can you miss something you have never had? You can string without it.

scf · May 22, 2017

By what do I miss I meant what is not possible to do without it

MAX PLY · May 22, 2017

Get a starting clamp. End of thread.

Anton H · May 22, 2017

I find starting my mains without a starting clamp is annoying cause you can have issues of one clamp being in the way of the other. If you string with fly clamps you even have issues of part of the string not being put under tension. Also you need at least one starting clamp to be able to do an around the world string job. The start clamp can also help you pull tension on a string that is to short to reach the tensioner cause you can use a trick to clamp your string and use a separate string from the clamp to the tensioner. Some people tie two strings together to do this my i find that i often snap a string if i try that.

to quote MAX PLY. Buy a starting clamp. Now end of thread.

lwto · May 22, 2017

It's kind of like cooking with a pan, you don't need a handle to cook with, but a handle comes in very handy.

Rabbit · May 22, 2017

Simply put, before I got one I didn't know why I'd want one and after I got one, I didn't know how I strung without one. I now have 4, one Gamma, two Babolat (an older blue version and a brand new last gen one), and my favorite a GSS knock off of an old Babolat (which sadly you can't get any more).

scf · May 22, 2017

The best reply award goes to Rabbit

struggle · May 22, 2017

Get two.

jim e · May 22, 2017

struggle said:
Get two.

Actually the 3rd is the charm.

chrisingrassia · May 22, 2017

MAX PLY said:
Get a starting clamp. End of thread.

No kidding

So much litter on this site.

Irvin · May 22, 2017

scf said:
I'm totally noob in stringing. Just have done some reading/watching and ordered a stringway ML100 with flying clamps. The thing is not clear to me is do I need an additional (starting) clamp? I guess that it's not a must, but can make the job easier. So what do I miss if I don't have it? What can I do and what can't without it?

Let's assume your starting the mains on you ML100. The owners manual says to clamp the two center mains at the starting end near the frame and double pull the second and first mains on one side. Then the clamp is placed on the first and second main but a few inches away from the frame. What tension do you think that results in for the first and second main? They will not the the same and the closer the clamp are to the frame the better off you would be.

No suppose you had a starting clamp. To start you mains clamp the two center mains in the center with a flying clamp. Then tension the first main at let's say 56 lbs. now you can use the starting clamp to hold the string you tensioned outside the frame. Before going any further how much tension is on the two center mains? 56 lbs between the starting clamp and the flying clamp (minus a little friction loss) and 1/2 of 56 lbs on the two sections of string above above the clamp or 28 lbs.

Now you tension the other center main. Move the clamp from the center of the strings down to the frame and clamp the strings. How much tension is now on both center mains? 56 lbs and there is not a clamp inside the frame interfering with you clamping right up against the frame. You can continue from this point any you should not ever have two clamps staggered because of space.

Something you'll never think about if you never had a starting clamp. A starting clamp is like a third hand. So you're having a lot of trouble keeping up with the end of your string and you have to keep hunting for it. You want to speed up you tine so you starting holding the end of the string. Then it gets caught on something and pulled out of your hand. Start hunting. If you had a starting clamp clamp the end and lay it on the stringer table. Then there's all the other good reasons that have been talked about a gazillion tines.

scf · May 22, 2017

Irvin said:
Let's assume your starting the mains on you ML100. The owners manual says to clamp the two center mains at the starting end near the frame and double pull the second and first mains on one side. Then the clamp is placed on the first and second main but a few inches away from the frame. What tension do you think that results in for the first and second main? They will not the the same and the closer the clamp are to the frame the better off you would be.

No suppose you had a starting clamp. To start you mains clamp the two center mains in the center with a flying clamp. Then tension the first main at let's say 56 lbs. now you can use the starting clamp to hold the string you tensioned outside the frame. Before going any further how much tension is on the two center mains? 56 lbs between the starting clamp and the flying clamp (minus a little friction loss) and 1/2 of 56 lbs on the two sections of string above above the clamp or 28 lbs.

Now you tension the other center main. Move the clamp from the center of the strings down to the frame and clamp the strings. How much tension is now on both center mains? 56 lbs and there is not a clamp inside the frame interfering with you clamping right up against the frame. You can continue from this point any you should not ever have two clamps staggered because of space.

Something you'll never think about if you never had a starting clamp. A starting clamp is like a third hand. So you're having a lot of trouble keeping up with the end of your string and you have to keep hunting for it. You want to speed up you tine so you starting holding the end of the string. Then it gets caught on something and pulled out of your hand. Start hunting. If you had a starting clamp clamp the end and lay it on the stringer table. Then there's all the other good reasons that have been talked about a gazillion tines.

Thanks for the detailed explanation!

MAX PLY · May 22, 2017

After further review of this thread, I think you should acquire a starting clamp.

Rabbit · May 22, 2017

I concur

scf · May 22, 2017

Thank you guys

GlennK · May 23, 2017

See if you can find a BOGO deal on starting clamps. You won't regret it.

camohommed · May 23, 2017

I don't like using a starting knot for my crosses so I always use a starting clamp. It has so many uses (I have two now) that I would advise any one stringing to pick one up.

chrisingrassia · May 23, 2017

MAX PLY said:
After further review of this thread, I think you should acquire a starting clamp.

Still can't believe it's a thread

scf · May 23, 2017

I guess it's worth creating a thread about your disbelieve

elkwood · May 23, 2017

camohommed said:
I don't like using a starting knot for my crosses so I always use a starting clamp. It has so many uses (I have two now) that I would advise any one stringing to pick one up.

Yep same here. I use my starting clamp for so much more then just clamping. Once u had one for a
while u will wonder how u lived with out it !

Traffic · May 24, 2017

I find a starting clamp very useful in tensioning knots.

Also I need it to bridge the last pull for my PS97LS on the mains if I only have 20' half set.

Starting clamp. How important is it?

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