Alpha String Pal 2+ months to go..now what?

[Pleepers]

I was just told by Alpha that they won't be getting any String Pal's for another 2 months and I don't know if I can wait much longer without a machine.

Ideally I want an inexpensive drop weight weight with a clutch and linear gripper and the String Pal seems to fit the bill. Anyone have any advice? Is the linear gripper worth it? I string with poly and don't like the idea of the cylindical cam damaging the string. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[AR15]

I'd either go ahead and buy the Klippermate or buy used on the auction site.

I used a Klippermate several times before buying my Alpha Pioneer III with linear gripper and clutch. I don't think the Klippermate is going to damage your poly. And, after you have used the Klipper a few times, you will get so quick with it's cam gripper, that a linear gripper is hardly an advantage at all.

 

[Pleepers]

I'd either go ahead and buy the Klippermate or buy used on the auction site.

I used a Klippermate several times before buying my Alpha Pioneer III with linear gripper and clutch. I don't think the Klippermate is going to damage your poly. And, after you have used the Klipper a few times, you will get so quick with it's cam gripper, that a linear gripper is hardly an advantage at all.

You don't think the cam gripper damages poly strings?

I don't think it comes with a clutch action arm either?

 

[Redflea]

Too bad...that is a looong time to wait.

If you don't want to wait, another populer stringer under $150 that has a clutch is the Gamma X-2.

I don't think the Klippermate has a clutch...that would remove it from the list for me...someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[max]

Klippermate's don't harm poly strings; works fine.

The whole clutch isssue, to me, is a bogey man and should be recognized as such. If you go with Gamma, you're stuck with lousy floating clamps (they should retroactively replace them with something nice).

 

[AR15]

Having used both, a clutch is nice in that you don't have to reposition the string in the gripper if the weight won't drop all the way to horizontal. But, even without a clutch on the Klippermate, you simply lift the drop weight arm with your right hand, and feed a little slack through the gripper with your left. It's no big deal at all and you can do it very quickly.

No, i don't think the Klippermate will damage poly any more than any other stringer if you use it properly. If you pull your string snugly through the gripper before dropping the weight, it won't wrap as far around the cam to cause any serious kinks.

 

[Pleepers]

Thanks everyone for your input. The gamma seems nice, but I have also been looking at the silent partner swing for its 6-pt internal mounting. It seems to hold the racquet considerably well?

Do you guys have any thoughts on floating clamps? It seems that they may twist the string a little bit when holding tension leading to "stretched" strings and maybe some damage? Am I being paranoid? Are fixed clamps worth the extra money?

At this point I'm debating between the SP Swing and maybe coughing up the dough for the Alpha DC (wich has fixed clamps and a linear gripper). I know the Alpha is better -but does it warrant the extra $200? Thanks again for your thoughts!

 

[max]

Pleepers. I'd go with the alpha, simply for the fixed clamps. The gamma clamps are atrocious: the "diamond dust" stuff quickly wore out (about 15 string jobs) and now I have to clamp the string extra hard to make it all hold together. My Klippermate steelies are still doing a fine job, in comparison. The alpha might have better racquet frame clamps.

 

[Redflea]

Pleepers. I'd go with the alpha, simply for the fixed clamps. The gamma clamps are atrocious: the "diamond dust" stuff quickly wore out (about 15 string jobs) and now I have to clamp the string extra hard to make it all hold together. My Klippermate steelies are still doing a fine job, in comparison. The alpha might have better racquet frame clamps.

The Alpha he's referring to is the String Pal, which has floating clamps...the Pioneer DC Plus has fixed clamps/6pt mount/linear gripper, but is also $399.

 

[Redflea]

Having used both, a clutch is nice in that you don't have to reposition the string in the gripper if the weight won't drop all the way to horizontal. But, even without a clutch on the Klippermate, you simply lift the drop weight arm with your right hand, and feed a little slack through the gripper with your left. It's no big deal at all and you can do it very quickly.

No, i don't think the Klippermate will damage poly any more than any other stringer if you use it properly. If you pull your string snugly through the gripper before dropping the weight, it won't wrap as far around the cam to cause any serious kinks.

I talked to a friend who used to own a Klippermate, and he agreed with you...given a choice between clutch and no clutch, all things being equal he'd want the clutch. But he still professed a fond affection for his old "Klippy."

I don't know much about the Silent Partner Swing, but it does appear to have a clutch and metal floating clamps...they also have what they call an "inside 6-point mounting system."

 

[SW Stringer]

I talked to a friend who used to own a Klippermate, and he agreed with you...given a choice between clutch and no clutch, all things being equal he'd want the clutch. But he still professed a fond affection for his old "Klippy." . . .

Let's get analytical on why some dropweights use a clutch. "Diamond dust" made them do it! Diamond dust also wears off, and gripper surfaces and clamps that use DD need to be replaced. One poster said his DD wore off in 15 stringjobs! Hard to believe, but eventually it does happen.

The Klippermate gripper uses a smooth but irregular shaped surface to grip the string - no diamond dust AND a lifetime warranty. To reposition the string in the gripper just partially lift the weight arm to the point where the string slides through the gripper to the new desired level point. Lower the arm - done. Just as quick as the ratchet method. Note: If your string is slipping through the gripper of a clutch system then it's time to replace the gripper surfaces. To my knowledge none of the clutch based system has a lifetime warranty . . . and for good reason . . . the DD will wear off!

Did I mention that the Klipper (made in the USA) has a lifetime warranty?

 

[Pleepers]

Let's get analytical on why some dropweights use a clutch. "Diamond dust" made them do it! Diamond dust also wears off, and gripper surfaces and clamps that use DD need to be replaced. One poster said his DD wore off in 15 stringjobs! Hard to believe, but eventually it does happen.

The Klippermate gripper uses a smooth but irregular shaped surface to grip the string - no diamond dust AND a lifetime warranty. To reposition the string in the gripper just partially lift the weight arm to the point where the string slides through the gripper to the new desired level point. Lower the arm - done. Just as quick as the ratchet method. Note: If your string is slipping through the gripper of a clutch system then it's time to replace the gripper surfaces. To my knowledge none of the clutch based system has a lifetime warranty . . . and for good reason . . . the DD will wear off!

Did I mention that the Klipper (made in the USA) has a lifetime warranty?

Who uses Diamond Dust?

 

[nyc]

I have a Gamma X-2 and string a lot of Polys with no problem.

 

[Ben42]

I had a Kilppermate for about 10 years and it was a good stringer and I got good results from it. But I really didn't like the cam gripper. I was slow with it. I could never get any faster than about and hour because I found it difficult to adjust. Usually it took me about 1:15. I didn't care that much since I only string one racquet a month or so (just for me.)

I also found that unless I wrapped the string around the cam before inserting the string (as Klippermate instructs) some strings would slip. But wrapping the string around the cam made adjusting the cam difficult. Catch-22.

After a disasterous fling with an Eagnas 740, I made the (lateral?) move to an ATS SSII (essentially the same as the X-2) I now string in about 40 min and I've never had a problem with string slippage. It's been a fine machine for me.

I do agree about the clamps though. I found them bulky, hard to open and close, and not great at holding above 60lbs. I was lucky enough to find a good deal on some Laserfibre floating clamps, so ultimately the machine's worked out for me, but I didn't like the ATS/Gamma clamps at all.

So to sum up, the drum on the ATS/Gamma has never been an issue for me, but you may not like the clamps.

 

[dkim]

Pleepers. I'd go with the alpha, simply for the fixed clamps. The gamma clamps are atrocious: the "diamond dust" stuff quickly wore out (about 15 string jobs) and now I have to clamp the string extra hard to make it all hold together. My Klippermate steelies are still doing a fine job, in comparison. The alpha might have better racquet frame clamps.

The clamps that came with my X-2 do not have diamond dust on them. Maybe you are referring to the older model. Anyway, I find they work fairly well after a few sessions of stringing practice, even though I wish I had better clamps.

DK

 

[Pleepers]

Could you be a little more specific as to why you do not like the gamma clamps?

 

[dkim]

^
To me, they hold strings fine for the tension that I use (high 50s and low 60s). It is just that they are kind of hard to open (I am fine with how they close ^^). But I am now accustomed to these clamps; so the complaint is minimal. Adjustment of clamps is also fine.

 

[Pleepers]

^
To me, they hold strings fine for the tension that I use (high 50s and low 60s). It is just that they are kind of hard to open (I am fine with how they close ^^). But I am now accustomed to these clamps; so the complaint is minimal. Adjustment of clamps is also fine.

Thanks for the response, do you find that they damage the string at all when you clamp them or as they hold tension off the other string?

 

[dkim]

I have strung a couple of multi and many plain synthetic guts (e.g., PSGO).

I found that the clamps hold the string very well for these two types, especially for multi. I don't think they damage any strings, even though I see a teeth marks (ghosting, I guess) on multi strings.

 

[Redflea]

I'm just relayin' what my friend said...he liked the clutch better. Having never seen or used a Klipper I can only channel for him...

Do you really think the presence or absence of DD is the reason clutch systems exist? I'm not sure I get the connection...why would a clutch = diamond dust? Seems like you could have (or not have) a clutch with or without diamond dust...

I don't think I've seen a flood of posts here from folks saying their gripper won't grip the string any more...diamond dusted or otherwise. Hasn't seemed like a big issue...

Let's get analytical on why some dropweights use a clutch. "Diamond dust" made them do it! Diamond dust also wears off, and gripper surfaces and clamps that use DD need to be replaced. One poster said his DD wore off in 15 stringjobs! Hard to believe, but eventually it does happen.

The Klippermate gripper uses a smooth but irregular shaped surface to grip the string - no diamond dust AND a lifetime warranty. To reposition the string in the gripper just partially lift the weight arm to the point where the string slides through the gripper to the new desired level point. Lower the arm - done. Just as quick as the ratchet method. Note: If your string is slipping through the gripper of a clutch system then it's time to replace the gripper surfaces. To my knowledge none of the clutch based system has a lifetime warranty . . . and for good reason . . . the DD will wear off!

Did I mention that the Klipper (made in the USA) has a lifetime warranty?

 

[SW Stringer]

I'm just relayin' what my friend said...he liked the clutch better. Having never seen or used a Klipper I can only channel for him...

Do you really think the presence or absence of DD is the reason clutch systems exist? I'm not sure I get the connection...why would a clutch = diamond dust? Seems like you could have (or not have) a clutch with or without diamond dust...

I don't think I've seen a flood of posts here from folks saying their gripper won't grip the string any more...diamond dusted or otherwise. Hasn't seemed like a big issue...

Once you put a gritty surface on the string gripper "slipping or sliding" the string through the gripper to adjust the slack doesn't work . . . there's just too much friction. So yes, I think the two go hand in hand. Can't prove it though.

There have been a few threads in the past about slipping grippers and clamps:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=2923

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=3598

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=51037

One of the tricks to restore gripping power was to put a dollar bill between the string and the gripper and string and clamps. One person claimed that his Gamma machine starting slipping (both string gripper and clamps) after 4 years @ 25 string jobs per year. This is all hear say, so take it for what it's worth, and read the above threads if you'd like.

If you take the Gamma owner's comments at his word, then after 100 string jobs the clamps might start to slip. If you only string light duty (once a month) then the machine should last over 8 years before the gripper surfaces start to fail.

"I don't think I've seen a flood of posts here from folks saying their gripper won't grip the string any more...diamond dusted or otherwise." . . . said Redflea.

There's probably not a flood of ATS/Gamma users who've done 100 or more string jobs. Let's hear from those folks.

 

[barry]

In the past, many professional stringers replace the diamond dusted clamps every 500 stringing. I do it about every 600 or so, but replacement clamps are only $39.95 each.
If I remember right, Klipper clamps seldom wear out, since it uses force (cross hatching steel) instead of diamond dust to grab the string.

 

[Redflea]

Once you put a gritty surface on the string gripper "slipping or sliding" the string through the gripper to adjust the slack doesn't work . . . there's just too much friction. So yes, I think the two go hand in hand. Can't prove it though.

There have been a few threads in the past about slipping grippers and clamps:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=2923

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=3598

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=51037

One of the tricks to restore gripping power was to put a dollar bill between the string and the gripper and string and clamps. One person claimed that his Gamma machine starting slipping (both string gripper and clamps) after 4 years @ 25 string jobs per year. This is all hear say, so take it for what it's worth, and read the above threads if you'd like.

If you take the Gamma owner's comments at his word, then after 100 string jobs the clamps might start to slip. If you only string light duty (once a month) then the machine should last over 8 years before the gripper surfaces start to fail.

"I don't think I've seen a flood of posts here from folks saying their gripper won't grip the string any more...diamond dusted or otherwise." . . . said Redflea.

There's probably not a flood of ATS/Gamma users who've done 100 or more string jobs. Let's hear from those folks.

Thanks...I think it's resonable to say that a clutch is added to stringing machines as a ease-of-use enhancement/messageable feature upgrade. Why they chose to use diamond dust vs. a gripper similar to the Klipper isn't clear...either would seem to work fine w/a clutch, so it could just be that the companies felt the diamond dust was also a messageable feature that they wanted (sounded cooler) and they thought it would last plenty long (8 years sure seems like plenty to me, if we assume that the diamond dust could wear out that quickly).

BTW, my Pioneer has a clutch, as does the Alpha String Pal, both of which have non-diamond-dust linear grippers. Glad that I have that configuration.