Bad Knot - Cut String Early - Now Not Enough String

[Tikiman53]

Hey guys,

I'm nearing the end of my first string job. I was tying my final knot in the crosses, but I did it wrong. Thinking it was a secure knot, I snipped the rest of the string off. Luckily I used a clamp to maintain tension, so what I'm trying to do is tie some leftover string to the short bit of string hanging out and then use that to tie my knot. This would mean there would be a knot on the outside of the frame.

Is this a bad idea for the health of the frame? And if it isn't, can someone suggest a knot that will get the job done?

 

[loosegroove]

That's a bummer Tikiman. Honestly your best option would be to do the crosses over. If you don't want to do that, then I suggest that you simply just leave the last cross off, and tie off one cross early. It will play just fine and won't be bad for your frame. It might annoy you knowing there is one less cross than there should be, but that's a better option than trying to tie another piece of string to the end of the remaining string.

Also, for future reference. After tying off your knot, you should really wait to snip the string for after you've released the clamp.

 

[diredesire]

You don't lose anything by trying to graft a string on with a knot outside the frame. It won't hurt to try, but it's ugly, and don't hand it to a 'customer' that way.

You can do like loosegroove said, and set your previous string's clamp back on, and then release the last clamp. Both method are equally "ugly" hacks, but just use this as a lesson, it's really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/double-fishermans/
This is a good candidate to try, or just use simple/standard square knots (one on each end of the string, and two to tie the two strings together).

You don't REALLY have to pull tension on this string, so it doesn't really make too much of a difference.

"best" method is to re-do the crosses, but since you're still new and learning, chalk this up to a learning experience and get out there and hit!

 

[loosegroove]

Yeah diredesire, I was thinking of the same knot if he was going to go that route. But doing that knot with tennis string (especially if it's a stiff poly or something) could be difficult, especially for someone new to stringing. Rather than one knot failing, he's going to have to worry about 3 now! Plus you have to take into consideration that he's going to have to cinch that knot perfectly right where the remaining string exits the racket. Otherwise, the last cross will literally have no tension, as the knot will prohibit the string from going any further into the tie-off hole (not sure if that makes sense, but it probably would if you tried to do it). Hence the last cross would be purely for aesthetics, except it would be dang ugly.

So I vote to redo the crosses entirely, or leave the last cross out and tie-off one early.

 

[Irvin]

I don't think there is enough string or space out the outside of the frame to tie knots with any string I would start over.

 

[struggle]

Find a closer tie off grommet or eliminate the last cross.

If it were my own racket that's what i'd do (pending the string, I often play OGSM at a few bucks per set off the reel, might even redo the whole job).

 

[Tikiman53]

Thanks guys. I actually ended up cutting out the strings, going to bed, and trying again today. I was a little paranoid about leaving my racket overnight with anything less than a correct string job, with racket deformation and whatnot (does that actually happen?)

I finally finished today with what I believe to be a competent 2 piece stringing! I officially hate poly now and my hands and back ache, but can't wait to hit with this baby!

 

[diredesire]

Yeah diredesire, I was thinking of the same knot if he was going to go that route. But doing that knot with tennis string (especially if it's a stiff poly or something) could be difficult, especially for someone new to stringing. Rather than one knot failing, he's going to have to worry about 3 now! Plus you have to take into consideration that he's going to have to cinch that knot perfectly right where the remaining string exits the racket. Otherwise, the last cross will literally have no tension, as the knot will prohibit the string from going any further into the tie-off hole (not sure if that makes sense, but it probably would if you tried to do it). Hence the last cross would be purely for aesthetics, except it would be dang ugly.

So I vote to redo the crosses entirely, or leave the last cross out and tie-off one early.

Agree with difficulty, I wouldn't worry too much about the knot failing, though. I'm aware of the cinch location, I think if the knot is anywhere close to centered it wouldn't really matter, though. There's not going to be much stretch considering he'd only be using it to tie off. The blockage issue you suggest is definitely real, though.

I don't think there is enough string or space out the outside of the frame to tie knots with any string I would start over.

I think it'd be more trouble than it's worth for (m)any experienced stringers, fiddling with the string ends would probably take as long as 1/2 the crosses, but I know for a lot of beginner stringers, string jobs take 1 hour or so at the fastest, probably closer to 2:00. I think there'd be enough string on many frames to do so. Not so much for any close tie offs, but I still think it can be done (the string went inside the frame, at least 1.5"?)

Thanks guys. I actually ended up cutting out the strings, going to bed, and trying again today. I was a little paranoid about leaving my racket overnight with anything less than a correct string job, with racket deformation and whatnot (does that actually happen?)

I finally finished today with what I believe to be a competent 2 piece stringing! I officially hate poly now and my hands and back ache, but can't wait to hit with this baby!

Probably the best route in the end. At the point you were at, warping/deformation would be a very small risk. It can and does happen, though. At the same time, I've seen a lot worse in many pro shops I've wandered into. Stringing unfortunately ends up being pretty low priority when a customer is browsing around and trying to buy some high margin items like apparel. I've seen racquets left with just mains strung for 45 minutes+ at a time in some big box stores, too.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Thanks guys. I actually ended up cutting out the strings, going to bed, and trying again today. I was a little paranoid about leaving my racket overnight with anything less than a correct string job, with racket deformation and whatnot (does that actually happen?)

I finally finished today with what I believe to be a competent 2 piece stringing! I officially hate poly now and my hands and back ache, but can't wait to hit with this baby!

Stringing the mains with poly is easy peasy, but the crosses are a pain in the ***. That's why I prefer a multi for my crosses, as it softens up the string bed and it's much easier to string.