I am new to stringing machines, but have been doing some research. I have heard mixed reviews for the Eagnas Flex 940, and eagnas in general, which is my top choice right now. It caught my attention for its crank tensioning system, which seems to be faster than drop weight. And it has six point mounting system which is a must have in my opinion. I would like a standing machine, but that is not essential. So if you have any opinion on the Flex 940 or any other solid machines, please help. I am looking to by soon, and my range is around 400 to 500 dollars. Thank you.
Best Stringing Machines
- Thread starter Sports101
- Start date
tennisman917
Rookie
i was going to tell you to go with either gammas 5003 or alpha axis pro but when i saw ur budget .... eagnas would be your best bet .... btw i worked with an eagnas flex 920 a couple years ago , didnt like it because the turn table lock was broken and the clamps did not work very well . OH AND IF YOU TRY RETURNING IT THEY WILL ONLY REFUND HALF OF IT AND MAKE YOU PAY FOR SHIPPING , BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I ended up getting the alpha revo 4000
Rex
Rookie
I personally would stay away from Eagnas.
I just got an Alpha machine and I had little minor issues here and there cosmetics wise, and they replaced it for me no questions asked.
Probably wouldn't get that kind of service from Eagnas.
Their machines are pretty good from what I've been reading if if you don't have any machine issues.
Have you looked at the Alpha Pioneer DC plus or Gamma Progression II 602 FC? Later down the line if you want to upgrade it, you could toss on a wise tension head.
I just got an Alpha machine and I had little minor issues here and there cosmetics wise, and they replaced it for me no questions asked.
Probably wouldn't get that kind of service from Eagnas.
Their machines are pretty good from what I've been reading if if you don't have any machine issues.
Have you looked at the Alpha Pioneer DC plus or Gamma Progression II 602 FC? Later down the line if you want to upgrade it, you could toss on a wise tension head.
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Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
1st Seed
Professional
Sports 101 welcome to TT.^^
I'm very happy with my SP Hip Hop,Sure it is a drop weight,a little more time involved for sure compared to crank or Electric.But It's very well built,I'dd buy it again,constant pull witch was imperative for me,Sturdy 6pt mounting,Decent fixed clamps on a 360deg table.I average less than an hour per job.SP's customer service gets lots of praise around here.
And It's right in your budget.Check it out!
Take Care.
I'm very happy with my SP Hip Hop,Sure it is a drop weight,a little more time involved for sure compared to crank or Electric.But It's very well built,I'dd buy it again,constant pull witch was imperative for me,Sturdy 6pt mounting,Decent fixed clamps on a 360deg table.I average less than an hour per job.SP's customer service gets lots of praise around here.
And It's right in your budget.Check it out!
Take Care.
tennisman917
Rookie
go with your own instinct
I've tried the Flex 940 and I thought it was a good machine, especially at that price point. I think it is probably one of Eagnas' better machines and I don't recall anyone giving it bad reviews. As mentioned earlier, the combo 910 is probably a reliable machine at its price point too.
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
The Flex 940 you and I owned were probably better than the ones produced now. My Flex 940 was made in 2006, and had better quality base clamps than the new ones. I think around 2008 they start producing machines in China, and the quality suffered. The ones built in Taiwan are way better quality than made in China now.
Lakers4life, I plan on stringing 2 maybe three rackets a week. Would the Combo 910 be good for this? And it seems like you have a lot of experience on eagnas machines, do you think my chances are high in getting a defect and dealing with their great costomer service?
Is eagnas my best bet?
Is eagnas my best bet?
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
Sounds like a good bet. It all depends on what your budget is. For me it's all about recovering my investment. I paid $300 for my used Flex 940. A new Combo 910 is about $500 plus shipping and Tax, if you are in California. Though they were out of stock last month according to Gflyer. He ended up buying a Plus 6500 ($100 more). I recently got a used Plus 6500, but I'm not ready to sell it yet, even though I already have Gamma 6004 with a Wise 2086 Pro.
nicer/newer mounting system, single action (self centering?). other than that they are mostly the same i think. Also, the brake may be a screw type as opposed to a disc brake on the 910.
So you would say the plus 6500 over the Combo 910?
if money was no object, yes. i think i would. i have the 910 and am happy with it. i prefer the disc brake on the 910 (in the event you ever want to use one..) but the mounting on the 6500 looks nicer, in a sense, as long as it works as advertised. otherwise the 910 mounting is quite adjustable and works fine (requires a few more adjustments than the 6500 in theory).
i think the big step up is from the flex 940 to the combo 910 (switch base clamps), after that i think the "nicer" mounting (6500) is a plus, yet the screw brake is a minus (6500). BUT, you use the mounting system MUCH more than you'll ever use the brake, so...
I recommended a Plus 6500 to a friend. That and the Comet look like Eagnas best stringers. I regret it now. He has had multiple problems including the solder joints breaking off the head and throat mounts. He was able to take it to a machine shop and solder it for $5, but the overall finish of it was not as nice as the pictures.
The Flex 940 and Combo 910 are probably surer bets since they have been around longer.
The Flex 940 and Combo 910 are probably surer bets since they have been around longer.
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
They don't make them like they used to. I've noticed that the models made 4-5 years ago were better quality than the ones now.
Once you get into the $600 range, I would consider a Gamma X-ST or Prog II-ST. Though I don't regret buying my used Eagnas Flex 940, when I first started, which took about 6 months of waiting for it to show up on Craigslist.
Once you get into the $600 range, I would consider a Gamma X-ST or Prog II-ST. Though I don't regret buying my used Eagnas Flex 940, when I first started, which took about 6 months of waiting for it to show up on Craigslist.
Alpha Revo 4000 hands down. I know it is "out" of your budget but if you were really willing to spend $500 already, just spend the extra few bucks. Otherwise go used which sounds like a harder thing to find these days.
The reason why everyone recommends Alpha is consistently good product and customer service. Eagnas is very hit or miss..you get people who had no problems and others who had a bitter experience. The Revo 4000 to me is the de-facto step above the entry level dropweights.
Sports101,
I bought a Combo 910 not long ago, so far I've been quite happy with it because of its price and features. The quality is not the best, but it works fine.
Compare the Flex940, Plus6500 and Combo910, I will still go with the Combo910.
The Plus6500 is very nice because of its mounting system, however, I am not keen no its screw-brake system, because when you are stringing something like the Prince O3, a disc-brake(like the one on Combo910) will just give you more ease-of-use and confident, and it's more durable too.
Overall, I like the Eagnas machine. BUT, really, you pay for what you get.
I bought a Combo 910 not long ago, so far I've been quite happy with it because of its price and features. The quality is not the best, but it works fine.
Compare the Flex940, Plus6500 and Combo910, I will still go with the Combo910.
The Plus6500 is very nice because of its mounting system, however, I am not keen no its screw-brake system, because when you are stringing something like the Prince O3, a disc-brake(like the one on Combo910) will just give you more ease-of-use and confident, and it's more durable too.
Overall, I like the Eagnas machine. BUT, really, you pay for what you get.
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
Screw brake is better than the disc brakes. They are not as clanky as the disc brakes. The screw brake on the Eagnas machines are basically a vise type grip. The shaft has teeth or knurls, that the screw brake grabs on to. I'll post a picture if I get around to it, but it's a very simple design, and less parts.
That's what I worry about, in case of wear & tear on the teeth in the future, which probably won't happen on disc brake.
Check the other Revo thread, there's a 'utility cart' you can buy from hardware store that you can just fir the Revo on it perfectly, and it only costs around $50 - $60
tennisman917
Rookie
you could always keep it on a table or something
Lakers4Life
Hall of Fame
I've had a couple of Eagnas machines with the screw brake, what I noticed as far as wear on the teeth, was the brake was partially engaged while turning the table. Just like any other screw brake, even Gamma, they do wear out but the parts are replaceable.
lcstringer
New User
I would definitely go for an Alpha. They have a variety of machines at great prices. Mark Gonzalez is they guy to talk to and his customer service is second to none.
How old was the machine? There's 5 yr warranty on something like this.
