Buying a stringing machine - help newbie

S

SalvadorVeiga

Rookie
Hello everyone...
I've been looking up for several stringing machines the last week in order to purchase one... But it seems kind of hard to get one at considerable prices in Europe. I live in Portugal and as far I've looked the local stores don't sell these machines...

Here's my requirements:

- My budget is around 450 €uros...
- Which machine do you think I should get ? An electronic, a drop weight one or a crank ? What are the differences between crank and drop weight

- I am a total newbie so help would be appreciated in looking up for models...and naming them.

I have checked into Silent Partner but they don't ship overseas...I've checked Eagnas but I am kinda of afraid in getting stuff from them... what other online shops that SHIP OVERSEAS do you guys know of ? Specially stores from Europe since I am not willing to pay custom fees...

My purpose for a stringer is to string my own racquets in order to test more strings, tensions and gauges etc which can be quite expensive if you are not stringing in your own...also probably I could string occasionally for friends but no more that that...so I would be stringing 6-8 racquets a week at TOPPS!

thanks in advance to everyone
 
Not sure how much eros are, but I will give you mine opinion...

6-8 rackets a week=24-32 a month=288-384 a year...That is a nice little size business. If you make (in the US) $10 a racket that is close to 3000 a year profit.

What I am getting at, if you think you are going to string that much. I would stay from a drop weight. I would get a stand alone unit. Start with a crank, you can upgrade later. Units I would consider - Gamma 5003,6004, Alpha Apex (they make others), Prince Neos. All solid machines backed by solid companies. Not sure if they ship to your home or how much it would be, but a good quality crank machine should be easy to locate.

A stringing machine is an investment. If you try and to string that many rackets with a cheap stringer, you will upgrade within several months. Better to bite the bullet and borrow, and get a good machine.

Even if your estimate on string rackets is high, 150 a year is still $1500 profit. That is $10 per racket, which is one the low side here in California...

Don't know if this helps, but it is only my opinion and hopefully others will give your theirs...Good Luck
 
theace is spot on here.

I had also wanted to get a drop weight, but ended up buying a second hand Gamma Progression ST II crank.

Though initial budget is important, you will have to look at the longer term. As theace had pointed out, your initial investment will pay off in one year, if not, two years. Even at 3 years, it is still a good investment to buy a crank.

Pros of Drop Weight
1. No need for calibration.
2. Cheaper than a crank.

Cons of Drop Weight
1. Takes slightly longer to string a racquet

Pros of Crank
1. Faster
2. Won't really need to upgrade in future (this one is subjective, but it's my personal opinion)

Cons of Crank
1. Relatively expensive

I think it is also important to look at the mounting system. Some people wuld say that a 2 point mount is more than sufficient. For me, I prefer to have peace of mind, and ended up with a 6 point mount. This would obviously play a factor in the cost.

Think over it carefully and feel free to ask more questions if you need. Many of us here will oblige to assist you.

Good luck!

Jon
 
Well thanks for your answers... I guess I kinda went the top with how many racquets I would string...I guess 120/year is already pretty much...I'm thinking more of stringing my own racquets and probably some friends'...

I was looking for some help regarding locating online european shops that sell stringing machines at reasonble price...The ones I checked up only sell machines on the $1300+ side... I was looking more into lower than $800, which is what I can get... tops !

How does the crank work ? Is it manual ? The idea I have is you grip the string and then you push the crank right ? Are cranks Constant Pull ?
 
SalvadorVeiga said:
well I found this stringing machine it looks very good...it is dropweight and I can chose fixed clamps...

Would you guys check it out here's the site --> http://www.stringway.com/en/index.htm

then just click the top machine on your left side the M(L) 90
Click to expand...

So you followed the link I had showed you...but, did you figure out whether they actually sell these or do you have to go through one of their vendors? I'm guessing from what I saw of the site that there should be European vendors you can buy from there if you can't go directly through Stringway. Or is buying direct via Stringway an option?
 
That picture looks interestingly similar to the Laserfibre stringers, I wonder if it's the same, under a different name?

play well,
Andrew
 
Yes I believe they are the same but under a different name...At least that's what I heard... The machine looks quite good and their clamping system looks pretty good too... I am no expert but the aluminium clamps they show look both very strong and smooth... The 5 point mounting system looks ok too (3 at the head and 2 at throat if I am not mistaken...)

There is an agent/dealer in my country actually I already got in contact with him and he offered to provide me with all the info he can he actually invited me to go to his house and check his stringing machine...but he lives too far away...I dont know what the price is yet but I also contacted directly with Stringway and I am still waiting an answer (probably I'll get one on monday) Hopefully it will get inside my price range...

Also does anyone know how they costumer service is ?

By the pictures what do you guys think of the machine ?

Thanks for the inputs you guys ... Really helping me out !
 
andrew_b said:
That picture looks interestingly similar to the LaserFibre stringers, I wonder if it's the same, under a different name?

play well,
Andrew
Click to expand...

Hi, Andrew

I had sent SalvadorVeiga that link as part of another thread because on the LaserFibre website there's a statement to this effect about the LaserFibre machines:

"Dutch engineered and manufactured by Stringway for LaserFibre..."

Thus, the www.stringway.com link and the rather amazing (wink, wink) similarity between the machines on the Stringway site and the LaserFibre site.
 
varuscelli, how much in your opinion do you think the M90 in the Stringway site costs ? I have no idea since the prices are not fixed up...but in your based experience that stringing machine is within what price range ?
Because I think I found my future machine ;)
 
SalvadorVeiga said:
varuscelli, how much in your opinion do you think the M90 in the Stringway site costs ? I have no idea since the prices are not fixed up...but in your based experience that stringing machine is within what price range ?
Because I think I found my future machine
Click to expand...

Actually, andrew_b is the one who pointed me toward the LaserFibre machines in the first place and I bet he's got a better eye for what's what.

I wonder if those tabletop models on the Stringway site -- M(L)90 and ML100 -- are perhaps equivalent of the LaserFibre MS200TT Eco and Premium models in the US?

If so, the might end up being pretty close in price. But the USA price for the LaserFibre MS200TT varies anywhere from $399 to $929 US, depending on the options chosen. I know that doesn't help much. But the LaserFibre dropweight machines seem to be among the most expensive out there (but with good reason from what I understand of their build and functionality).

These machines do look an awful lot alike. And they should, if all were made by Stringway.

What my guess would be on cost (just a hunch) is that the European version will be less expensive. After all, the US version are shipped from Europe, where they're made. It would seem to make sense that the place of origin might make them available at a lesser price to people in that area of the world. (Maybe, anyway.)


Stringway M(L)90
M90-O91-T98.jpg



Stringway ML100
ML100-O91-T92.jpg



LaserFibre MS200TT
MS200%20TT%20Large.jpg
 
flash9 said:
This site I believe lists their prices

www.stringway-nl.com
Click to expand...

Thanks so much I can't believe it...From what you said it before to look up at the other post I was already afraid since the laserfibre could go up to 900 dollars... but its a lot cheaper... If I go with full features, as of T92 Clamps Single Action and the racquet support... it goes up to 508 €uros!! :D

If i go with the double action clamps make it down to 400 € (around 500 dollars)

thanks everyone for the help
 
SalvadorVeiga said:
Thanks so much I can't believe it...From what you said it before to look up at the other post I was already afraid since the laserfibre could go up to 900 dollars... but its a lot cheaper... If I go with full features, as of T92 Clamps Single Action and the racquet support... it goes up to 508 €uros!! :D
Click to expand...

Wow! So in US currency, that would be about $640. I wonder if that's same (option-wise) as the most expensive version available here...(I'm betting it is).

Go ahead and get me one, too, and ship it on over. Let me know when to e-mail you my shipping address. :)
 
varuscelli said:
Wow! So in US currency, that would be about $640. I wonder if that's same (option-wise) as the most expensive version available here...(I'm betting it is).

Go ahead and get me one, too, and ship it on over. Let me know when to e-mail you my shipping address. :)
Click to expand...

Nooo... it's less than that! That is if you go with the double action clamps it gets for 450 euros which is 450 * 1.21 = 544 DOLLARS and yes the machines are the same... Im happy I found this...actually I didn't you did but still :D

If you need something regarding the machine just let me know =)

EDIT: That is if you don't option for the SINGLE ACTION CLAMPS if you opt for those, it's 120 dollars more...

Summary---> ML90 with T92 CLAMPS SINGLE ACTION, 5 Point mounting system, constant pull and the automatic lock for the tension head for 660 DOLLARS
 
SalvadorVeiga said:
EDIT: That is if you don't option for the SINGLE ACTION CLAMPS if you opt for those, it's 120 dollars more...

Summary---> ML90 with T92 CLAMPS SINGLE ACTION, 5 Point mounting system, constant pull and the automatic lock for the tension head for 660 DOLLARS
Click to expand...

So nearly $270 (US) less than that same version here. Whew...I thought it would be less expensive in Europe, but not depressingly less expensive (from my point of view)... :)
 
Hi, SalvadorVeiga

A couple of more observations.

Did you happen to price both the ML90 and the ML100, or just the ML90?

When I look closely at them, I think (maybe) that the ML90 is the equivalent of the US model MS200TT-ECO and the ML100 is the equivalent of the MS200TT-Premium.

If I'm right about those models being equivalent (ML90 = MS200TT-ECO and ML100 = MS200TT-Premium), then I think the cost for each in Euro and US is roughly the same (if I'm analyzing the models correctly and matching up the European and US models correctly).

Highest cost on the US MS200TT-ECO (with best options) is $629. (Same as rough price as ML90 with best options?)

Highest cost on the US MS200TT-Premium (with best options) is $929. (Same rough price as as ML100 with best options?)

Is my analysis on this correct, do you think?

I think if we take a close look at the clamping system on each of the models (both Euro models vs both US models), there seem to be similarities that match the models up as I pointed out above. I'm not certain, but a close look at each model configuration seems to show this might be right.

Compare the clamps by clicking on the different "parts" on this page (and viewing the new pop-up window showing the specific parts) and perhaps you'll be able to see what I mean:

http://www.laserfibre.com/MS200_TT.html

It might be nice if andrew_b chimed back in on this (if he happens to visit this thread again). He might actually be able to say more definitively.
 
Ha!

The demo videos on these machines on the European site are so cool.

Maybe mostly because I love the music, but can't remember what it is....??? Now, of course, it's going to drive me crazy until I can figure it out (but I think I remember it from some movie)... :mad:

Pretty simple and elegant little demo videos, though.

Click the "Download Demo Video" on this page for the ML90 or ML100 or ML120:

http://www.stringway.com/nl/index.htm
 
LttlElvis said:
The song is Wicked Game by Chris Isaac. I think it was in a David Lynch movie "Wild at Heart" with Nicholas Cage.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I needed that... ;)

Now I think what I remember it from his show, too (The Chris Isaak Show, where I believe it was also regularly used).
 
maybe you're right... but from what I've seen the ML90 with all options is equal to the ML100 it has the auto lock system which is differentiates the two I Think...I am not sure..but still if you are right the ML90 is still a good choice right ?
 
Hey guys,

Been following along, but I can't provide any more info than what you've seen - I'm not in any way an expert on the Laserfibre machine, just been doing the research on them since I might buy one.

From the pictures above, it looked like the ML90 had the slide rail clamps, and the ML100 had the single action 360-degree. Other than that....don't know.

Why don't you just ask, either the Laserfibre guys or the others? They ought to be able to say "yes, same stringer, X difference in proce becasue of market, etc".

play well,
Andrew

edit: veruscelli, didn't that email you got say something about the ECO now looked exectly like the other one, and that the one on the web site was no longer available? Maybe the other company is sellign off the older stock? (that's just a guess, btw).
 
SalvadorVeiga said:
maybe you're right... but from what I've seen the ML90 with all options is equal to the ML100 it has the auto lock system which is differentiates the two I Think...I am not sure..but still if you are right the ML90 is still a good choice right ?
Click to expand...

My guess (if what we're seeing on the Swingway site is the same as on the LaserFibre site) is that your best bet is to go with the less expensive machine (unless, of course, spending more money is not a big deal... :) ). The people at LaserFibre recommended that approach, saying that if you are unsure, go with a conservative approach on your initial purchase (and buy the less expensive model). Now, the LaserFibre representatives said that (as they explained) because if you buy one of their less expensive machines, you can always upgrade that machine later, with better clamps, etc., by just returning the old parts and replacing them with newer, higher-end parts (adding those to the basic machine "body"). And the LaserFibre approach was to make those parts available to the customer at the same cost as the customer would have paid if buying those options originally. That is, the LaserFibre upgrade approach is to NOT to penalize the customer who wants to upgrade at a later date by making them pay more. The customer pays the amount for the upgrade that they would have paid if they had chosen that same upgrade up front. (Hope I said that in a way that it makes sense.)

Whether Stringway follows the same approach, I don't know. That would be a good question for the person you were talking to about getting one (one of their vendors?). Ask him about whether the machine can be upgraded if you buy the less expensive model with the not-so-expensive clamps. Ask him how much the upgrade parts will cost and if the cost is the same as if you purchased those options in the first place

Also, ask the Stringway vendor if the basic body of the ML90 and the ML100 are the same and if the ML90 can be actually upgraded to be the same as the the ML100. Even if that's not possible, the ML90 with slightly higher options would likely still be a very good machine.

andrew_b said:
edit: veruscelli, didn't that email you got say something about the ECO now looked exectly like the other one, and that the one on the web site was no longer available?
Click to expand...

Yes, that the ECO and Premium bodies were now the same (and apparently were not exactly the same before).

andrew_b said:
Maybe the other company is sellign off the older stock? (that's just a guess, btw).
Click to expand...

That's an interesting point. You might be exactly right. Then again, at this point in time Swingway might be selling exactly what LaserFibre is selling. It depends, I suppose, on how much of a reserve of older machines might have been in stock. If they don't keep bunches of them on hand, perhaps all the older models may have already been sold -- but perhaps not.
 
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