Cheap best-buy portable stringing machine

5

5th_league

New User
I’m looking for cheap but really with a good quality portable stringing machine i.e. best-buy...I never tried stringing racquets before.

I’m 3.5-4.0 recreational player and I need it for the needs of my son tennis competitor/junior 11 years old and my needs too.

Also I could string ocassionally racquets of other juniors & other recreational players too...it would partially finance my son’s & my tennis activities too.

Can you recommend please few options?

Thanks a lot!
 
Klippermate. I have had mine for 30 years. It is an indestructible machine and the clamps are still among the best floating clamps on the market. Simple machines work. It's also still cheap at $250. Unless you want something with fixed clamps, six-point mounting, and a clutch, you're good with the Klippermate. It is rock solid.
 
I got an used Gamma x-2 and am super happy with it. After having a 6pt fixed clamp machine, x-2 is relatively easy portable to move it from the closet to the kitchen table when I need to do the stringing job. ;)
If your definition of portable is carrying everywhere you go then you will have to go either with MiStringer or Pro stringer
 
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You did not mention budget. I will assume you do not want and standup model which require about 9 square feet. Other options include

Alpha Pioneer DC Plus Stringing Machine | Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com www.tennis-warehouse.com

Tourna 150-CS Stringing Machine | Tennis Warehouse

www.tennis-warehouse.com www.tennis-warehouse.com

These are semi portable and have fixed clamps, ratchets and 6 point mounts. If your budget is smaller, than just get the cheapest ones with 2 point mounts and flying clamps. They are about 30% slower until you get the hang of using them.
 
Gamma X-2

Buy a Black and Decker rolling case for it and to carry tools and a couple of reels of string. You can roll it where you want, take it out of the box, set the X-2 on top then sit on a camp stool and string racquets on site. String roughly 30-40 racquets, depending on what you charge, for other players and you've made your initial investment back.
 
If you’re looking for a cheap stringing machine and you want to string other player’s rackets don’t do it. You can get a cheap DW machine but it will take a longer to string a racket. If you’re looking for a portable machine I’m not sure how portable you would like it. If you want it portable enough to put in a overhead you are really limiting your options. If you just want to be able to put it in your trunk I would go for a table top lock out machine. With a little practice you can string a racket in 30 minutes.
 
Back in college (I'm 48 now), I had no problem stringing my stick and my friends on a Klipper because I had all the free time in the world....now I dislike stringing despite having an electric full size machine because it's just a *chore* like washing dishes. My point is, if you have a kid that plays a lot and you play...then don't focus on costs if you plan to have a machine for 10+ years and go for convenience. Pro's Pro in Europe make decent machines...just go their web site and pick one in your budget. Most people here recommend US company machines...I just don't know if that makes sense for you.
 
5th_league said:
Thanks for very useful comments above... OK, I give up from portable requirement...the budget is max. 500 EUR
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Probably a good choice. I bought a Gamma X2 but I don't think I would use it to string racquets for other people. It is fine for my basic needs but I wouldn't want to use it on a regular basis for paying customers. I don't really mind how long it takes me (about 90 minutes) but to spend that amount of time on a regular basis would be, well, not much fun. $10-$15 for 90 minutes of work doesn't seem worth it and I'm slow at it right now.
 
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CosmosMpower said:
I would scratch the portable aspect and that should open up more options especially if you're on a budget.
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Pros pro hornet. I’m not recommending this machine. I’ve never used one just giving you an idea of what may fit your needs.
 
Irvin said:
Pros pro hornet. I’m not recommending this machine. I’ve never used one just giving you an idea of what may fit your needs.
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Hang on a tick, you are not recommending a machine because you have not use it (yet)…… Then why the post? (Genuine question)
 
esm said:
I disagree. As long as you do it “right” and be consistent.
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Because the current minimum wage in CA is $15/hour and an avg drop weight stringer takes between 50 to 70 min to string one racket
I personally rather spend my time with my child during non working hour instead of string someone else racket for $10 or $15 bucks
Although, I do enjoy the zen moment of stringing my racket. However, I found the opposite of zen when I am helping other people racket even I charge the money for stringing
 
Racingclub said:
Because the current minimum wage in CA is $15/hour and an avg drop weight stringer takes between 50 to 70 min to string one racket
I personally rather spend my time with my child during non working hour instead of string someone else racket for $10 or $15 bucks
Although, I do enjoy the zen moment of stringing my racket. However, I found the opposite of zen when I am helping other people racket even I charge the money for stringing
Click to expand...
Ah, gotcha.
yes, i agree with the spending time with kid(s).
I usually do them while kids are at school or sleeping, so that’s my “excuse” for not having to talk to the wife….:-D
 
It seems there aren’t many options in Europe to buy some best-buy stringing machine...just few of them.

Also, I cannot buy too cheep stringing machine if I (next 4-5 years) want to string my son’s & my racquets and also do the additional stringing for approx. let’s say 20-25 strings/month.

Also, the stringing is low paid job/hour but I cannot buy some machine where I would spend 1hour/string if not more and the quality would be poor too at the end...

So, all this needs to be taken into an account...when I would build a base of “regular” customers, this stringing could be done perhaps done then by my son when he would be older than >15/16 years old so that it would partially finance his tennis activities.

If there is a stringing machine on table top that would do the job in 30-40min and would last next 10+ years and it can be found in EU for 500 EUR budget - this would be choice No.1...but not sure this exists today.
What do you think on e.g. https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6#tab-description
and https://www.pros-pro.com/en/pros-pro-pioneer.html etc.?

Also, not sure how often (besides just stringing) I could sell the string I recommend and earn some extra money on the delta (e.g. I bought a reel 200m but I sell 12m for the price of 12m string) - what are your experiences with this, is it e.g. 20-30% of your customers or...?
 
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esm said:
Hang on a tick, you are not recommending a machine because you have not use it (yet)…… Then why the post? (Genuine question)
Click to expand...
Never used any Pros Pro machine so I did not want to say I thought the Hornet was a good machine for him. He limited his budget to 500 euro and table top LO are a little over that. I just wanted to get a typical machine available in Europe for the price that fits his budget. Sort of get him pointed in the right direction. It is going to be up to the OP to pick the specific machine.
 
I never strung on a Pros Pro BUT it's hard to screw up a crank machine in this day and age. It's a mature platform and after stringing on a few different cranks, they are all kinda the same. OP, if I had to get something I went to the Pros Pro website and saw their F6 for 675 EUR. I'd buy that. It's a tabletop so not huge and electronic...which I am a HUGE fan of after stringing on dropweights and cranks. It's over your budget but again think of this over a 10+ years of ownership.
 
5th_league said:
It seems there aren’t many options in Europe to buy some best-buy stringing machine...just few of them.

Also, I cannot buy too cheep stringing machine if I (next 4-5 years) want to string my son’s & my racquets and also do the additional stringing for approx. let’s say 20-25 strings/month.

Also, the stringing is low paid job/hour but I cannot buy some machine where I would spend 1hour/string if not more and the quality would be poor too at the end...

So, all this needs to be taken into an account...when I would build a base of “regular” customers, this stringing could be done perhaps done then by my son when he would be older than >15/16 years old so that it would partially finance his tennis activities.

If there is a stringing machine on table top that would do the job in 30-40min and would last next 10+ years and it can be found in EU for 500 EUR budget - this would be choice No.1...but not sure this exists today.
What do you think on e.g. https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6#tab-description
and https://www.pros-pro.com/en/pros-pro-pioneer.html etc.?

Also, not sure how often (besides just stringing) I could sell the string I recommend and earn some extra money on the delta (e.g. I bought a reel 200m but I sell 12m for the price of 12m string) - what are your experiences with this, is it e.g. 20-30% of your customers or...?
Click to expand...

If you can stretch another 150 Euros, the Gamma X6-FC is worth the extra money. Fixed clamps will keep you from looking for your next stringer for longer...
 
@esgee48 , I wonder if there is a way to replace the drop weight on that Tourna 150 with a Wise? I am not going there, but after looking at a Penta Premium 3600 + Wise machine that looks similar but has a Wise, I just wondered. That would be one way to shave off a few hundred vs getting a Gamma X-ELS. I have no clue as to racket mounting or clamps having only used and own a NEOS 1000 with a Wise, which between a nice used complete NEOS 1000 + Wise came in at under $1400.
 
@loosegroove , Yes, I understand the stated budget. I was just looking at what might be an interesting "budget" option to get into a linear gripper along with a decent mounting and clamping system. It still irritates me I can't see a way to string a Blackburne with my NEOS without some arcane modifications.
 
I cannot find Alpha stringing machines in EU at all...or for prices comparable to those in USA.

With which stringing machine (PP or Gama) the job could be done in 30min i.e. quicker?
Also with which option is easier/nicer to string with? I don’t see much choices except :
1) https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6-FC#tab-description not sure what is the difference vs. https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6
2) https://www.pros-pro.com/en/pros-pro-f6.html
...but all are above the initially planned budget - however if this saves time a lot & the efforts, then it’s fine
 
5th_league said:
With which stringing machine (PP or Gama) the job could be done in 30min i.e. quicker?
Click to expand...
i think this should be made clear - it is not (entirely) the machine that achieves the time. it is the experience and consistence of the stringer/person operating the machine.
i am pretty certain that if you give me a top of the range/state of the art machine - it is very unlikely that i will get one done in less than 30 mins.
 
esm said:
i think this should be made clear - it is not (entirely) the machine that achieves the time. it is the experience and consistence of the stringer/person operating the machine.
i am pretty certain that if you give me a top of the range/state of the art machine - it is very unlikely that i will get one done in less than 30 mins.
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There was a tennis shop a long time ago in Atlanta that had a requirement of 30 minutes to string a racket to be a stringer. They did not have any trouble finding stringers. That’s just 1 I knew of I’m sure there were and are many more. 30 minutes is possible on an Gamma DW X-Stringer with a poly string. It is not the machine that slows most stringers down it is weaving and simple mistakes like not planning ahead.
 
Irvin said:
There was a tennis shop a long time ago in Atlanta that had a requirement of 30 minutes to string a racket to be a stringer. They did not have any trouble finding stringers. That’s just 1 I knew of I’m sure there were and are many more. 30 minutes is possible on an Gamma DW X-Stringer with a poly string. It is not the machine that slows most stringers down it is weaving and simple mistakes like not planning ahead.
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just as well i do not need to make a living stringing racquets - but you are right, the time/quality should be on the operator.
just checked my records, the fastest i have done on an 95 sq" 16x19 with co-poly on the X-2 was 44 mins, and the fastest i have done on an eCP with an 100 sq" 16x19 with multi was 29 mins. both stringing time only. :laughing:
 
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5th_league said:
I cannot find Alpha stringing machines in EU at all...or for prices comparable to those in USA.

With which stringing machine (PP or Gama) the job could be done in 30min i.e. quicker?
Also with which option is easier/nicer to string with? I don’t see much choices except :
1) https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6-FC#tab-description not sure what is the difference vs. https://www.gamma-europe.com/Gamma-Stringing-Machine-X-6
2) https://www.pros-pro.com/en/pros-pro-f6.html
...but all are above the initially planned budget - however if this saves time a lot & the efforts, then it’s fine
Click to expand...

The FC version of the Gamma has "fixed" clamps instead of the "floating" clamps of the non fixed version. Note that the clamps rise out of the turntable beneath the racquet in the picture. Better, more accurate, less hassle.
 
5th_league said:
OK...this month PP Hornet is on sale for 330 EUR - not sure if it’s good enough https://www.pros-pro.com/de/pros-pro-hornet.html
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Good enough? What more does it need to be good enough? It is a constant pull 6 point machine with fixed clamps. I can’t speak for quality but you should expect to get what you pay for. Putting a limit on what you’re prepared to spend limits your options. You may want to consider used if there are a supply of good used machines in your area.
 
Do you think it’s better to choose PP’ F6 or Hornet - there is significant delta in EUR amount but for our purpose (extra stringing to finance son’s tennis + our strings) maybe it’s better to go over the initially planned budget?

I’m completelly new in this area...but I guess my son would also easier & quicker & earlier start with the stringing with F6?
So instead of playing games on P4 - he would string the racquets
 
5th_league said:
Do you think it’s better to choose PP’ F6 or Hornet - there is significant delta in EUR amount but for our purpose (extra stringing to finance son’s tennis + our strings) maybe it’s better to go over the initially planned budget?

I’m completelly new in this area...but I guess my son would also easier & quicker & earlier start with the stringing with F6?
So instead of playing games on P4 - he would string the racquets
Click to expand...

No idea who is manufacturing for Pro's Pro, but the Hornet looks an awful lot like the Alpha Pioneer DC+. The challenge you have with the F6 is that electronic machines are less durable. Simple machines are my preference. Not a lot to go wrong on the Hornet. My bet is that the Hornet, barring some surprising spring failure (which you can replace yourself), will be more likely to be worry free for decades. It depends on what's important to you.
 
Irvin said:
I was under the opinion Pros Pro, Eagnas, and Alpha were all made in the same place but could be wrong.
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Pretty sure Eagnas is made by Eagnas in China, and Alpha is made by Poreex Industrial in Taiwan. I know people are going to say that Alpha, Head, Dunlop, The Yonex Precision 5, and a few other are made by Leung in China, but if you dig deeper they are made by Poreex.
 
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5th_league said:
There are also 2 other manual PP options in the price range of manual Gamma X-6GC PRO & PP F6 (electronic) :
1) Combat https://www.pros-pro.com/en/s340-pros-pro-combat.html
2) Comet https://www.pros-pro.com/en/pros-pro-comet.html

I really cannot decide among these 4 machines which one will be the one... any suggestions (based on our requirements)?
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That was my point I just wanted to get you started by suggesting the Hornet. You will need to choose the machine / options you want within your price range. This thread may help https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...zs-guide-to-buying-stringing-machines.213946/
 
Irvin said:
That was my point I just wanted to get you started by suggesting the Hornet. You will need to choose the machine / options you want within your price range. This thread may help https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...zs-guide-to-buying-stringing-machines.213946/
Click to expand...

Thanks...It seems then table top crank stringing machine with fixed clamps and 6 point mounting, that is also physically less demanding than DW machines, should be our choice then...

Gamma is OUT then...one of manual PP cranks I need to choose Hornet, Pioneer, Comet, Combat
 
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5th_league said:
Thanks...It seems then table top crank stringing machine with fixed clamps and 6 point mounting, that is also physically less demanding than DW machines, should be our choice then...

Gamma is OUT then...one of manual PP cranks I need to choose Hornet, Pioneer, Comet, Combat
Click to expand...
A LO will be faster than a DW machine. DW will usually be a little lower priced and constant pull. It will not be fun going to a tournament and stringing several rackets a day on a DW.
 
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