Cone lock vs. spring-assist clamps
- Thread starter TonyB
- Start date
dancraig
Hall of Fame
With cone locks, you manually screw down the clamp base by turning the handle. With spring assist, a mechanism inside the base locks down the clamp base with just a short flick of the handle.
I guess cone locks are a little slower and require more effort. If you are older, and have arthritis in your hands, I think spring assisted would really be better. If you string a lot of frames, your hands can get sore even if you don't have arthritis. I understand the high end spring assisted bases are really a pleasure to use.
I guess cone locks are a little slower and require more effort. If you are older, and have arthritis in your hands, I think spring assisted would really be better. If you string a lot of frames, your hands can get sore even if you don't have arthritis. I understand the high end spring assisted bases are really a pleasure to use.
Lindros13
Semi-Pro
Should CONE LOCK vs SPRING ASSISTED lock play any influence in my decision making for picking a stringing machine? Some machines I am considering have one while others have the other. If I understand the description above, then a cone lock requires you to tighten a lever until you "feel" it is tight enough to hold (as opposed to a spring assisted "flick of the handle" where the spring automatically goes to the required tightness). If this is the case, then the cone lock type will require me to "think" about the tightness each and every time I tighten it....correct? Sort of like...when I use a wrench to tighten a bolt and I always have to think, "is that tight enough?" or "is it too tight (where I will strip it)?"
Is that an accurate assessment?
Also, do glide bar type machines have cone locks or spring assisted elements to them, or are they an entirely different ballgame? THANKS.
Is that an accurate assessment?
Also, do glide bar type machines have cone locks or spring assisted elements to them, or are they an entirely different ballgame? THANKS.
Lindros, Thats a pretty good assessment. I would say spring assisted bases are like turning a switch off and on. Well made spring assisted bases have a nice feel to them. Cone lock bases are like tightening a bolt. However, it really does not take a whole lot of effort to tighten. Depending on how you adjust the bolts on the bottom, it may only take a quarter turn of the handle. Both will do the job, but spring assisted base locks are one of the luxuries I will get on my next machine.
As far as glide bars, they are totally different. As the clamp grips the string, it also clamps the bar at the same time.
As far as glide bars, they are totally different. As the clamp grips the string, it also clamps the bar at the same time.
PBODY99
Legend
The clamps lock in place when you clamp off the string. The bar doesn allow for rotation.
I've found that the power needed to lock the base is not that great. While it is a feel thing, you just push until you feel resistance. I foing it more of a bother, than anything else. This feature choice would be fairly far down my list of things to consider, though I would get the spring assisted ones if budget permitts.
Conelock bases sometimes will loosen too far when the clamps are moved around. For me, it's a matter of convenience - conelock bases are annoying and take more time to lock. It's like suspension mounting vs individually-adjusted mounting arms - it's more convenient to have two adjustments than to have six.
D
Deleted member 25923
Guest
Some cone lock and spring assisted are easier than others.
mellofelow
Semi-Pro
"SEARCH".... your best friend.
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flynhawaiian
New User
can you replace a cone with a spring assisted?
Insane90DegreeSpin
Rookie
I just received spring assisted base clamps for my Silent Partner Crump since the conelock twisted too much and the strings felt mushy.
Now, the strings don't budge while stringing and it's so much easier to tighten the base.
100$ for each base... it's worth it!
Now, the strings don't budge while stringing and it's so much easier to tighten the base.
100$ for each base... it's worth it!
This is a prime example, as is best to get the most machine that you can afford from the beginning, as later to upgrade if at all possible, or sell it and get another will eventually cost even more.
william7gr
Professional
Did you get them prom SP?
Steve Huff
G.O.A.T.
Glide bars are simple, easy to use, and not much to go wrong with, especially the ones from Prince (Ektelon). The only disadvantage to glide bars is they can't clamp off strings that are angled, such as in a fan pattern. Not too many tennis rackets have fan patterns, but if you do many racquetball rackets, you'll really need swivel clamps. Even with glide bar clamps, fan patterns are not impossible to do, you can use floating clamps if you have to.
Cone locks takes more effort and hard to unlock if overtightened. It takes away the pleasure of stringing in my opinion. If you're considering a new machine the price difference may be minimal around $75 and worth every penny. If you already own a machine and want to upgrade it is very expense around $175 a pair. I have a used pair listed in the classified that you can check out.
A fair comparison would be like power windows on your car vs. the old crank. They both work and get the job done!
A fair comparison would be like power windows on your car vs. the old crank. They both work and get the job done!
In most cases yes. That's what I did but have sold my machine and kept the spring assisted bases. I've listed in the classifieds if you care to check.
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