Eagnas, Hawk 800 stringing machine Good first time machine?

[EvanCahill]

I am looking to potentially buy a racket stringing machine, and found a Eagnas Hawk 800 stringing machine listed on Craigslist. https://kansascity.craigslist.org/spo/5966632758.html I have strung four tennis rackets on a friend's stringer, and have been considering buying a stringer for a while now. I know very little about stringing machines in general. Would buying this machine used be better than buying a cheap model like the gamma x-2 or klippermate? What things should I check on the machine before purchasing it? Is it worth $250? Thanks for your help

 

[esgee48]

[1] What type of machine does your friend have? How long have you been stringing?
[2] Read the sticky?
[3] Do you have the room for an upright?
[4] How many frames planned per week? 1,2,5,20? Nothing wrong with X2 or KM is you plan to do 1 frame a week.

You are looking at a LO. The supports are not self centering, but that is not a game killer. Similar to Gamma 5xxx series. If you can inspect the machine, make sure all the manuals, parts and misc. pieces (pads, etc.) are there. No rust on moving parts. Have the seller show you how to mount the frame, make adjustments to tension head, etc. Bring a frame with you and mount on the machine. Bring a pack of string and do some mains. Try various tensions and make sure the crank locks and releases properly and the fixed clamps work.

If you cannot inspect, get lots of pictures. Get a list of what is included. Finalize your buy only if the crank and the fixed clamps work. Obviously if they fail, then you should back out.

Price is OK. New is about $550.

 

[EvanCahill]

Used a gamma x-st. I strung four tennis rackets over the course of a couple of months. Planning on just stringing my own racket and possibly my friends. I will read the sticky. I just want to buy a high quality machine that I can use for the foreseeable future. I would prefer fixed clamps over floating clamps.

 

[ElMagoElGato]

As one of the rare Eaganas owners on this board, I'm sure you'll be disappointed at quality of all parts including clamps. Also, I'm worried that the machine looks quite old. Otherwise, you can still string a racket if it works. I guess it's a good experience you can buy for $250.

 

[EvanCahill]

The machine is from 2002. The owner says he has strung around a hundred rackets. Mainly just looking to save the 100 dollars a year I spend for others to string my rackets. Would prefer a nicer used machine than a new so-so machine. Just not sure whether this is the right machine or I should wait for another one to come along. Thanks for the input

 

[mmk]

I have the same model/vintage. The machine in the ad is missing the side arm supports, but the way the 6/12 mounts work it is really more like a 2-point mount rather than a 6-point. Mine was missing a couple, and I couldn't get Eagnas to sell me any, I ended up buying them from an Australian company while I was there for work.
The base clamps aren't great, and will eventually have problems. If you search McMaster on this forum, you'll find a list of parts to rebuild the base clamps, and they will work much better after that. I also had a clamp fail, and replaced both with the three-tooth Eagnas PN-1012 clamps, which are a big upgrade over the ones that machine comes with.
Having said all that, I still prefer it to the Gamma X-2 I had been using. And I've since bought a used Alpha crank machine with a true 6-point mount, although it has its own problems I'm trying to solve, and I prefer the PN-1012 clamps to the five-tooth Alpha clamps. I'd use the PN-1012s in the Alpha but their diameter is just a bit less than the Alpha's, so there is a bit more slop than I'm willing to accept.
One advantage the Hawk 800 has over the Alpha I bought is the base on the Hawk is metal, whereas the Alpha's is plastic, so the Hawk is more stable. Also, when I bought the Alpha it didn't have 360 degree rotation as the table was a bit too low, and I ended up buying washers and a roller bearing to raise it, a problem I didn't have with the Hawk.

 

[sandalsocks]

I'm also a rare person who used to have an Eagnas. I have had this same model for about 15 years and strung over 200 racquets on it with a 5-6 years layoff where it wasn't used. I have put it lots of money into upgrading numerous part and still needed add funds for parts wearing out quickly that I sold it for about the same price as in the ad. I would recommend not buying it.

Like MMK said, its really like a 2-point mount but its not a deal breaker. My experience of this model is that the base clamps wear out quickly and need frequent tuning and adjustments. The big plus for me was that the base, stand, and crank were solid but every thing else was not great. Everything else that had moving parts outside the crank (for me) wore out and Eagnas recommended a complete replacement as getting new parts would have been equally expensive.

 

[struggle]

As a former Eagnas owner (combo 910), I'd go in a different direct. Especially if it's missing some parts, needs clamps etc.