Easiest way to cut sets off of a Reel

[CosmosMpower]

How do you guys handle measuring 40 feet or so for a set of strings off a reel? Right now I'm weighting one end of the string down on the floor and dragging it across my living room, measuring off 20 feet with a tape measure and marking the 20 foot mark with a piece of tape.

Then I weight down the string at the 20 foot taped mark and drag out another 20 feet and cut. Is there a more efficient way to do this? Are there any tools that you can run string through that measures how much you've put through so you can just cut it at the desired length?

 

[struggle]

I just measured my "wingspan" (about 5.5 feet).
So for 20' I pull four wingspans and back off approximately 2 feet.

I always seems to pull abit more string than i need, but i don't sweat it
as the reels i buy are cheap. And coming up short sucks (been there, done that).

 

[struggle]

Some machines do have a unit you can run the string though and it measures for you.

 

[esgee48]

If you are using a reel, keep track of excess that you end up throwing away. For example, if you cut 40', but use 36', you are throwing away 4'. Next time, cut 36' and just throw away the tails needed to reach the gripper. You can save enough for an extra string job from a reel.

 

[jim e]

The typical racquet is 27 inches long.
9 racquet lenghts= 20.25 feet=most mains,
8 racquet lenghts = 18 feet= most crosses.
Easiest to measure that once racquet is mounted on machine.
This can be tweeked once a certain racquet is strung, as each racquet is a little different, and some strings stretch more than others.
Keep a starting clamp handy for a bridge in case you cut it short.

 

[Irvin]

I have about 40 different reels of string and just made a rack using PVC pipe and fittings.. I'm going to put a yardstick on top and hold it down with tie wraps to measure string.

EDIT: I used to lay the reel down on the floor and measure off the string with racket lengths but that caused the string (especially poly) to get all twisted coming off the reel.

 

[OrangePower]

How do you guys handle measuring 40 feet or so for a set of strings off a reel? Right now I'm weighting one end of the string down on the floor and dragging it across my living room, measuring off 20 feet with a tape measure and marking the 20 foot mark with a piece of tape.

Then I weight down the string at the 20 foot taped mark and drag out another 20 feet and cut. Is there a more efficient way to do this? Are there any tools that you can run string through that measures how much you've put through so you can just cut it at the desired length?

Do you string for yourself mostly? If so, measure and cut off exactly how much string you need for your racquet(s), but don't use it to string - keep that piece as a reference measure. Then when stringing measure off string from your reel against your reference piece (just hold the ends together and grip both as you are taking string off the reel).

 

[jim e]

I have about 40 different reels of string and just made a racket using PVC pipe and fittings..

You made a racquet out of PVC ??
How does it hit?? Is it a MP or OS size?
Probably will be tough getting grommets for it!

 

[loosegroove]

The typical racquet is 27 inches long.
9 racquet lenghts= 20.25 feet=most mains,
8 racquet lenghts = 18 feet= most crosses.
Easiest to measure that once racquet is mounted on machine.
This can be tweeked once a certain racquet is strung, as each racquet is a little different, and some strings stretch more than others.
Keep a starting clamp handy for a bridge in case you cut it short.

Yeah, this is what I do. And as @esgee48, I measured the excess for my own racket, which is the racket I'm stringing 95% of the time, so I knew for the crosses I only needed 7 racket lengths plus the length of the handle . The wingspan way is good too, but tough to get as precise with your measurements.

 

[Irvin]

You made a racquet out of PVC ??
How does it hit?? Is it a MP or OS size?
Probably will be tough getting grommets for it!

Yeah and it is very flexible. LOL Sorry rack not racket.

 

[MathieuR]

I always string 2 piece. I mount the frame on the stringing-table, and for the mains measure 8 mains directly on the frame, inside out. For a stiff poly I add 8" to reach the grippe, double the total length and cut. (for 18 mains I measure 9 mains )

For the crosses ~same: measure 9 crosses, double the measured length, ad "one cross-lenght" (and 8" for a stiff poly). Works fine, no surprises.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Do you string for yourself mostly? If so, measure and cut off exactly how much string you need for your racquet(s), but don't use it to string - keep that piece as a reference measure. Then when stringing measure off string from your reel against your reference piece (just hold the ends together and grip both as you are taking string off the reel).

Yes I just bought a stringer and started stringing myself. I bought a reel. Good idea to cut one piece and just use that as a reference that way I don't have to break out the tape measure each time.

 

[Shroud]

I measured a 20' section, tied it to a doorknob and pulled it tight seeing how far down the hall it would go. After that i just tie to the doorknob and walk the reel to the same spot. You could mark the floor with painters tape if you are really anal.

 

[CosmosMpower]

I'm sure all the wives and gf's love us dragging string all around the house

 

[Irvin]

I'm sure all the wives and gf's love us dragging string all around the house

When cutting string from a reel alway cut at an angle so the ends aren't blunt. If you don't sooner or later you will end up cutting a point off the very tip of your string and you won't care about where that other sharp tip lands. If you string barefoot like I do sooner or later you will find it.

 

[seekay]

I have a five-foot tape measure mounted near my stringing machine. It's not nearly as clever as some of these other solutions, just easy and precise.

 

[OrangePower]

Yes I just bought a stringer and started stringing myself. I bought a reel. Good idea to cut one piece and just use that as a reference that way I don't have to break out the tape measure each time.

Yup, that's the idea. I string hybrid, so would need to measure mains and crosses each off a different reel. Makes it much simpler to take off from reels based on my mains reference piece and cross reference piece, no further measuring needed.

 

[eelhc]

Yardsticks, lay on the floor, etc, etc... so complicated. Just use the 27" racquet like many of do.

Also... Keep careful notes on the racquet, tension, string type, how much you measure and cut and how much tail you have on each end you cut after tying off. After a while, you'll be able to adjust for each racquet, string type and tension and have less tail left to cut. On a 16x19 98sqin frame, a 660' reel will give you 37+ half sets of mains and crosses. If you just cut 40ft each time, 33 half sets.

 

[lwto]

I have a table that my stringer sits on.. 2x4 feet..with 1 foot markers.
I simply unreel 4' at a time using my table, twice, then 2', and then simply double back for 20 feet.

The table

The reel on a easily removable spindle I made from a 4 inch 3/8" bolt

 

[lwto]

I'm sure all the wives and gf's love us dragging string all around the house

I've had this problem and unwittingly found a very easy solution to 98 percent of scrap string.

Yeah, invert the flaps in, and it keeps all the strings in.. well most

 

[Kalin]

I'm sure all the wives and gf's love us dragging string all around the house

Well, my cat loves it! Takes me 3 minutes to measure out and 30 minutes to untangle afterwards.

I mark one metre on the coffee table, sit beside it and pull lengths. But yes, all comes down messy on the floor.

 

[manirban]

I have 12" marked off with tape on the tool holder on my stringer. I just measure the first 12" and then double up that by folding the string (without kinking it) over while I pull more string out of the reel. Keep doing that and you'll get to 32' in no time. (ie- Pull 1 foot, fold it over while pulling more string out, gets you to 2', fold that over while pulling more string till you get to the end of the original end, then you have 4', repeat, 8', repeat, 16', repeat 32'). Pull a few feet more on whatever you need to get your racket done. I know on my 98 sq in head, I can get away with 33' with some cushion left over, so I'm aiming for 20 rackets in a 660' reel. I actually keep tabs on this by marking off each racket I do on the reel label with a marker. Count by 5 stick figures from grade school Keep a starting clamp and old poly handy if you cant reach the gripper on the last few bits of string.

Worst case that 20th racket will have enough for the mains and I'll string some soft crosses for a hybrid.

 

[Bespectacled]

I have 1' increments marked on my bench up to 5', but lately I've been using the racquet head to measure directly for the mains and crosses. The advantage of this method is that it automatically adjusts for different stringing patterns.

For example, my Yonex Tour G has a 16x20 stringing pattern. I measure off 17 lengths of the racquet head for the mains, and 22 widths of the racquet head for the crosses. I strung my friend's Wilson PS 95S with a 16x15 stringing pattern. I measured off 17 lengths for the mains and 17 widths for the crosses. No need to figure out how long to measure each piece. But after I've got my pieces I may measure it against the markings on my bench so I know how much I've used off the reel.

In case you missed it, the forumla is +1 length for mains and +2 widths for the crosses. Works great with my Neos 1000 with enough length for the last pull & tie off without too much excess leftover.

Giving credit where credit is due. I got this method from a TennisbySpize stringing video.

 

[g4driver]

I just measured my "wingspan" (about 5.5 feet).
So for 20' I pull four wingspans and back off approximately 2 feet.

I have the same 5.5" wingspan, so 3.5 wingspan's give me 19.25 feet which easily strings any 100 square inch frame that has 18, or 16 mains.
I use 3 wingspans for any frame 100' or under for crosses.

When I get a 115/118/ 120 oversize, I just go 4 wingspans and then come back to my elbow (about 1/4 of the wingspan) to get roughly 3.75 wingspans or 20.625 feet.
5.5x 4 wingspans = 22 feet Then just come back (save) the distance from fingertip to elbow (5.5 wingspans / 4 = 1.375 feet) and this gives me roughly 20.625"

22 feet
minus (5.5/4 or 1.375 feet)=
20.625 feet

 

[swizzy]

took a sharpie and made a mark at 12 inches on the base of my stringer.. feed the string off the spool until i have the number of feet i need for the job

 

[esgee48]

I use a 1"x4"x35" piece of wood. Notched a little on both ends. Marked at 11", 23". Go around 6 times and you have 36'. Need more or less, back off or advance to next mark. A lot of frames I do seem to use either 34' or 37'.

 

[fuzz nation]

How do you guys handle measuring 40 feet or so for a set of strings off a reel? Right now I'm weighting one end of the string down on the floor and dragging it across my living room, measuring off 20 feet with a tape measure and marking the 20 foot mark with a piece of tape.

Then I weight down the string at the 20 foot taped mark and drag out another 20 feet and cut. Is there a more efficient way to do this? Are there any tools that you can run string through that measures how much you've put through so you can just cut it at the desired length?

I also use the technique described in post #11. If you get used to using the racquet's hoop to measure the length of string you need, you can nail it without using (wasting) much extra. Very handy for measuring string off a reel, but also good when using an individual set - sometimes cutting a 40' set exactly in half isn't what's needed for the mains and crosses of some frames.

 

[esgee48]

Fan shaped mains will screw you up. You end up pulling too little off the reel since the mains are not vertical. Just saying, because I seem to do a lot of them. Now-a-days, I just keep track of how much to pull for a frame since I seem to do the same people over and over again.

 

[Wes]

Yardsticks, lay on the floor, etc, etc... so complicated. Just use the 27" racquet like many of do.

Also... Keep careful notes on the racquet, tension, string type, how much you measure and cut and how much tail you have on each end you cut after tying off. After a while, you'll be able to adjust for each racquet, string type and tension and have less tail left to cut. On a 16x19 98sqin frame, a 660' reel will give you 37+ half sets of mains and crosses. If you just cut 40ft each time, 33 half sets.

Now-a-days, I just keep track of how much to pull for a frame since I seem to do the same people over and over again.

^^^
Exactly... what they said.

 

[zaskar1]

I just measured my "wingspan" (about 5.5 feet).
So for 20' I pull four wingspans and back off approximately 2 feet.

I always seems to pull abit more string than i need, but i don't sweat it
as the reels i buy are cheap. And coming up short sucks (been there, done that).

this works for me, when i string my personal racquets, i only use 38 ft not 40 ft, so i use my wingspan
of 5.5 ft, 7X and its close enough.
i can get about 17 string jobs off a reel for my racquets

z

 

[skydog]

I have a yard stick I place in front of my table top stringer. I simply put the reel on the floor and pull 3 feet at a time. On the last pull if the desired length is not divisible by 3, just pull an additional foot or two or however precise you want to be.

Since I essentially string just for myself, I keep a stringing log on a simple spreadsheet on my iPad. I start with the recommended lengths and measure the excess after the gripper when finished. After a couple of string jobs, you will have the desired lengths without excess for your frame/string combo. In my current set up, I am down to pulling only 15 feet for my cross string (Monogut ZX) in a Prince Tour 98 ESP and that's with using a starting clamp and still having excess string beyond the gripper on the last cross.