Had not strung in 3 years. Steps I forgot.

[dannyslicer]

Stretched string around doorknob (doubled)
Mounted racket
Forgot what side to start the mains (head vs throat)
Had to watch video for Parnell knot
Had to adjust clamps to proper width
Mains went fine

Started at 2nd cross grommet
Used starting clamp
Had to guess what grommet to tie off knots
Weaving got faster

2 hours

 

[Spielgame]

Stretched string around doorknob (doubled)
Mounted racket
Forgot what side to start the mains (head vs throat)
Had to watch video for Parnell knot
Had to adjust clamps to proper width
Mains went fine

Started at 2nd cross grommet
Used starting clamp
Had to guess what grommet to tie off knots
Weaving got faster

2 hours

3 years? Why is that? Injury?

Which side to start the main, it depends on how many grommet holes the racquet has on the throat. If there are 6 holes on the throat, then start inserting the string from the throat. If there are 8 holes on the throat, then start inserting the string from the head.

 

[ichaseballs]

what were the strings? prestretching really not needed unless gut.



there is a lot of "oh just buy a machine and it will pay itself off" online, but what you don't see are the people giving up trying to learn and deciding it is easier to just pay someone else to do it. then if you bought a stringing machine, gotta try to sell it for a minimal loss.

it takes about 15-25 rackets to get consistent and string under an hour. stringing isn't that complex nor does it require a vast amount of knowledge, that said it's not that "simple" either. similar to a barista, where it can get pretty deep if you want. especially as stringers tend to move into customization... Dunning–Kruger effect (a cognitive bias where people with low ability or knowledge in an area overestimate their own competence, while those with high ability tend to underestimate theirs)

 

[cks]

2 hours

Wow.

My first string job took 2+ hours. Second string job took 1+ hour. I watched a ton of youtube videos to teach myself how to string. Now it takes me about 20-25 minutes a racket.

 

[cks]

it takes a good 20-30 rackets to get consistent and string under an hour.

I went back and checked my stringing log (google sheet). My 14th string job was the first time I clocked under 60 minutes. 21st string job was the last time it took me over 60 minutes. You are spot on.

 

[ichaseballs]

personally i never liked timing myself, as my anxiety goes up feeling a race against a clock for no reason...
sometimes it does happen when an "express" job comes up. (no choice)

i may casually glance at start time and end time every now and then, but usually i could care less.
quality over speed. i am somewhere in the 30-40 minute range.

 

[cks]

personally i never liked timing myself,

I got into the habit to track my string jobs when I started, so time myself along with keeping a record of racket/string/reference tension.

 

[ichaseballs]

I went back and checked my stringing log (google sheet). My 14th string job was the first time I clocked under 60 minutes. 21st string job was the last time it took me over 60 minutes. You are spot on.

i edited to 15-25 rackets while you were replying. making the estimate even closer

 

[dannyslicer]

I'm using multi.
I just stretch around a door knob to remove some of the coiling effect.

what were the strings? prestretching really not needed unless gut.

 

[dannyslicer]

Wow.

My first string job took 2+ hours. Second string job took 1+ hour. I watched a ton of youtube videos to teach myself how to string. Now it takes me about 20-25 minutes a racket.

I did another racket today
Took me 1 hour
NOT counting opening strings, stretching, cutting old strings, mounting racket, or clean up.

Roadblocks were not being able to push string through blocked grommet
and one cross had to be redone (was not alternating)

 

[Spielgame]

I did another racket today
Took me 1 hour
NOT counting opening strings, stretching, cutting old strings, mounting racket, or clean up.

Roadblocks were not being able to push string through blocked grommet
and one cross had to be redone (was not alternating)

Did you cut the end of the string in an angle so that it it's pointy? I also squeeze the end of the string with starting clamp so the end of the string becomes thin and then cut it in an angle so the end of the string is thin and pointy. It makes it easier to push it through a blocked hole.

I use a guide awl as a last resort if I can't push the string through a blocked hole.

 

[esm]

I did another racket today
Took me 1 hour
NOT counting opening strings, stretching, cutting old strings, mounting racket, or clean up.

Roadblocks were not being able to push string through blocked grommet
and one cross had to be redone (was not alternating)

Multi can be an issue with stubborn blocked holes.
You can plan it ahead and place a scrap piece of string in the cross grommet, so it’d be already in place when you get there. Obviously take the scrap piece of string out before inserting the cross into the grommet.
@Wes has a ribbon trick for it too, search the forum for more info.

 

[ichaseballs]

use a pathfinder awl from the outside of the frame. or even a straight awl can work.
this helps getting the cross on top of the blocking main string. (no crossovers on outside)

the more a racquet has been strung, usually gets easier to work the grommet holes.

 

[dannyslicer]

Multi can be an issue with stubborn blocked holes.
You can plan it ahead and place a scrap piece of string in the cross grommet, so it’d be already in place when you get there. Obviously take the scrap piece of string out before inserting the cross into the grommet.
@Wes has a ribbon trick for it too, search the forum for more info.

I used to do this.
You need to do it on the skipped grommets, right?

 

[ErrorMachine]

It takes me an hour just to unknot the set

 

[esgee48]

Tricks should become automatic. You should examine the frame and clean before anything else. That’s the time to note problem area and take steps to lessen or fix them.