How to best clamp a low bottom cross?

[Power Player]

I strung up a Pure Strike VS last week and it's one of those patterns where the bottom cross is so close to the frame that I can't get my fixed clamp to fit between the frame and the string. I tried to clamp more in the middle of the string but the cross still ended up crooked and very loose after tie off.

What's the best way to clamp more tension on that last cross? Do I need a flying clamp so I can come at it from the top?

My machine is a stringway MS200TT.

 

[esgee48]

Normally, I try not to increase tension on the last mains or cross prior to tie off. Where I can’t get a clamp next to the frame, I had to bite the bullet. If I can’t get closer than 5 mm to the frame, I now increase tension by 5#. If I can’t get closer than 10 mm, I up the tension by 10#.

Since you’re using a DW, I would compromise and move your weight out somewhere between 1-2”. Check your scale to see where the 5# and 10# mark would be. If you don’t want to increase using my increments, use what you’re comfortable with. You may have to experiment to see what works for you.

edit: If you have flying clamps, it has to be wide enough not to pull the last 2 crosses together. Claws may be too wide. Perhaps SW Triple?

 

[Power Player]

Normally, I try not to increase tension on the last mains or cross prior to tie off. Where I can’t get a clamp next to the frame, I had to bite the bullet. If I can’t get closer than 5 mm to the frame, I now increase tension by 5#. If I can’t get closer than 10 mm, I up the tension by 10#.

Since you’re using a DW, I would compromise and move your weight out somewhere between 1-2”. Check your scale to see where the 5# and 10# mark would be. If you don’t want to increase using my increments, use what you’re comfortable with. You may have to experiment to see what works for you.

edit: If you have flying clamps, it has to be wide enough not to pull the last 2 crosses together. Claws may be too wide. Perhaps SW Triple?

Yeah I was thinking maybe to invest in a triple clamp for situations like this.

 

[diredesire]

One thing you can try is to skip the second to last cross, then string the last cross with the same weave as the third to last cross, and then come back on the second to last to complete the frame. You'd essentially simul-pull the last two crosses, but I suspect it'll still be better than not having a perfectly aligned floating clamp. You'll still be pulling through a ton of friction, so I might try double pumping that pull.

A triple clamp would be best, but if it's for, say, one racquet a year, I might live with a crude hack depending on if this was for a client or not...

 

[esgee48]

I actually tried doing that ‘Yonex Loop’ on one of my frames. Had a funky time trying to get ref tension around all the grommet turns (lots of friction) and all the string intersections. Went back and forth on moving the crosses multiple times and was not happy with final results. Yonex loop for mains works w/o complications. Damn crosses, not so well.

 

[Power Player]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. Good to see you @diredesire !

 

[Irvin]

@Power Player you don’t have to get the clamp up against the frame. The string you’re tying off has been plastically deformed on the tension pull just before you clamped the string. Get the clamp as close to the frame, without getting in the way of tying off, as you can. I use the knot function 10% on my machine for all tie off strings. I would not be too concerned about the tension lost from drawback unless you think it is excessive.

You might have better luck asking other MS200 users how they handle tying off the bottom cross In the Stringway thread. There could be some other Stringway specific issues I’m not aware of. @Stringway Official may also be able to help.

EDIT: Pre-loading your clamp base (push the base toward the tensioner) may help also. But that causes other issues.

 

[loosegroove]

One thing you can try is to skip the second to last cross, then string the last cross with the same weave as the third to last cross, and then come back on the second to last to complete the frame. You'd essentially simul-pull the last two crosses, but I suspect it'll still be better than not having a perfectly aligned floating clamp. You'll still be pulling through a ton of friction, so I might try double pumping that pull.

Or maybe even pull tension on the last cross to take out as much slack as possible, even if you’re not going to clamp it. Then proceed to weave and pull tension on the penultimate cross.

 

[Irvin]

One thing you can try is to skip the second to last cross, then string the last cross with the same weave as the third to last cross, and then come back on the second to last to complete the frame. You'd essentially simul-pull the last two crosses, but I suspect it'll still be better than not having a perfectly aligned floating clamp. You'll still be pulling through a ton of friction, so I might try double pumping that pull.

A triple clamp would be best, but if it's for, say, one racquet a year, I might live with a crude hack depending on if this was for a client or not...

I’ve always wondered if tying off the penultimate cross is a good idea or not. We know that’s going to be a ‘hard weave’ and I think the mains may have more kinetic energy to either account for drawback or possibly cause more drawback.

 

[diredesire]

Or maybe even pull tension on the last cross to take out as much slack as possible, even if you’re not going to clamp it. Then proceed to weave and pull tension on the penultimate cross.

Yes - i actually considered coming back to edit to suggest this, but it would overcome a lot of the friction, but still not be a perfect solution. I was working through strategies using a floating clamp with scrap string, or a starting clamp, but didn't think any of those options was advisable. I think tensioning is probably worth it, even if not clamped.

I’ve always wondered if tying off the penultimate cross is a good idea or not. We know that’s going to be a ‘hard weave’ and I think the mains may have more kinetic energy to either account for drawback or possibly cause more drawback.

Yeah, I don't think it even meets "good" tier, it's definitely a hack.

 

[Bambooman]

When it's that low I just skip the last cross. lol

 

[Dags]

There could be some other Stringway specific issues I’m not aware of.

For those familiar with the machine, is this due to the design of the mounting system? On my (non-Stringway) machine, if I ever have a racquet where either the top or bottom cross is close to the end of the frame, I have to ensure the billiards at 6 and 12 are sticking out far enough when I mount the racquet to allow me to fit the clamp in. Move the towers back slightly, extend the supports at 6 and 12. Is there a similar option available here?

 

[diredesire]

For those familiar with the machine, is this due to the design of the mounting system? On my (non-Stringway) machine, if I ever have a racquet where either the top or bottom cross is close to the end of the frame, I have to ensure the billiards at 6 and 12 are sticking out far enough when I mount the racquet to allow me to fit the clamp in. Move the towers back slightly, extend the supports at 6 and 12. Is there a similar option available here?

Not really... due to the design of the inside mounts, those are fixed in position. The throat adapter will move in and out, I'm a dummy, see below: but that's just to provide center support once the inside billiards are touching the frame. No way to move the entire apparatus.

Photos in this thread (pg1) do a good job of showing what's going on.

*edit: I'm a dummy, the center mount is at the tip on these machines. It's been a while There is a Babolat throat adapter that bridges the two inside mounts that hooks over the center. Thinking about it now, though, one could make an adapter that shifts the frame forward in a similar fashion (fixed, not moving), but it'd probably need to be clipped over the far end of the bottom mount, or bolted down due to the lever arm it'd create.

Babolat retainer - Alpha-Stringway Stringing Machines

The Babolat retainer is used on the throatside to support racquets with a low profile bridge. For all racquet brands.

www.stringway.com

 

[struggle]

Clamp as close as you can then don't worry about it. That will likely be consistent with what others have done
on the same frame for this customer in the past.