How to start multifilament/syn gut

SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
Hi everyone, I just strung up a blade with a multifilament. God, it makes me want to use poly every day. Starting the mains with multifilament is just the bane of my stringing experience. I don’t string multis that often so it’s not my forte. Anyways, the string keeps popping out of the clamp. What is going wrong? I tighten the clamp and then tension the other side but it keeps popping out and flattening the string. I also had a bit of frame squashing of sorts, the racquet is still 27 inches but it is a little narrower than my other blades, I hope nothing is wrong. Any ideas? Thank you.
 
Last edited:
A

Arzivu

Semi-Pro
Use a starting clamp behind your basic clamp as a backup to hold pressure better. Also, try the usuki method.
 
E

esm

Legend
No issues with the Blade with Syn gut, multi, poly or hybrids.
the starting clamp after the clamp is a good suggestion.
would be good to check the clamps and see if it needs cleaning.
can I ask which stringer/clamp you are having challenges with?
 
MAX PLY

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
First guess is that your clamps need cleaning. It would help to know what machine you are using. Also, which multi?
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
For those asking, I use a gamma stringing machine, I don’t know what clamps but I can take a look. Should I put the clamps under some warm water and soap, how should I go about cleaning them?
 
jhick

jhick

Hall of Fame
SinneGOAT said:
For those asking, I use a gamma stringing machine, I don’t know what clamps but I can take a look. Should I put the clamps under some warm water and soap, how should I go about cleaning them?
Click to expand...
I've used a lower grit sandpaper to clean the clamps. I've also used rubbing alcohol. Depending on the type of clamp you have (the floating ones usually can be disassembled), you may have to use a shoe lace or something similar to get to the surface with rubbing alcohol.
 
MAX PLY

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
Fixed Clamps or Flying Clamps? Either way, clean them with some alcohol (denatured or isopropyl). A cotton shoe lace works very well. No soap or water. No sandpaper either (yet, anyway).
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
MAX PLY said:
Fixed Clamps or Flying Clamps? Either way, clean them with some alcohol (denatured or isopropyl). A cotton shoe lace works very well. No soap or water. No sandpaper either (yet, anyway).
Click to expand...
Not sure but I took em out of the stand, so flying?
image.jpg
 
J

jim e

Legend
Take a shoelace, soak it in alcohol, and adjust clamp so you can just pull lace through clamp. Do it enough times to be sure clean.
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
Irvin said:
I offer some suggestion but I’m not sure what starting method you’re using. Those clamps look like they have a lot of string debris in them I would. I’s take them apart and clean them with my wife’s tooth brush and 91% alcohol.
Click to expand...
Doing that now, sadly one of my clamps fell apart and I can’t put it back together. Good news is I got a lot off!
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
Alright, I’ve got the clamp back together, hopefully things are better now. I’ll let you guys know how things go when I string again! Thank you!!
 
T

Tar Heel Tennis

Professional
Joking aside, I use an old toothbrush with the 91% alcohol to clean my Baiardo clamps. I do a monthly cleaning as well as a quick clean after I string a frame with natural gut because I use Tri-Flow lubricant when stringing gut.

The toothbrush and alcohol work wonderfully.
 
Folsom_Stringer_Musa

Folsom_Stringer_Musa

Professional
SinneGOAT said:
Not sure but I took em out of the stand, so flying?
image.jpg
Click to expand...

I have these clamps. Usually you should not have gripping issue with those clamps.

What Tension are you using?
Which main slips - first one or pretty much all?

If first one slips, add a starting clamp next to the fixed clamp or use Yusuki method to start mains.

If after cleaning and tightening, you still have slipping issue:
Look inside of the clamp teeth, the diamond dust may be worn out. If not worn out, then clean it well.
 
MAX PLY

MAX PLY

Hall of Fame
Seriously, it looks like the clamps needed a good cleaning (maybe the whole machine too?). That should work for the OP. Failing that, he can try fortifying that first pull with a back up starting clamp (what I have always done) or maybe using the business card hack (using a folded business card in the clamp to snuggly hold the string) for the first pull (always the toughest). Good luck.
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Cleaning you machine's clamps and other gripping surfaces SHOULD be a monthly and/or periodic ritual. I clean my stuff every 5-10 frames if the month is busy. OTW, I may clean at the end of each month. Heck, I frequently forget when I last cleaned, so end up doing at end of month anyway. Alcohol and paper towel or shoestring is all you need.
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
Folsom_Stringer_Musa said:
I have these clamps. Usually you should not have gripping issue with those clamps.

What Tension are you using?
Which main slips - first one or pretty much all?

If first one slips, add a starting clamp next to the fixed clamp or use Yusuki method to start mains.

If after cleaning and tightening, you still have slipping issue:
Look inside of the clamp teeth, the diamond dust may be worn out. If not worn out, then clean it well.
Click to expand...
I was stringing Triax at 57 and 55, I put a clamp on the left one normally and then tension the right main. It is the first one that slips. I’ll clean it again to be sure, what should I do if the dust is worn out? Thank you for the response.
 
First Serve

First Serve

Rookie
SinneGOAT said:
...what should I do if the dust is worn out? Thank you for the response.
Click to expand...

Don't do this, but thinking out loud.....

An extremely thin coating of epoxy and very fine grit.

On second thought instead of Mickey Mouse hack jobs, call Gamma for new clamps. I think you can get new ones for under $100.
 
F

Firepandas

Rookie
I use the Yusuki Method to start almost 100% of the time and I have never had problems with a multi. If cleaning and adjusting your clamps doesn't work, I would recommend giving that a shot.
 
Irvin

Irvin

Talk Tennis Guru
SinneGOAT said:
I was stringing Triax at 57 and 55, I put a clamp on the left one normally and then tension the right main. It is the first one that slips. I’ll clean it again to be sure, what should I do if the dust is worn out? Thank you for the response.
Click to expand...
It could be your clamp is dropping before you pull tension. In that case your string is pulling up through the clamp at an angle pulling the string out. Holding the clamp up should help.
 
jhick

jhick

Hall of Fame
Irvin said:
My wife’s alcohol? She watches her tequila and triple sec pretty close and does not share.
Click to expand...
He can return the toothbrush and alcohol once he's done using it. It would be a nice gesture on your wife's part and helping out a fellow TT'er. ;)

Also, that is some strong tequila at 91%.
 
D

Deleted member 776614

Guest
SinneGOAT said:
I’ll clean it again to be sure, what should I do if the dust is worn out?
Click to expand...
You can get replacement diamond pads for Gamma clamps: (if the link gets blocked out, search for Gamma Diamond Insert Sheet)
racquetguys.com

Gamma Diamond Insert Sheet for Universal Clamp | RacquetGuys.com

Tennis string machine clamps last a long time, but nothing is forever. Eventually the diamond sheet between and beneath the teeth of the clamp will need replacing. Adhesive is not provided and we recommend using an epoxy. Fits MDCSC13 - Gamm...
racquetguys.com racquetguys.com
 
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