Question re stringing natural gut on Gamma machine?

[Doulers]

I am totally new to the world of self-stringing and have been doing some research to find out a good first stringing machine to buy and start learning. I am thinking of buying the Gamma Progression ST II Stringing Machine which has a spring tensioner.

I like to use natural gut strings alot that is why I am considering learning stringing myselft - to save the money.

When using one of the smaller table top machines like the above Gamma, is there anything to keep in mind or be aware of when stringing with natural gut? Are there are disadvantages to stringing natural gut by yourself when you are not a professional, but beginner stringer? Is it better to string natural gut on a more expensive, high-tech machine? Any comments or opinions appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[jim e]

The most important thing is you have to be more careful handling gut. I string a lot of nat. gut, and I find it easier to string with a light hand pre stretch of the gut(if you need instructions on that let me know), as that eliminates a % of the coil memory. Then be careful pulling on the string to avoid kinks. That is most important.Also even if your racquet allows bottom up stringing of crosses, I find it best to string top down, as the cross strings get more abuse the more you weave and pull through, and stringing top down the top 3/4ths of the crosses are in the best condition. I also string gut as 2 piece, as the string gets handled less this way as well. And the knots, be sure to hand pull only! Others here will tell you it is okay to pull with pliers or starting clamp, and that is fine but one every so often gut will get ruined by doing this, and tying a good cinched up knot is possible using your fingers only, I know as that is what I do. Take your time, don't rush it, be careful, and you will be okay. I strung gut with my very 1st string job, back in 1968, on an old Tad Davis on a very old machine. People can ruin gut on a high end machine, or an inexpensive one. It is the carefullness of the stringer that is important! Good luck, and go for it!

 

[WildVolley]

I strung gut for the first time last week on my True Tension machine. I was worried about breaking it, so it definitely took more time to avoid kinks and not overstress the string.

I also didn't crank on the Parnell knot with a starting clamp the way I do with poly. Instead, I upped the tension on the last cross and tied off by hand.

 

[Doulers]

The most important thing is you have to be more careful handling gut. I string a lot of nat. gut, and I find it easier to string with a light hand pre stretch of the gut(if you need instructions on that let me know), as that eliminates a % of the coil memory. Then be careful pulling on the string to avoid kinks. That is most important.Also even if your racquet allows bottom up stringing of crosses, I find it best to string top down, as the cross strings get more abuse the more you weave and pull through, and stringing top down the top 3/4ths of the crosses are in the best condition. I also string gut as 2 piece, as the string gets handled less this way as well. And the knots, be sure to hand pull only! Others here will tell you it is okay to pull with pliers or starting clamp, and that is fine but one every so often gut will get ruined by doing this, and tying a good cinched up knot is possible using your fingers only, I know as that is what I do. Take your time, don't rush it, be careful, and you will be okay. I strung gut with my very 1st string job, back in 1968, on an old Tad Davis on a very old machine. People can ruin gut on a high end machine, or an inexpensive one. It is the carefullness of the stringer that is important! Good luck, and go for it!

Thanks for the advice and comments.

 

[Doulers]

I strung gut for the first time last week on my True Tension machine. I was worried about breaking it, so it definitely took more time to avoid kinks and not overstress the string.

I also didn't crank on the Parnell knot with a starting clamp the way I do with poly. Instead, I upped the tension on the last cross and tied off by hand.

Thanks for the advice and comments.

 

[Cruzer]

I have had my Gamma ST II for about seven years and it is a solid stringer. I use gut in my racquets and there have never been any issues stringing gut on the ST II. I added a Wise tension head four years ago. As mentioned above take your time and avoid kinking the string when stringing gut. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Doulers]

The most important thing is you have to be more careful handling gut. I string a lot of nat. gut, and I find it easier to string with a light hand pre stretch of the gut(if you need instructions on that let me know), as that eliminates a % of the coil memory. Then be careful pulling on the string to avoid kinks. That is most important.Also even if your racquet allows bottom up stringing of crosses, I find it best to string top down, as the cross strings get more abuse the more you weave and pull through, and stringing top down the top 3/4ths of the crosses are in the best condition. I also string gut as 2 piece, as the string gets handled less this way as well. And the knots, be sure to hand pull only! Others here will tell you it is okay to pull with pliers or starting clamp, and that is fine but one every so often gut will get ruined by doing this, and tying a good cinched up knot is possible using your fingers only, I know as that is what I do. Take your time, don't rush it, be careful, and you will be okay. I strung gut with my very 1st string job, back in 1968, on an old Tad Davis on a very old machine. People can ruin gut on a high end machine, or an inexpensive one. It is the carefullness of the stringer that is important! Good luck, and go for it!

jim e - as per your post above, if you can supply me with instructions on how to do a light hand pre stretch of natural gut, that would be much appreciated. thanks.

 

[jim e]

jim e - as per your post above, if you can supply me with instructions on how to do a light hand pre stretch of natural gut, that would be much appreciated. thanks.

I start by cutting the gut in 2 pieces, as I usually string gut as a 2 piece job, as that way you handle it less, and therefore less wear and tear.
Once you have the 2 pieces, I take one end and clamp it to one of the machine clamps,(I have a heavy machine)(some people will tie it to a door knob), and walk back to the end, and I pull on the string a few seconds and after a while you can feel the string go limp,(you will get a feel for that after a couple times). It will get rid of some of the coil memory, (not all of it but a significant amount),this is just a light prestretch, and I do this on all nat. gut stringing, as it does help the stringing process, as the string will lay flatter, so less chance of a kink. Kinks are bad for gut.This really does not take that much time, and makes the job that much easier.

 

[Lefty78]

I would highly recommend buying a few sets of the cheapest synthetic gut you can find. Try stringing a frame or two, until you've got a grip on what you're doing, before going with the gut. I'm not suggesting you play with $2 strings, just make sure you know what you're doing. If you have to weave and then un-weave crosses, or if you have a problem tying off or even several other issues, you can ruin or at least wear/fray a good set of gut. My 2 cents.

 

[rich s]

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=147002&postcount=3

 

[marosmith]

that's the machine i have and i have no problem stringing global gut or tonic.