Shared grommets are a PITA....

[eelhc]

Just strung NG on a frame with 4 shared grommets. The 2 outside mains on the head and throat share the grommet with a cross. I waxed the string and the grommets but I never feel great when doing this.... too much string rubbing together in a tight spot.

I do pre-weave the shared grommets on the head so at least there I'm not pulling as much string through. So it occurred to me afterwards that I could weave the outside 2 mains but not tension them. I would hold both with 2 starting clamps (I have several) which would free up the machine clamps to weave the and tension the crosses. Once I'm past the shared grommets on the throat, I could pull tension on the main side opposite the machine clamp holding tension and tie off, then weave a cross and do the same on the other side. Not sure if I'm being clear enough but the net is not to pull tension and tie off the outside mains until the crosses for the shared grommets are done. Any problems with this approach?

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

Nothing wrong..as long as all strings are tensioned to the "reference tension". Is this a head instinct racquet? I wouldn't worry about the string rubbing together. You have to be careful with gut, but it is pretty strong.

 

[eelhc]

Nothing wrong..as long as all strings are tensioned to the "reference tension". Is this a head instinct racquet? I wouldn't worry about the string rubbing together. You have to be careful with gut, but it is pretty strong.

Yes all at the reference tension.

I've found that name brand NG is not as fragile as one would expect. Really it's more mental... I'm just put off by the feel of pulling a string through the same grommet where another string is already tensioned.

Woke up and did think of a downside... One really has to be ultra careful pulling and weaving crosses with 2 starting clamps installed. Knocking a starting clamp around may do more damage to gut. On the other hand, the additional upside is that the mains are tied off with the crosses weaved which will result in less loss of tension during the tie off.

 

[Irvin]

Yes all at the reference tension.

I've found that name brand NG is not as fragile as one would expect...

Actually natural gut is stronger than other strings (except Kevlar) until you kink it, work it too much, or tie it in a knot.

 

[bluegrass_stringer]

Actually natural gut is stronger than other strings (except Kevlar) until you kink it, work it too much, or tie it in a knot.

Exactly.


In general, when you are pulling a string through grommet with another string in it, or are pulling through a grommet that is covered by a loop of string ( like at the top and bottom of the racquet when stringing the crosses), you should pull the string slowly so not to burn the string that you are touching.

 

[Irvin]

...In general, when you are pulling a string through grommet with another string in it, or are pulling through a grommet that is covered by a loop of string ( like at the top and bottom of the racquet when stringing the crosses), you should pull the string slowly so not to burn the string that you are touching.

Or pre run the cross string so you don't have to pull it over that section of string at all. Of course that only works at the top of the frame. If you put scrap string in the bottom holes it keeps the hole open pretty much. That's a good way to get around cross-overs at the bottom.