Stabbed myself pretty good. How do you guys blunt knot ends?

[Maas]

I string my own racquets. I generally cut the string square (not pointed), and cut my knot ends pretty short. However, yesterday, when quickly picking up my racquet, I stabbed myself pretty good in the thumb from a poly string tip. When I got home, I used an emery board to file down the ends a little bit, but they are still fairly sharp. Can anyone share any tips of the trade they use to blunt or round off the knot ends?

Thanks.

 

[esm]

I use the flat side of the cutter to push down/squash down the ends after cutting. Gotta be careful not to slip and scratch the inner hoop though.

 

[Sardines]

I string my own racquets. I generally cut the string square (not pointed), and cut my knot ends pretty short. However, yesterday, when quickly picking up my racquet, I stabbed myself pretty good in the thumb from a poly string tip. When I got home, I used an emery board to file down the ends a little bit, but they are still fairly sharp. Can anyone share any tips of the trade they use to blunt or round off the knot ends?

Thanks.

That's the problem with using a cutter at an angle... creates sharp points. Our stringing machine comes with a nail clipper, one clip and push and there's no way to injure oneself.

 

[PRS]

I just use my angled cutters, cut it short and near the frame. Rarely have issues, but I'll admit I have experienced that before. You can also use the 'Cranford Tail Tuck' where, after tying the knot but before trimming, you pull the end down so the tail is sticking sideways in the plane of the string bed rather than pointing outward.

 

[Radicalized]

Use cutters that go cleanly through a string and don't create sharp spots from distortion. Cut it square and below the edge of the frame. Press the flatl side of the cutters against the string to blunt and dull the tip. Use a knot like the Parnell that lies flat against the frame when tied and cut.

 

[Irvin]

I keep the tails short and push the tail against the frame over the knot with the rounded edge of my starting clamp.

 

[ichaseballs]

i would still cut at an angle, and flatten it

 

[kkm]

Cut it flat in the first place.

 

[jim e]

Cut it flat in the first place.

Exactly

 

[Dunlop300g]

Here's a pretty good video from the ultimate guru and master himself, Richard Parnell ... he shows the cutting and flattening method at 7:57.

 

[ichaseballs]

Here's a pretty good video from the ultimate guru and master himself, Richard Parnell ... he shows the cutting and flattening method at 7:57.

9:15 on the video if you want to see just the flattening

 

[Wes]

i would still cut at an angle, and flatten it

Right.

However, yesterday, when quickly picking up my racquet, I stabbed myself pretty good in the thumb from a poly string tip.

Can anyone share any tips of the trade they use to blunt or round off the knot ends?

Thanks.

@Mass,

Cut on an angle w/ a pair of flush cutters.
Then dull/flatten the ends with the smooth backside of your bent-nose pliers.

 

[jxs653]

@Dunlop300g @Wes Those are good tips. Thanks.

 

[Roads_to_tennis]

I just use a nail clipper or you can use a side cutting plier if it's laying around you.

 

[vokazu]

I never try this, but I imagine a touch of hot soldering gun could soften the end of tennis string.

Just be careful not to burn yourself or burn the string bed lol.

 

[Roads_to_tennis]

I never try this, but I imagine a touch of hot soldering gun could soften the end of tennis string.

Just be careful not to burn yourself or burn the string bed lol.

nice idea tho

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-c'est la vie!
-remember your experience/pain when it happened
-next time, "cut it flat" when you are done with the point!

 

[eric42]

Trying a Parnell knot and pressing the end of the string against the frame after cutting it off causes the string tail to lie flat against the frame such that it's pretty hard to stab yourself even if you don't bother dulling the end as others have mentioned.

 

[MaxSwing]

As others have mentioned, I use Parnell to ensure it lays flat to the frame but then I press on the cut end with the blunt end of a tool to (only just) slightly flatten it which takes off any sharp edge.

 

[kayak4water]

I usually cut the end right down to the knot—very reliable.
Before I got that cutting tool, I’d leave the end long and use the needle nose pliers to make a loop of the end so that the sharp end couldn’t bite me (below). Worked well with poly string.

https://imgur.com/a/SH2nHtu

 

[kayak4water]

https://imgur.com/a/MG7c3gf

Picture of string end cut down to the knot

 

[esm]

https://imgur.com/a/MG7c3gf

Picture of string end cut down to the knot

that white knot is too close to the end for (my) comfort.....

 

[Wes]

that white knot is too close to the end for (my) comfort.....

Agreed.

IMO, all 3 of them (in the photos) look pretty shoddy.
But hey, that's just me.