Starting clamp or another Floating clamp?

[ricardo]

I bought a floating clamp instead of a starting clamp for backup purposes.

I have a Gamma X-2 that uses floating clamps.

I thought of buying a starting clamp to start the mains and for tying knots.
After some deliberations, I decided to buy another floating clamp and I am glad I did.

Over time, floating clamps can lose their grip and this is what happened to one of my floating clamps. Now I am using the backup floating clamp.

The slipping floating clamp I now use as the starting clamps (only 1 side is slipping. The other side is still good).

Hope this helps..

 

[Ramon]

I think I'm in agreement with you. My machine has fixed clamps. I just bought a starting clamp so I could experiment with some ATW patterns. It works fine for what I need, but a floating clamp would have been more versatile. You can use a starting clamp to tie knots, but I actually prefer to use needlenose pliers. The one advantage I'll give to the starting clamp is that it costs less.

 

[codyjames14]

I am still relatively new to stringing but when I bought my machine, I ordered a starting clamp as well. For what it's worth, I LOVE my starting clamp. It would be a pain for me if I didn't have it.

 

[KerryR]

Starting clamps are extremely useful.

But smaller flyers can do much of the same work and more. Klipper's flyers are ugly, but small, cheap (but robust) and easy to adjust for use with a single string if you loosen the locking nut, and can be clamped with one hand. If your machine has fixed clamps and you do ATW's, one or more flyers is pretty handy anyway.