I have read some posts that raved on the above flying clamps.
I gather from Jay Cee's posts that you get nearly zero drawback from using the triple clamps. So, is it better to get the floating clamps, rather than the double-action or single-action fixed clamps?
The quality of the work with SW flying clamps when compared with the SW fixed clamps (single or double action) has always been considered to be similar, except for 2 fundamental differences :
1.) with flying clamps it is necessary to
double-pull the first 2 mains and the first 2 crosses. The USRSA is most critical towards "double-pulling" and although the negative effects can be minimized with an appropriate stringing method, the flying clamps have an unjustified reputation of being an inferior system when compared with fixed-clamps systems (no matter how good or bad that they may be).
2.) with SW flying clamps there is no string slippage, nor clamp "draw-back" (almost inevitable with fixed clamps), however the problem of tension loss because of the "clamp-twist" on the last tensioned main string before tie-off, has always been the most important difficulty to overcome.
The introduction by SW of their
triple flying-clamp opened the way to the consecration of a new concept in flying clamp stringing. By using JayCee's method of stringing with a SW double FC + a SW triple FC it is now possible to obtain constant string tensions with virtually no tension loss during stringing. Only the very best professional stringing machines are capable of obtaining comparable results to those obtained with a SW ML.100 with these SW flying clamps.
It is nice to know that professional quality stringing can be accomplished on a simple and relatively accessible drop weight machine, you don't have to invest a fortune to make a truly top quality string job. The other advantage is that a ML.100 with flying clamps is cheaper and lighter than the versions with fixed clamps.
Personally I prefer to use the flying clamps, but I also appreciate that other stringers are more comfortable with fixed clamps. The end result is the same, the choice is strictly personal, as long as you enjoy stringing it's only important to work with what you feel is the best for you. . .
JB
