Syn gut strings slipping out of clamps
- Thread starter pico
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- klippermate slip stringing
pico
Hall of Fame
I havent cleaned the clamps. I tried tightening the screw on one clamp but the screw broke.
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
Most strings have a coating off the reel or out of the package. They will leave a small residue on the gripper and clamps. It will build up and eventually create slippage issues. Get in a habit of cleaning both every 10 string jobs or less. If I forget when was the last time I cleaned them, I will just clean them again since it takes about 1 minute. You can soak an old shoe lace or paper towel with mineral spirits or 91% alcohol and run them thru to clean. Don't really need a toothbrush.
Yeesh. If you want one of mine for the cost of shipping let me know. I bought a set of Stringway clamps and haven't looked back.
If you broke a screw on a clamp you will have to get another screw or the clamp will not hold the string. When you have the 4 screws, adjust the clamp so it effectively grips thin gauge strings. You won't need to adjust the clamps for thicker gauge strings because even if the strings are flattened it will not cause issues.
I clean my clamps with sandpaper about every 20 jobs. I clean the gripper jaws with non acetone nail polish remover and a toothbrush before every job. The only string that has ever slipped in the gripper jaws on my K'mate is Velocity as it has a lot of silicone coating.
I clean my clamps with sandpaper about every 20 jobs. I clean the gripper jaws with non acetone nail polish remover and a toothbrush before every job. The only string that has ever slipped in the gripper jaws on my K'mate is Velocity as it has a lot of silicone coating.
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
Just looked at pricing. Are these clamps really worth the $88 they cost? Do they make stringing easier, more accurate? While I think the KM clamps aren’t that quality, so far they’ve done a decent job in the 7 or so jobs total I’ve done on my KM since getting it a month or so ago.
Yes and no. To put the price in perspective, note that Klippermate wants $40 for a single replacement floating clamp. On the other hand, if you want ultimate results then you'd be better off spending the money on a better machine with fixed clamps.
Easier - the clamping force is easier to adjust. I can twist the nut by hand until there is just enough force to hold the strings without crushing them. I've also never had to clean them although I don't expect that to be the case forever. I did have to clean my KM clamps often and I could never get them to hold slippery multis without crushing them.
Accurate - my experience has been that the Stringway double clamps will lose just as much tension from drawback as the KM ones. I use two triple Stringway flying clamps wherever I can and I've found that those do reduce drawback and tension loss.
Honestly, if you are getting consistent results that you are happy with then there is no reason to spend the extra money. I bought the Stringway clamps out of curiosity and like them a lot but they're not a necessity.
Irvin
Talk Tennis Guru
Pro-Stringer Claws or Stringway clamps cost only a few dollars more than the KM clamps. Check them out before you buy.
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
thank you so much for the concise report!
so far the klippermate results I’m getting are feeling every bit as good as when I used to use the local stringer. But I do see what you mean with sometimes crushing strings or having tension loss with suboptimal clamping. At the end of the day tho I imagine just me stringing my own with love, care and attention is probably better than the guys at the local shop making $10-$15 an hour to do it all day long. Maybe I’m being cynical of them.
I paid $250 for the machine. By the time I do around 9 jobs it has already paid for itself. Maybe down the road I’ll look at higher end machines with fixed clamps.
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
I would not use sandpaper, even the fine grit stuff. If there is an oily buildup, sanding does not remove it unless you are soaking up the residue. Other issue is you are scoring the metal surfaces. This is just my opinion and you are free to ignore it.
@esgee48 I would never ignore any of your posts as they are well expressed and dripping with experience.I would not use sandpaper, even the fine grit stuff. If there is an oily buildup, sanding does not remove it unless you are soaking up the residue. Other issue is you are scoring the metal surfaces. This is just my opinion and you are free to ignore it.
It's actually fine grit cloth that I use on the clamps and the slight scoring of the clamp outer teeth and the centre spacer are actually the desired results as it enhances the gripping capability of the clamps. And it is only every 20-30 string jobs and that is probably overkill. BTW Klipper recommends this method and even supplies the sand paper with the initial machine purchase.
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