Tourna 350-CS / Alpha Axis Pro + Wise or Tourna 650-ES?

[dinosaysrawr]

Hi all, I'm trying to decide between Tourna 350-CS / Alpha Axis Pro + Wise and Tourna 650-ES.

I'm also considering the Tourna 650-ES but I couldn't find any reviews on it (I guess it's pretty new since I could only find 600-ES reviews?) and I'm not sure if the ability to turn it into tabletop and the integrated electronic setup is worth the extra $300~500 compared to the Wise conversion.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which setup I should go with?

For my background, I strung 100+ racquets on a Gamma 5003 with 2pt mount when I was in college but I moved since graduating a few year ago and now have the disposable income to get my own machine at home.

...

Or maybe I should buy a high end machine like Alpha Ghost and start a stringing business at home to deduct the machine cost as business income... someone please stop me from making poor financial decisions

 

[esgee48]

IRS will probably think you are charging expenses associated with a hobby if you do a home based business. Keep very good records cuz if you do not show a profit after 3-4 years, they may retroactively disallow your expenses etc. Better to have a separate place of business.

 

[dinosaysrawr]

IRS will probably think you are charging expenses associated with a hobby if you do a home based business. Keep very good records cuz if you do not show a profit after 3-4 years, they may retroactively disallow your expenses etc. Better to have a separate place of business.

I do have many colleagues from my day job asking on slack where they can find stringing that doesn't cost $25 just for labor, so I definitely will be able to show some sort of profit if IRS comes calling

I've been brainstorming for months for real sole proprietorship ideas so I can deduct business expenses, racquet stringing sounds like a perfect business that I can defend if audited

 

[esgee48]

So what type of volume does your business plan forecast? I assume you will start out part time. How many hours are you suppose to devote to this? Unless the demand is there, start with the LO. Upgrade when volume ‘permanently’ increases. Electronic tensioners are actually slower than LOs but they provide some stress relief from cranking 10 racquets daily. That is if you can get there. I am not sure you can do it because there is competition tho it is more expensive. You actually have to show that you are paying yourself a competitive rate per frame or per hour. Minimum wage is your floor. It’s not as easy as you think it is. And on this note, I will not be commenting here sgain.

 

[Proper]

Anyone have experience with the 650-es? What does it compare to?

 

[Steve Huff]

I personally wouldn't get the 650-es. If I was going to get an electronic machine, I'd save more and get the 700-es, but that's quite a bit more money. I just don't like the rotational gripper on the 650. So, at the budget you're talking about, I'd probably go with the 350-cs + Wise combo. Looks like the 350 and 650 have the same clamps and mounting system.

 

[ryushen21]

Of the options you listed, I'd go with the Tourna 350-CS. It's an awesome stringer and an absolute workhorse of a machine. The build quality is far superior to the Alpha IMHO and if you want to upgrade with a WISE later on, you can.

I do not recommend the 650-ES at all. The rotational gripper is not to my liking and I doubt you would enjoy it either. The 700-ES is a great option if you want to spend some extra cash and get a top-notch machine.

 

[USMC-615]

I have a new 350-CS/new Wise v14 setup...for the money invested it will be hard to beat. Solid setup. And nothing wrong with the game plan of ending up with two tension heads in the very unlikely scenario that the Wise gives you any problems and possibly needs sent back, you have the original crank/lo to mount and keep marching on.

 

[Tharanee]

I have a new 350-CS/new Wise v14 setup...

I just recently obtained the exact same setup. I bought the Gamma Adapter to raise up the diablo to string bed level but got a dud adapter with wonky hole placement. However, I've heard the adapter is unnecessary with the v14 since it has a diablo. I'm contemplating either doing a refund or an exchange. Do you use an adapter to raise up your 2086?

 

[USMC-615]

I just recently obtained the exact same setup. I bought the Gamma Adapter to raise up the diablo to string bed level but got a dud adapter with wonky hole placement. However, I've heard the adapter is unnecessary with the v14 since it has a diablo. I'm contemplating either doing a refund or an exchange. Do you use an adapter to raise up your 2086?

Negative…no adapter needed. The v14 mounts straight to the tension head bar and allows full 360 deg racquet rotation. My grip size is 4 1/2 and racquet mounted you have a good 5/16“-3/8” clearance from the very top of the diablo and tension head. I’d send the adapter back where it came from and get your refund.

 

[Irvin]

I just recently obtained the exact same setup. I bought the Gamma Adapter to raise up the diablo to string bed level but got a dud adapter with wonky hole placement. However, I've heard the adapter is unnecessary with the v14 since it has a diablo. I'm contemplating either doing a refund or an exchange. Do you use an adapter to raise up your 2086?

I would have thought with the Gamma adapter you would have taken the pulling level up and above the string bed. Gamma machine turntables are set higher than most lockouts because in order to get 360 rotation you must clear the string guide which outer machines do not have. But you’re right Herb Wise came up with the adapter because at the time when he came up with it he didn’t have a diablo.

 

[Tharanee]

I would have thought with the Gamma adapter you would have taken the pulling level up and above the string bed...

The adapter would have taken me slightly above the string bed. However, the angle between the string bed and the diablo would have been less than without. I'm a very new stringer, and it was my impression that decreasing this angle would improve tension accuracy. I thought having a 360 rotation was more of a convenience thing for speed. Rocking back and forth with 180 table rotations is a hassle but still doable.

 

[Irvin]

@Tharanee not sure what you’re trying to show with the adapter picture. The Gamma adapter raises the Wise up 2”

 

[Dags]

The adapter would have taken me slightly above the string bed. However, the angle between the string bed and the diablo would have been less than without. I'm a very new stringer, and it was my impression that decreasing this angle would improve tension accuracy. I thought having a 360 rotation was more of a convenience thing for speed. Rocking back and forth with 180 table rotations is a hassle but still doable.

I understand your logic, as a smaller angle means less friction from the grommets when you pull tension. However, if you lose 360 degree rotation (and I don't currently have it), it means there will be at least two mains that you have to pull at an angle because the handle is in the way. Ultimately, I don't think either makes a massive difference as it will be consistent between string jobs, but given the choice I'd rather have full rotation. All of the top end machines have it.

 

[Tharanee]

@Tharanee not sure what you’re trying to show with the adapter picture. The Gamma adapter raises the Wise up 2”

I was just trying to show the relationship of where the diablo would be to the string bed on the Tourna-350. I'm guessing table heights are slightly different, with the Gamma machines being an extreme outlier. I don't know, I could be wrong.

if you lose 360 degree rotation (and I don't currently have it), it means there will be at least two mains that you have to pull at an angle because the handle is in the way.

I never even thought of that. Thank you for the advice.

 

[struggle]

The adapter would have taken me slightly above the string bed. However, the angle between the string bed and the diablo would have been less than without. I'm a very new stringer, and it was my impression that decreasing this angle would improve tension accuracy. I thought having a 360 rotation was more of a convenience thing for speed. Rocking back and forth with 180 table rotations is a hassle but still doable.

That's not an accurate representation of full height with the adaptor, i don't think.

That lower "tab" sticking down, which is actually the top of the bracket, can be subtracted as the machine mounts to those holes (hope that makes sense).
So it sits in that 90 degree angle space...

Also, the string rides in the center, which is lower, than the top of the roller guide where you have the adaptor sitting. So, yeah......you'd gain all of that back
if you use the adaptor.

Post count ++ (trying to keep up with the man)

 

[Irvin]

I was just trying to show the relationship of where the diablo would be to the string bed on the Tourna-350. I'm guessing table heights are slightly different, with the Gamma machines being an extreme outlier. I don't know, I could be wrong

It’s easy to know where the relationship of where the diablo would be it is. The Gamma adapter raises the diablo exactly 2” no matter what machine you’re using.

 

[struggle]

@Tharanee not sure what you’re trying to show with the adapter picture. The Gamma adapter raises the Wise up 2”

It’s easy to know where the relationship of where the diablo would be it is. The Gamma adapter raises the diablo exactly 2” no matter what machine you’re using.

You posted the same thing twice, within 1.5 hours of each other.

What was the intent in doing so? (Many of us would really like to know!!!)