What is the best stringing machine for 1st timers?

T

tyeee

New User
I am breaking my strings quite often and is thinking about buying a stringing machine so I can string for myself and friends, I have never used one before so which machine in your option is easy to use, fairly accurate and affordable too?
 
Klippermate

Or look for a good used NEOs..you may be able to find a better machine that is used for under $500 too.

I got my stringway from a poster here for $500.
 
I have a Klippermate and have nothing bad to say about it...built like a tank and will last you virtually forever but...you can get a lower end fixed clamp, 6 point mounting machine for under $500 including shipping from TW.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamma_Progression_II_602_FC_Stringing_Machine/descpageGAMMA-602FC.html

Throw in a $40 starting clamp and you will only be $9 over budget. The stringer includes an awl, pliers, cutter and some string so you are set to go.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-GCLAMP.html

You will have to ask others for the quality of the Gamma Progression II 602 but if I had already budgeted $500 for a stringer I'd want the fixed clamps first and then maybe the ratchet dropweight (would prefer electric pull) and then the 6 point mounting.

The Klippermate has floating clamps, no ratchet on the dropweight and a 2 point mounting system. All fine and very serviceable, plus built sturdy, but having those other features would be nice IMO.
 
Klippermate is a great machine if you've only got $200 to spend. If your budget is $500, you can do better.

Both the Gamma Progression II 602 and the Alpha Pioneer DC Plus have significant upgrades over the Klippermate that you'd come to appreciate very quickly for around the $450 mark. But if you could stretch your $500 to $800, you'd be in a different ballpark and could swing the Alpha Axis Pro or the Gamma Progression ST II w/ a stand.

That said, the Eagnas Combo 910 is only $50 outside of your price range, and has the same features of the $800 Alpha and Gamma machines.

Just one piece of unsolicited advice: some people love stringing, some people hate it. It would suck to spend $500-$800 and then find out you're one of the ones who hate it. Maybe you can find a used Klippermate (or similar) machine to buy around the $100 range to make sure you're up to it. Then if you're good to go, you can sell it, get your money back out of it, and you'll have a better idea of what you really want.

In any case, good luck!
 
I have had a Gamma Progression 200 for about a year, and it has been an excellent machine. I think I paid $145 shipped for it new. I restring my own racquets every three weeks or so, and this thing has already paid for itself a couple times over.

I think the advice about trying out stringing before you invest $500 is a good one. I can see how some people would hate it. I don't love the process, but I love the control over my gear.

If I had it to do over again, I would buy the same machine. I would LOVE to have fixed clamps, but can't justify the added expense. I wouldn't pay extra for 6-pt mounting, or a lock-out machine.

Other than that, I think the machines mentioned above satisfy your requirements very well.
 
If you end up liking stringing, the stringway is a life changer. Fixed clamps, awesome mounting, constant pull, auto drop weight..sits on a table top..

All those things have made stringing a whole lot more fun for me, and my stringbeds are accurate to the pound.
 
Have to agree here.........

Power Player said:
If you end up liking stringing, the stringway is a life changer. Fixed clamps, awesome mounting, constant pull, auto drop weight..sits on a table top..
All those things have made stringing a whole lot more fun for me, and my stringbeds are accurate to the pound.
Click to expand...

You cannot beat the quality, accuracy and mounting system on the Stringway imho, for the money that is nothing in the ballpark. Best of luck in your choice.

Cheers, TennezSport :cool:
 
I started with a Klippermate, and found it very functional and robust-- there's nothing to wear out. The clamps are pretty industrial looking, but they work really well. The mounting system is fine, though care must be taken while mounting. The instruction manual and string pattern guide are excellent. I think it's pretty tough to beat for the price, and is a pretty non-invasive way to see if you like stringing. It'll pay for itself VERY quickly, so, if you decide to upgrade, there's no loss.

If you stick with flying clamp machines, Stringway clamps, particularly the triple, are really nice, and are key when integrated with the Jay Cee (or JET) method (on a non-fixed clamp machine).

I really like stringing, so I got a used but refurbished Ektelon H from Tennis Machines for $500. It's a bit more fun to use, and a bit faster the the K.mate, but I still sort of miss stringing on the Kmate (well, OK, not really, but the point is I really liked the Kmate). I'll keep the Klippermate as a backup, and, should the need arise, for portability.

If you're set on spending $500ish, then giving Tennis Machines is probably a pretty good thing to do-- when you buy a used machine from them, you know it's fully functional, parts are usually available, comes with a 1 year warranty, and they're great folks to talk to/work with.
 
Thank you for all the advice, it sounds like I should start with Klippermate or Gamma Progression, but can someone outline the disadvantages of getting a cheaper machine?
Do it string slower? Harder to string>?

Thanks
 
just go down to your local sports shop (Sports Chalet / Sports Authority / Big 5) and pick up a Prince 6000, Wilson Bairdo or something like that. They probably have some on clearance for cheap. :lol:
 
Gamma X-2 might be decent one. Low price and does what its intended to do. I carry one in my car trunk so i can string my rackets when i need to.
 
psmo290 said:
You don't actually use it in your car right?
Click to expand...

Why not? If you can't weave and drive at the same time, you're not doing it right. With Irvin's new weaving tool ($19.99 including shipping) I can go 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds AND weave 4 crosses before I hit the quarter-mile.
 
tyeee said:
can someone outline the disadvantages of getting a cheaper machine?
Do it string slower? Harder to string>?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The disadvantage of the cheaper machines is usually a somewhat clunky 2 point mounting. With the Klippermate, and most others, I'm sure, all that's necessary is careful mounting, and being sure everything is nice and tight. Failure to do so can cause the bracket to slip after all the mains are tensioned, which can break a frame (expereince talking, here). Ultimately, though, this can happen on any mounting system if you're not careful. Mounting can be a teeny bit slower on these machines. There's oodles of debate regarding of the efficacy of 2-point vs. 4 and 6 point. In general, there's nothing conclusively bad about to 2-point for most rackets-- Both Gamma and Prince still offer 2 point suspension on some of their 'pro' machines.

Another common disadvantage to the cheaper machines is plastic string clamps, which, I hear, are more prone to slipping. The Klippermate's clamps are steel, and actually very nice, if not ugly, and don't slip (with normal cleaning).

I've heard that the cheapest machines may not have the drop weight perfectly calibrated, so reference tensions can be off. Klippermates are rumored to be quite accurate, as is mine.

Some folks prefer the ratcheting drop-weight common to nearly all drop-weights other than the Klippermate. There are effective wor-arounds for this, though, so it's not a bad trade off for the Klippermate's simple and bomb-proof gripper/tensioner.

Stringing times will be about the same on any drop-weight machine regardless of cost. The lack of ratcheting arm on the Klippermate may make it a teeny bit slower, but stringing times of 30-45 minutes are quite easily attained after you've done several jobs. Full poly setups are far slower to string than softer nylons, owing to slower weaves (try Irvin's bead trick for difficult weaves). The tedious part of drop-weights is adjusting the gripper/weight arm to get it close to level. An exception to that is the Stringway machines, who's arms do not need to be level, which can save a significant amount of time, but they're far more expensive (but worth it, I hear).

The quality of the job, as long as the clamps aren't slipping, is far more dependent on the operator than the machine. I takes a few tries to understand what you're actually trying to do to reduce tension loss during the process, and get consistent results.

Again, the beauty of a cheap machine is that it'll pay for itself in 8 or so string jobs. Most come with nearly that many sets of different strings, so you can even remove the cost of the string on the first several jobs.
 
I would go Klipper as well just to see how you like it..ALSO, main thing is they have an amazing manual that will teach you how to string (along with youtube). The Alpha I got had a very poor manual and I had to drive poor Mark crazy over there to figure it out at first. If you go a little bigger, go alpha. Mark is the best rep you could ever deal with. Just an incredible dedication to customer service and I can't recommend him enough.

Tennezsports, thanks and it is nice to hear an endorsement of my machine from someone with your experience.
 
Power Player said:
I would go Klipper as well just to see how you like it..ALSO, main thing is they have an amazing manual that will teach you how to string (along with youtube). The Alpha I got had a very poor manual and I had to drive poor Mark crazy over there to figure it out at first. If you go a little bigger, go alpha. Mark is the best rep you could ever deal with. Just an incredible dedication to customer service and I can't recommend him enough.

Tennezsports, thanks and it is nice to hear an endorsement of my machine from someone with your experience.
Click to expand...


Bret at Gamma (GammaTech here on TTW) is also very helpful.
 
More than.......

Power Player said:
Mark is the best rep you could ever deal with. Just an incredible dedication to customer service and I can't recommend him enough.

Tennezsports, thanks and it is nice to hear an endorsement of my machine from someone with your experience.
Click to expand...

More than welcome sir. Quality is the word for both Mark :) and Stringway machines. Dollar for dollar Stringway provides a great machine that will produce years of consistent string jobs. One of the best machines that I have ever worked with and after working with JayCee on Stringways (MS200 was my choice but I got out voted) I cant say enough. Mark is an excellent tech/rep and will definately put you in the best package.

Cheers, TennezSport :cool:
 
I bought a Gamma Progression 602 with flying clamps about 9 or 10 years ago as my first stringing machine.

Still have it and use it today. Does everything I need of it. I'd highly recommend it. The 6 point mounting is very secure and easy to use. The ratcheting dropweight drum is very nice, and the clamps don't give me any issues after even 9 years of use.
 
In my opinion, since the progression 602 with fixed clamps is in your budget, I would invest in it or any other machine that has more than two mounts and has fixed clamps. Stringing other people's racquets on a two mount is kind of risky, as other people have stated, since it can damage or break the frame. In addition to that, the klippermate has floating clamps which in my opinion make stringing more difficult and time consuming. Fixed clamps really make a world of difference.

Buying a stringing machine, in my experience has been a great investment. With that said, Its likely, as I have seen others on this forum, that if you decide on the klippermate and come to enjoy stringing and the convenience and money saving it offers that you will want to upgrade to a nicer, quicker machine. So I think that starting out with a progression 602fc or something like that, it is well worth the investment. You likely won't regret it.
 
tyeee said:
I am looking for one that will last, hopefully I can get under 500
Click to expand...

There is an Eagnas Combo 910 for sale in the for sale section on these forums here, and its only $350 + shipping so well within your budget, and being 1st time stringer it would be much easier to string with fixed clamps and they are swivel clamps with spring assisted base clamps, a 6 point mount, and has a brake. It can later be updated to CP with addition of Wise unit in future if needed and its within your budget. The more features a machine has the easier it is and more enjoyable it is to string.It even has a stand with it so you do not need a table, so you can adjust it to a comfortable height so it will save your back, and save you from purchasing a stand or table later for a table top machine.

I'm sure if you look you could find other used deals at a price within your budget and get some good features that would make the job easier.
 
Last edited:
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Gamma_Progression_200_Stringing_Machine_/descpageGAMMA-GP200.html

this will do everything you need to get started for only 159$

why spend 500$ before you know if you actually like to string? some people find it very tedious and are glad to pay someone else to do it. imo, the best thing to do is just go cheap and if you like it then just sell the gamma and get something better.

for what its worth I have the same machine and I like it. see no reason to upgrade since I only string my own racquets.
 
I purchased a used Gamma 5003 for $500 off Craigslist. Its half the price if you were to buy new. I like to string myself and I started learning after I purchased it. Wish I had done this sooner.
 
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