Over Tension for Tying Knots

[Pete LSD]

Attn: Jug8man, Cooler, Taneepak, Ants & other experienced stringers

Do you guys & gals apply an extra 10% tension on the last main and cross strings to compensate for tension due to knot?

Have any of you try upping over tension to 20%?

[taneepak]

Attn: Jug8man, Cooler, Taneepak, Ants & other experienced stringers

Do you guys & gals apply an extra 10% tension on the last main and cross strings to compensate for tension due to knot?

Have any of you try upping over tension to 20%?

The first cross string at the top is the most critical, then comes the two last main strings, and finally the last cross string at the throat end. Depending on whether the last main string comes out at grommet #10 or #12 at the throat end and also the type of clamps used (fixed/swivel, one flying clamp, or two flying clamps), tension here should be increased by 5% to over 20%. If the last main string is at grommet #12, then it will have the greatest tension creep. The last cross string at the bottom can be 10% to 15% higher in tension. If you play with fresh strings all the time, the last cross string at the bottom is not as critical as there is a substantial buffer of seldom 'used' cross strings at the bottom.
To a great extent, it also depends on how you finalize the tie-off knot. With low tension you can use an awl, after tensioning the tie-off string, for a very tight tie-off knot. However, this can be disastrous with very high tension. You can also use one hand to pull the string at the tie-off as tight as possible, and use your left hand finger to jam or press real hard against the stretched string against the grommet hole on the outside of the frame, and then tighten the knot as quickly as possible before your finger gives up the fight.

[DinkAlot]

Not me. To compensate for the tension loss, I string the last cross grommet 2nd to last so the 2nd second to last grommet is actualy last. This way the tension loss is shared between the last and second to las strings.

[Neil Nicholls]

Not me. To compensate for the tension loss, I string the last cross grommet 2nd to last so the 2nd second to last grommet is actualy last. This way the tension loss is shared between the last and second to las strings.
wouldn't it be shared between the last 2 anyway? :confused:

In your way, have you therefore got more lower tensioned string between your final clamp position (on your last cross) and the tie-off knot, because your last string is coming out of a grommet that is 1 further away from the tie-off hole than it would otherwise have been?

[taneepak]

Not me. To compensate for the tension loss, I string the last cross grommet 2nd to last so the 2nd second to last grommet is actualy last. This way the tension loss is shared between the last and second to las strings.

This way you end up with a lot of string outside the frame. From grommet #11 you go down into grommet #9 and then back to grommet #10, and finally into grommet #6. Also, the distance from the last clamp location at grommet #10 to the tie-off at grommet #6 is one grommet longer.
Well, as the last cross string at the bottom is not as critical, I think you can get away with it.

[DinkAlot]

wouldn't it be shared between the last 2 anyway? :confused:

In your way, have you therefore got more lower tensioned string between your final clamp position (on your last cross) and the tie-off knot, because your last string is coming out of a grommet that is 1 further away from the tie-off hole than it would otherwise have been?


Well, I must be doing something right because it appears to work well and players ask how I do it. I'll keep experimenting...