Another String Machine Post!

[lui_boy]

Hey everybody,

I was just wondering if anybody knew anything about the Mutual Power machines:
http://www.mutualpower.net/alpine500.htm (drop-weight)

The price seems really good. I emailed them but was not given much information other than it was able to do badminton racquets. I'm awaiting some close up pictures of the support arms and mounting points.

I've emailed Alpha about their badminton stringing machine as well but with no reply yet:
http://www.alphatennis.com/badminmachine.html (crank)

I've been using my friend's LaserFibre MS200 Eco and it was easy to use for a drop-weight. It would have been nice to have a badminton only version with support arms but guess we can't have everything. Should I go for a badminton only machine like the Alpha, Eagnas ST-200, 250, or Easy-3? What's the difference between the ST-200 and ST-250? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Norm ;)

[Quasimodo]

If you've questions about Alpha machines, you can contact Mark Gonzales (mark@alphatennis.com). A very knowledgeable and helpful guy. He's helped me out a lot in the past few months with whatever stringing needs I've had. The last of which he sent me a complete set of (upgraded?) locking bases with the slide rails at absolutely no charge---Alpha also paid for the return shipment of the old pair---after I mentioned that the old bases had a bit of drawback.

Great quality machines with superb customer service.

P.S.: Sorry to sound like an Alpha commercial. I'm not affliated with them other than being a satisfied customer.

[Pete LSD]

If you wish to get the an Eagnas badminton specific machine, purchase the Easy-3. The swivel fixed clamp comes in real handy.

Laserfibre's internal support system is really great! As you say the only missing ingredient are external supports for the areas where the main and cross strings intersect. I am doing an upgrade of my MS-200 TT right now. I e-mailed Stringway to confirm that I can order just the head mount of the 092 mounting system. After the conversion, the MS-200 TT will have six internal support and four press down. The current version has five internal support and three press down. Future project includes CNC parts with external supports :) .



Hey everybody,

I've been using my friend's LaserFibre MS200 Eco and it was easy to use for a drop-weight. It would have been nice to have a badminton only version with support arms but guess we can't have everything.

Should I go for a badminton only machine like the Alpha, Eagnas ST-200, 250, or Easy-3? What's the difference between the ST-200 and ST-250? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Norm ;)

[lui_boy]

I just got this picture from Mutual Power.

[noluckjim]

If you wish to get the an Eagnas badminton specific machine, purchase the Easy-3. The swivel fixed clamp comes in real handy.

Laserfibre's internal support system is really great! As you say the only missing ingredient are external supports for the areas where the main and cross strings intersect. I am doing an upgrade of my MS-200 TT right now. I e-mailed Stringway to confirm that I can order just the head mount of the 092 mounting system. After the conversion, the MS-200 TT will have six internal support and four press down. The current version has five internal support and three press down. Future project includes CNC parts with external supports :) .
Tell us how that goes, very interested :)

[lui_boy]

If you've questions about Alpha machines, you can contact Mark Gonzales (mark@alphatennis.com). A very knowledgeable and helpful guy.

Mark got back to me really quickly. He seems like a really cool guy. Hopefully their machines are as good as their service. Price seems a little high compared to other the stringing machines though. I'm still waiting to hear more info about the Mutual Power. Anybody here has any experience with them?

[LazyBuddy]

Wondering what's the tension range you usually working on? If less than 25lb, you might not have to consider the side supports. Poorly made side supports not only make ur string job even more difficult (i.e. block gromments), and can damage the racket (i.e. not being mounted evenly) as well. :rolleyes:

[lui_boy]

Wondering what's the tension range you usually working on? If less than 25lb, you might not have to consider the side supports. Poorly made side supports not only make ur string job even more difficult (i.e. block gromments), and can damage the racket (i.e. not being mounted evenly) as well. :rolleyes:

I usually do not string more than 25lbs, but I would love to know how a 30lbs tension feels like on one of my racquets. Although Mutual Power told me that their arms won't block any grommet holes, I couldn't really tell from the picture given. But you may be right. Having cheap side support is probably not a good idea. And actually, it was nice working on the LaserFibre without the arms in the way. Decisions decisions... I might go with the Easy-3.

[Quasimodo]

The side supports on my machine almost always fit right between holes. So, they're really no bother to me at all. Besides, when you mount a racquet, you can check and see first if any of the side supports block a hole before you start stringing. :)

[Pete LSD]

Yes, I will with pictures too! It's long overdue that I haven't posted any pictures of my machine :) .


Tell us how that goes, very interested :)

[Alexccs]

Mark got back to me really quickly. He seems like a really cool guy. Hopefully their machines are as good as their service. Price seems a little high compared to other the stringing machines though. I'm still waiting to hear more info about the Mutual Power. Anybody here has any experience with them?

The Shuttle Express is a very cool machine. I love the tension system. (It is Lb by Lb with each turn of the nut) So, you can do 25.1 or 25.5 with precision at your control.
The side support never bother.
With the case include, the price is better then Easy-3.
AND THE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICES. (30 days money back)

Note:
Other tension system got Kg and Lb at the same scale. The Kg is the main, So when with Lb will be guessing.
Like this one from Eagnas:

http://www.eagnas.com/jpgd/st200ts.jpg

[DinkAlot]

The Shuttle Express is a very cool machine. I love the tension system. (It is Lb by Lb with each turn of the nut) So, you can do 25.1 or 25.5 with precision at your control.

Errrr...not exactly. My ST-200 is very similiar but the calibration is way off. Ideally, you should get a fishermen's scale and calibrate each time you string a racket. I've seen crank machines off by 8lbs. :eek:

[Quasimodo]

Errrr...not exactly. My ST-200 is very similiar but the calibration is way off. Ideally, you should get a fishermen's scale and calibrate each time you string a racket. I've seen crank machines off by 8lbs. :eek:

That may be machine specific. Mine's on the spot everytime I check, which is about monthly.

If your machine's off by a wide margin all the time (i.e., after every use), you may want to replace the tensioner spring or may be there's something wrong with the lockout mechanism inside.

[DinkAlot]

That may be machine specific. Mine's on the spot everytime I check, which is about monthly.

On the spot is next to impossible for a non-digital machine. But then again, my definition and your defintion of on the spot or spot on maybe different.

[Quasimodo]

On the spot is next to impossible for a non-digital machine. But then again, my definition and your defintion of on the spot or spot on maybe different.

Spot on == not 8lbs off according to my calibrator. :)

While I'm at it, digital != absolutely accurate. :)

[Pete LSD]

Which brand of digital calibrator is it? Ants get one from Germany. I am still awaiting his report. :)


Spot on == not 8lbs off according to my calibrator. :)

While I'm at it, digital != absolutely accurate. :)

[Quasimodo]

Me? I haven't got one. Although, I've been sorely tempted to buy one of those 50-lb digital hanging or fishing scales. Quite cheap at Amazon and other places, including some of the posher Walmarts.

[DinkAlot]

Me? I haven't got one. Although, I've been sorely tempted to buy one of those 50-lb digital hanging or fishing scales. Quite cheap at Amazon and other places, including some of the posher Walmarts.

If you don't have a digital calibrator, how can you know your stringing machine is spot on?

[Quasimodo]

If you don't have a digital calibrator, how can you know your stringing machine is spot on?

If both my machine setting and calibrator say the same thing, it's good enough for me. I do check my calibrator occasionally, though not with an Olympic-certified weight. Again, if it says a certain weight and my calibrator agrees, it's good enough for me.

This is getting further and further off topic. Let me say one final thing, as far as this is concerned, I'm more interested in making sure that my machine is accurate enough. I've still a long way to go in building up my stringing skills to turn out consistent, repeatable jobs. It's not an issue of digital devices. Even they can go wonky. Blindly trusting them wouldn't be wise, IMHO.

[markburry_90]

Me and my friend were going to chip in a bit of money and buy ourselves a stringing machine. We are only in highschool so we don't have that much money.

The machine is only for when our strings break on our own rackets. (AT500, AT800 DE)

We only need a machine that can string a maximum of 25 lbs.

Here is a machine we were looking at:

What accessories do we need to buy? (grommets, clamps, tension guage?)

What do you think of this machine for two guys like ourselves?:confused:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Alpha-String-Pal-Stringing-Machine_W0QQitemZ8734780426QQcategoryZ2917QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[cards_pro]

I think you need 2 more badminton flying clamps and a starting clamp. (if it comes with 2 badminton clamps. Otherwise, you need 4)
You don't need tension guage and gromments. (not yet)

It should be a nice stringing machine for starter.

May be you need a cheap badminton racquet for your first run. I don't think you should do your first string job on your expensive racquets.

BTW, you guys from St. John's? I was there for a few years!


Me and my friend were going to chip in a bit of money and buy ourselves a stringing machine. We are only in highschool so we don't have that much money.

The machine is only for when our strings break on our own rackets. (AT500, AT800 DE)

We only need a machine that can string a maximum of 25 lbs.

Here is a machine we were looking at:

What accessories do we need to buy? (grommets, clamps, tension guage?)

What do you think of this machine for two guys like ourselves?:confused:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Alpha-String-Pal-Stringing-Machine_W0QQitemZ8734780426QQcategoryZ2917QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[DinkAlot]

I think you need 2 more badminton flying clamps and a starting clamp. (if it comes with 2 badminton clamps. Otherwise, you need 4)
You don't need tension guage and gromments. (not yet)

Agree with Cards Pro. :)

[markburry_90]

I think you need 2 more badminton flying clamps and a starting clamp. (if it comes with 2 badminton clamps. Otherwise, you need 4)
You don't need tension guage and gromments. (not yet)

It should be a nice stringing machine for starter.

May be you need a cheap badminton racquet for your first run. I don't think you should do your first string job on your expensive racquets.

BTW, you guys from St. John's? I was there for a few years!


Hey,

How come we don't need a tension guage? how will we know what tension to string at? How come we don't need grommets?

PS: No, sorry we are not from st johns, we are from Central Newfoundland.

[cards_pro]

Hey,

How come we don't need a tension guage? how will we know what tension to string at? How come we don't need grommets?

PS: No, sorry we are not from st johns, we are from Central Newfoundland.
Tension guage is used to calibrate tension, and drop weight machine does not need that. (you could do a search on drop weight stringing machine in this forum)

If grommet from the racquet is broken, then you need to replace them. Otherwise, you don't need to buy any groommet.

[kklam]

Tension guage is used to calibrate tension, and drop weight machine does not need that. (you could do a search on drop weight stringing machine in this forum)

For the first time you use the machine, you need to confirm if the graduation on the scale is right or not. You can use a calibrator or fishing scale. Once you've done the first calibration, it'll be good for the life of the machine.

[DinkAlot]

So the only disadvantage of a drop weight machine, relatively speaking is...it's slow and tedious. Yes?

[kklam]

So the only disadvantage of a drop weight machine, relatively speaking is...it's slow and tedious. Yes?

I think the pros and cons of drop weight machine had been discussed a lot in various forums already.

I want to share my experience with you. I am using an old fashioned Serrano drop weight machine (the one with the foot pedal). Usually I can finish stringing a racquet within 45 minutes without any rush. If I speed up, I can cut down the time to 30-35 minutes. I don't know how slow it is when compared to crank machine.

[silentheart]

I think the pros and cons of drop weight machine had been discussed a lot in various forums already.

I want to share my experience with you. I am using an old fashioned Serrano drop weight machine (the one with the foot pedal). Usually I can finish stringing a racquet within 45 minutes without any rush. If I speed up, I can cut down the time to 30-35 minutes. I don't know how slow it is when compared to crank machine.

I think Sir Dinkalot is just kidding while confirm your point. He is a funny man. Anyway, about how many flying clamps a stringer need to do a proper string job on prior post. I would like to voice my opinion. It depend on what starting method you use. When I use my drop weight machine with flying clamps, I can string a racquet with 2 flying clamps and a starting pin (or starting string tie to a key ring - method by another BFer) and it does a wonderful job up to 28lb. I just don't think you need more than 2 flying clamps to do a good job. If you need instructions, please PM me with your email address and I will be happy to email you the instruction from Klippermate.

[DinkAlot]

I think Sir Dinkalot is just kidding while confirm your point. He is a funny man.

Doh! Sorry, I forgot the ":p" in my previous post. :o :D :D :D