How to skip the second last cross

[charzord]

So how do you do it? I prestrung it skipping the second last cross just for fun, tensioned all the mains, then realized my clamps cant reach the two bottom strings strings due to the distance.

After cursing for a while, I decided to set the tension a little higher and tension all three bottom crosses at once. I know, i know, its bad, but I was not in the mood to start all over again. If it shatters into a million pieces and fragments become embedded in my eye or what not, you guys can all roll your eyes and laugh and say "i told you so"

Anyways, how the hell do you tension the bottom crosses if you skip the second last? I tension it from the bottom up, not from the middle. Don't really want to change if i don't have to =)

[jerby]

with fixed clamps it's not a problem, with flying clamps you'll need a 'starting pin'
basically: tie 4 inches of string to a keyring.
insert the string into a free grommet, near your cross, and use that as the string to clamp of on...

learned it on the forums

[Neil Nicholls]

with flying clamps you'll need a 'starting pin'
basically: tie 4 inches of string to a keyring.
insert the string into a free grommet, near your cross, and use that as the string to clamp of on...

or if you use a longer piece of string on it, your starting pin could go all the way through the missing cross to the tension head, tension it, then clamp the free end with a starting clamp. Then you should get less twist on the flying clamp when you clamp cross 1 to starting pin cross.

[charzord]

Ahh yes. Why didn't I think of the empty slot!!! You guys are brilliant! I will do that next time

[jerby]

or if you use a longer piece of string on it, your starting pin could go all the way through the missing cross to the tension head, tension it, then clamp the free end with a starting clamp. Then you should get less twist on the flying clamp when you clamp cross 1 to starting pin cross.

that's pretty clever mate!