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How to Choose the Right Stringing Machine
A. Why buy a stringing machine?
Over the years, we have heard many reasons why people purchase a stringing machine. Here are some of the most common:
1) My son/daughter breaks string so frequently I am going broke paying my stringer $20 per stringing job.
2) I want to make a few extra bucks by starting a racquet stringing business.
3) It is a hassle finding a stringer and waiting for the racquet to be done (In one case, a
player was driving two hours round trip to the nearest stringer he could find!)
4) I am never happy with how my frames are strung. I know I could do a better job myself.
5) I am opening a new business and will need to string racquets
6) I am starting a new job and the job description includes the stringing of racquets.
7) I want my child to string racquets so he/she learns how to run a small business-buy inventory, market his services
and collect receivables.
8) A combination of any of the above
B. Selecting a Budget for Your Purchase
Now that you have read about many possible reasons to purchase a stringing machine of your own, the next step is deciding how
much you want to spend. You are most likely thinking, either (a)I want to get the best machine for my needs and how much I spend is not that critical, or (b)I want to spend as little as I can, but still receive a
machine that will fit my needs. Most customers fall in to the second category.
The next thing to consider is: How many racquets do I intend to string per year? Consider this: If the average set of
string costs $3-$5, and the average charge for stringing a racquet is $20-$25, then the approximate profit, or money made, is $20 per racquet strung. String 10 racquets in one year and the profit is $200.00. Your
initial investment price would be the cost of the machine, plus tools, string and shipping charges. A safe estimate for the latter three would be $150. For example, if the actual cost of a machine is $330, your
initial investment price would be about $480. Therefore, if you string one racquet a week, charging $20 a job, the machine would easily be paid for in six months. String two per month and the machine would pay for
itself in a year. (Obviously, if you are looking for a quick payoff, you would need to buy an inexpensive machine or string a high volume of racquets in a short period of time). Labor-wise, the stringing time needed
is about 1 hour per frame.
The final point to keep in mind is the resale value of the machine. A machine in good
condition, with no missing parts, could easily
sell for 60-80% of the original purchase price. Most who resell their used machine are doing so either (a)to get out of the business(if your stringing profits have already paid for the cost of the stringer, the final sale value would be a 100% profit), or (b)for budget considerations: your first machine was inexpensive-now you're ready to upgrade, or perhaps your business has grown and continues to expand(the proceeds of the sale of the initial machine could be applied to the purchase of a new one).
C. Mobile vs. Stationary
The first issue to examine is how you intend to use your machine. If you are going to buy it, set it in one room and leave it
alone, then there are no constraints. However, if you are going to put it in the back of your car and string at tournaments every weekend, then you need to be more selective. Basically, there are three broad
categories of machines: (1) table models, (2) floor models, and (3) electronic models.
Table top machines tend to be less expensive, offer a wide range of options and are very portable. They are ideal for
the stringer who's always on the go.
Floor models can be portable, but will function the easiest if left in one place.
Electronic machines come in both table and floor versions. The table versions are definitely more portable, but if the
goal is to string at tournaments, there must be a power supply available to plug in to.
D. The Clamping Dilemma: Floating vs. Glide bar vs. Swivel
Floating clamps are the most common system available on the market today, primarily because they
are the least expensive. The reason they are cheaper is that they do not attach to the machine, making it a much simpler mechanism. On the flip side, the clamp holds tension by clamping to two strings
simultaneously-the one being tensioned and the one tensioned just prior. To many this is a difficult concept to understand or execute. There have been many cases where an individual has been stringing on a floor
model machine for several years and decides to purchase a table model to use at home, or as a second machine. Even though he is an experienced stringer, the floating clamps can give him fits. So if you want to look
beyond floating clamps, the other options are clamps on glide bars or swivel clamps.
Clamps on glide bars are an American institution while swivel clamps originated in Europe. Over the past 15 years,
Americans have more openly embraced the swivel clamp. To tension string using glide bars and clamps is very simple. When you are ready to tension a string, the glide bar is positioned under the string with the teeth
of one clamp on the string to be tensioned. When the clamp is tightened on the string, it also tightens on the glide bar, which, in turn, is grounded to the machine. It tends to be a very fast and trouble-free
system.
The swivel clamp gives the stringer more flexibility. It does not attach to a glide bar, only
to a movable base with 360o rotation. Every time a string is tensioned, both the clamp and the base must be secured. This is twice the effort required with glide bars, but then again, there are no glide
bars to move. There are two advantages of swivel clamps: First, 360o rotation allows the clamp to readjust to any string pattern a frame may offer; Second, the clamping teeth are pushed up into the
string, and without glide bars there is never an issue with string bed height.
E. Two-point Mounting vs. Multiple-point Mounting
Stringing began with two-point mounting because frame sizes were small-about 75 sq. inches-and string tensions were low.
However, as frame sizes and tensions mushroomed, mounting the frame properly became much more critical. Two-point mounting is based on securing the frame at 6 and 12 o'clock. To keep a frame from distorting while
stringing, these are the key pressure points. Even with six-point mounting, 6 and 12 o'clock remain the key pressure points. With proper mounting the two-point system will work fine. However, if the frame is mounted
a hair off-center, the frame could distort. The chances of this happening with multiple-point mounting are greatly reduced.
One of the greatest advantages of multiple-point mounting is stringing oversize frames at high tensions. Sometimes the
frame has a tendency to distort and move. With extra mounting points, the problem is much easier to control.
F. Selecting the Right Tensioning System
There are three major types of tensioning systems: (1) drop weight, (2) electronic and (3) spring loaded linear ball gripper.
First to consider: the drop weight system. While it is the least expensive system of the three, it is also the most
difficult to master. The weight arm must drop to a horizontal position for the tension to be accurate. A little thought and ingenuity makes the work easy. When a drop weight machine is used properly, it is extremely
accurate because it takes all the stretch out of the string. However, if you are not flexible in your approach to stringing, this would not be the best system for you.
The second option is an electronic machine. Electronic machines are currently the fastest growing section of the
market. Over recent years, prices have dropped steadily, fueling demand. Tensioning is quick and accurate because, much as is the case with the drop weight arm, the constant pull of the motor takes all stretch out
of the string.
Lastly, we have the spring loaded linear ball gripper. This mechanism, a product of American ingenuity, is the easiest
system to use and, in many ways, the most popular. However, every 30 racquets strung, the tension spring needs to be recalibrated to keep the tension accurate. Also, because there is no constant pull, strings that
stretch will come out at a slightly lower tension than they would on other systems.
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