Topic: Stringing Machine on a Budget

[tennis_guy_andrew]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking into buying a good quality electric stringing machine around the $250 - $300 range. For personal use only of course.

http://www.sptennis.com/stringer.asp#eStringer I am looking at this one with the 6pt. Mounting System. for $280.. is this a good stringer?


Thanks

[Tennis4you]

I have watched a video on that before but I have never seen or used one personally.  My only concern with something that small would be the motor giving out, but maybe they are built to last.  Crap, for all I know it is the same size as the one in the big machines, but I doubt it.  

Have you looked stringers that are not electric for that price range, because I know you can find some nice ones.

[tennis_guy_andrew]

Yeah of course. But when I looked in the back of Tennis Magazine and saw the $280 Electric stringer add I jumped right on the website of course. Electric is not a necessity for me. But for the price and it being electric it seemed like a hell of a deal.

[Tennis4you]

I wish I knew someone who had one so I could give you a better review.  I would almost prefer a non-electric one.

[thejackal]

check out atssports.com
Thats where I got my machine (Gamma 602)

[papasmerf10101]

I have a used stringer that I'm thinking of selling here is the link: eagnas.com/electrot.HTML
It is the first stringer on the page.

[junbug300]

there are many machines out on the market that are well within your budget. it's just a matter of personal preference. my suggestion is see who offers the best technical support as well as best warranty. just to give you an idea and not to rub it in. i scored a prince P200 still in good working condition for $100. now this was just really luck. right now i can probably sell it as is for at least $500. you can try craigslist as well. that's where i found mine. but make sure the person you are dealing with is within driving distance. i drove an hour and a half for this machine and it was worth it!!

[dmastous]

You have to understand that you get what you pay for. Eagnas is a cleap stringer, but it's also cheaply made and performs poorly when compared to the other stringers. I don't know about now, but the customer service for Eagnas was embarrassingly bad. If I were to go with a cheaper stringer, I'd probably go with a Silent Partner. I'd stay away from Eagnas.
Right now the going rate for a standup lock out stringer is around $700-$800. An electronic stringer will be more in the $1200-$1500 range. Drop weight stringers are $150-$200. I would expect to pay that much for quality, unless you find one used. But be sure it is in good working condition and calibrated.

[monstertruck]

DMast is right as usual!
I bought an Eagnas standup/lockout for nearly $600.00 several years ago.  It was my first machine and at the time I thought it was great.  Now that I've got a couple hundred string jobs under my belt I notice lots of little things I don't like.  The table the clamps are mounted on flexes.
The clamps move slightly when crank is released.
The clamps don't hold the strings well.
6 pt. mounting is worthless because the stabilizers move.
Numbers wearing off tension gauge!
Tools included are a freakin' joke!!!
Customer / tech support was terrible when I tried it!!!

I better stop now, I'm getting pretty pissed just sitting here looking at it!

This is an important purchase, be patient and save your money and get the absolute best machine you can buy.

[thejackal]

got a gamma 602 too, no complaints.  got to strung on a babolat sensor a couple of times where i worked, now that's a machine, but i dont think id be getting one anytime soon 

[junbug300]

like i said the company who can offer the best techincal support should be the one you should buy from. try tennismachines.com . they carry quite a few used reconditioned units in their inventory as well as offer great technical support.

[CTDeuce]

I have recently been looking into getting a klippermate for my first machine.  Cheap, and the warranty alone is worth the price.

[OSU Buckeye]

I have recently been looking into getting a klippermate for my first machine.  Cheap, and the warranty alone is worth the price.

What warranty?  I have almost been considering that one as well seeing how cheap it is. 

[CTDeuce]

They have a lifetime warranty of the machine, all it's parts, and all tools that come with it.

For the money, that just can't be beat in my opinion.  I mean it will definitely take a little longer to get a racquet done...but once you're used to it the racquet time is supposed to be about a half hour.  I only have 3 racquets so an hour and a half out of every week/2 weeks sounds amazing for that price to me

[monstertruck]

They have a lifetime warranty of the machine, all it's parts, and all tools that come with it.

For the money, that just can't be beat in my opinion.  I mean it will definitely take a little longer to get a racquet done...but once you're used to it the racquet time is supposed to be about a half hour.  I only have 3 racquets so an hour and a half out of every week/2 weeks sounds amazing for that price to me

I've never used a Klipper, but I hear they do get the job done.
Just keep in mind that you get what you pay for.  It's been my experience that buying tools is an investment and if you plan on stringing for the next 5+ years you're better off saving your money and going with best quality machine you can afford.

Now that I think about it, if you're stringing 3 sticks every 2 weeks on avg. just go with the clipper for now and the money you save will be enough to go with a Neos or equivalent in 2 years!

[CTDeuce]

haha yeah that's how I figured it.  I'm saving $45 every 2 weeks or on 3 racquets.  If I still take that $45 and put it into a seperate saving's fund...that new and better machine should buy itself in 6 months

[Tennis4you]

haha yeah that's how I figured it.  I'm saving $45 every 2 weeks or on 3 racquets.  If I still take that $45 and put it into a seperate saving's fund...that new and better machine should buy itself in 6 months

Hells yes it will!  I save big money doing it myself too, it helps a ton!

[CTDeuce]

After buying all the stuff i've purchased getting ready for this season, i'm definitely going to have to save for a few weeks before indulging in a klipper though.  Offseason as follows :

3 MicroGEL Extreme Pro's
1 Adidas winter edge tee
1 Sergio Tachinni tee
Asics Gel Resolutions
about 5 packs of tournagrips
2-12 pack babolat pro team grips
various armbands
2-adidas climacool headbands
2-nike dri fit headbands
many various packs of strings
vibe dampeners - socks - etc.
2 - Head hats


it's been a busy off season 

[Tennis4you]

5 packs of tournagrips and 24 babolat pro team grips eh?  Do you use one different ones for different occassions?   I like to stick to one grip.

[CTDeuce]

Yeah while it's still kind of cold out I will use up the tourna's because I don't sweat as much.  I think the babolat grips feel better in my hand and work more efficiently, so I get them for when it's warming up a bit.  I will almost definitely just switch to the babolat one's for good...but I wanted to get one last run with tourna's...you know...nostalgia