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
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.
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 .
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?
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.
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.
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.
Shuttle Express 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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
What do you guys think of this one? 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? http://cgi.ebay.ca/Alpha-String-Pal...oryZ2917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
