Wednesday, December 4, 2013
TIP - Verify suitability of clamps provided (for badminton strings)
A friend recently purchase a budget drop weight unit only to discover the supplied clamps were NOT suitable for use with badminton strings! Luckily the other tools provided were multi-purpose and could be use for stringing a badminton racquet.
Always ask the seller or manufacturer if (any of) the clamps provided are suitable for stringing a badminton racquet.
Some sellers or manufacturers are willing to replace the default clamps with those suitable for stringing badminton strings - for a modest top-up.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Potential issues for drop weight stringing machines with ratchet based mechanism(s)
I came across the following informative site while researching a related topic.
Although the discrepencies maybe magnified when performed at tensions for tennis racquets, the issues are relevant for badminton tensions since most springs (used in the ratchet mechanism) obey Hooke's Law . The impact will be to a lower degree.
Direct link: http://homepage2.nifty.com/picdog/Tennis_Stringing/stringing_9.html
Thru BING translator: http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-SG&dl=en&lp=JA_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2fhomepage2.nifty.com%2fpicdog%2fTennis_Stringing%2fstringing_9.html
Direct link: http://homepage2.nifty.com/picdog/Tennis_Stringing/stringing_9.html
Thru BING translator: http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=SERP&br=ro&mkt=en-SG&dl=en&lp=JA_EN&a=http%3a%2f%2fhomepage2.nifty.com%2fpicdog%2fTennis_Stringing%2fstringing_9.html
The Japanese author shows why the gripper should be at 180degrees in the 1st sequence of pix(s).
The Japanese author has pix(s) of tests results perform using a tension-meter with the drop weight bar and gripper at various angles. These pix(s) are highly illustrative and informative - it gets the details across even if the translation was not great.
The Japanese author shows the necessity to verify the tension setting vs tension obtained within the racquet frame in the 4th post
From another thread at http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=273863 (illustrated by the 3rd set of pixs by the Japanese author) you can see the formulae for determining the resultant force using the basic drop weight tensioner system (does not apply to proprietary drop weight designs). Noon is 0degrees as that is the position from which the drop weight falls from. COSINE90 in the formulate producess a ZERO value, that is the reason why the bar with the drop weight has to be in-parallel with the floor aka 90degree(s), to produce the desired tension.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Summary of stringing machine classifications (***Updated***)
In general, there are 3 categories of badminton stringing machines.
The categories are Drop Weight, Crank and Electronic.
Please note S&P costs can be quite significant, depending on where you are located. For instance, I inquired regarding the total cost to buy a high-end crank and was quoted a S&P of USD$850 which was in-addition to USD$1199 for the machine itself! My friend bought a lower end Drop Weight machine for USD$179 and paid an additional USD$132 for S&P.
Drop Weight*
Default of the home stringer domain.
Prices from USD$179 (before S&P).
Some units can be upgraded with a electronic tensioning unit.
Pro: Cheap, simple to use, lightest of the stringing machines types, benefit of consistent-pull from gravity onto the drop-weight
Con: Can be less accurate and/or consistent for ratched-based mechanism units, spring for ratchet mechanism need replacing after few years (depending on tensions applied), slower due to method tensioning mechanism functions
Proprietary Drop Weight designs are not impacted by the most of the issues typically encountered by the ratchet based mechanisms. Such units can cost as much as cranks
Crank
Typical machine found in the smaller professional shops - these are the default work-horses of the stringing world.
Prices from USD$390 (before S&P).
These units can usually be upgraded with a electronic tensioning unit.
Some manufacturers have began offering portable model(s) using a crank for the tensioning mechanism.
Pro: Easy to use,tensioning mechanism auto-returns to starting point (labour saving)
Con: Not as accurate as electronic, no frills eg no pre-stretch or continous pull as the tensioning mechanism locks into place once the set tension has been reached; manual tensioning, springs need replacing after few years (depending on tensions applied), can be quite expensive for the better units, weight atleast 40-60kg for the stationary units in the shops, postage costs an arm&leg due to weight
Electronic
Most expensive of the stringing machine type and normally found in the high-end, high-volume and/or professional shops - these are the dream machines.
Prices from USD$299 (before S&P)
The machines require an electrical source to function eg no juice, no stringing!
Some manufacturers have began offering budget portable model(s) with the electronic tensioning mechanism. Naturally these budget units are not as good as the high-end units - difference in quality of motors, programming in the microprocessor logic, etc.
The Standard De Facto for electronic upgrades is the Wise unit which can cost more than a low cost stringing machine itself!
Pro: Has all the bells-and-whistles that can be cramped into the electronics to control the stringing mechanism accurately eg pre-stretch, continous-pull, etc
Con: Expensive, require regular maintainence and/or calibration every quarter or monthly, stationary units can be extremely heavy; expensive postage costs for delivery (or for warranty!!!), parts expensive if replacement required
The categories are Drop Weight, Crank and Electronic.
Please note S&P costs can be quite significant, depending on where you are located. For instance, I inquired regarding the total cost to buy a high-end crank and was quoted a S&P of USD$850 which was in-addition to USD$1199 for the machine itself! My friend bought a lower end Drop Weight machine for USD$179 and paid an additional USD$132 for S&P.
Drop Weight*
 |
| Example of drop weight tensioner (low end model) from internet |
Default of the home stringer domain.
Prices from USD$179 (before S&P).
Some units can be upgraded with a electronic tensioning unit.
Pro: Cheap, simple to use, lightest of the stringing machines types, benefit of consistent-pull from gravity onto the drop-weight
Con: Can be less accurate and/or consistent for ratched-based mechanism units, spring for ratchet mechanism need replacing after few years (depending on tensions applied), slower due to method tensioning mechanism functions
Proprietary Drop Weight designs are not impacted by the most of the issues typically encountered by the ratchet based mechanisms. Such units can cost as much as cranks
Crank
 |
| Example of crank type tensioner |
Prices from USD$390 (before S&P).
These units can usually be upgraded with a electronic tensioning unit.
Some manufacturers have began offering portable model(s) using a crank for the tensioning mechanism.
Pro: Easy to use,tensioning mechanism auto-returns to starting point (labour saving)
Con: Not as accurate as electronic, no frills eg no pre-stretch or continous pull as the tensioning mechanism locks into place once the set tension has been reached; manual tensioning, springs need replacing after few years (depending on tensions applied), can be quite expensive for the better units, weight atleast 40-60kg for the stationary units in the shops, postage costs an arm&leg due to weight
 |
| Top view of crank type tensioner |
Electronic
 |
| Example of electronic type tensioner from internet |
Most expensive of the stringing machine type and normally found in the high-end, high-volume and/or professional shops - these are the dream machines.
Prices from USD$299 (before S&P)
The machines require an electrical source to function eg no juice, no stringing!
Some manufacturers have began offering budget portable model(s) with the electronic tensioning mechanism. Naturally these budget units are not as good as the high-end units - difference in quality of motors, programming in the microprocessor logic, etc.
The Standard De Facto for electronic upgrades is the Wise unit which can cost more than a low cost stringing machine itself!
Pro: Has all the bells-and-whistles that can be cramped into the electronics to control the stringing mechanism accurately eg pre-stretch, continous-pull, etc
Con: Expensive, require regular maintainence and/or calibration every quarter or monthly, stationary units can be extremely heavy; expensive postage costs for delivery (or for warranty!!!), parts expensive if replacement required
Friday, November 1, 2013
Accessories to enable stringing machines for badminton (***Updated***)
Recently I was searching the net to assist a friend locate a decent badminton stringing machine for personal use.
I eventually discovered that most of the available machines are configured for a different sport eg tennis, squash, etc. And upon closer review of the prospective machine(s), noticed additional accessories would be required to enable the stringing of badminton racquets.
Some of the advertised accessories are not cheap. Hence do we require all those accessories which available in the market? And is it a good idea to buy accessories which were provided with other stringing machines in the market?
The answer is NO.
The basic accessories required for stringing a badminton racquet are a badminton awl, a pair of sharp scissors or cutters, a pair of long nose-pliers and atleast two good quality badminton clamps (three is the optimum number;4 or more for stringing at higher tensions). A load spreader would be nice if you have a 6-point stringing machine.
Additional clamps are usually recommended if you intend to string at higher tensions - the exact number depend on the model clamps you use and how old they are. For example the AEF model TFC-60 flying clamp advertised by it's manufacturer. The advert states initial clamping force above 30lbs but could drop to 20lbs after prolong usage. Hence if you are using an older set of these flying clamps and was stringing at tension of 27lbs, you would require 2 of these flying clamps to be positioned in-parallel for every string being tensioned.
And please note certain brand(s) of stringing machines require an additional mounting kit for stringing badminton racquets eg Klippermate, Stringway, etc.
I eventually discovered that most of the available machines are configured for a different sport eg tennis, squash, etc. And upon closer review of the prospective machine(s), noticed additional accessories would be required to enable the stringing of badminton racquets.
Some of the advertised accessories are not cheap. Hence do we require all those accessories which available in the market? And is it a good idea to buy accessories which were provided with other stringing machines in the market?
The answer is NO.
The basic accessories required for stringing a badminton racquet are a badminton awl, a pair of sharp scissors or cutters, a pair of long nose-pliers and atleast two good quality badminton clamps (three is the optimum number;4 or more for stringing at higher tensions). A load spreader would be nice if you have a 6-point stringing machine.
Additional clamps are usually recommended if you intend to string at higher tensions - the exact number depend on the model clamps you use and how old they are. For example the AEF model TFC-60 flying clamp advertised by it's manufacturer. The advert states initial clamping force above 30lbs but could drop to 20lbs after prolong usage. Hence if you are using an older set of these flying clamps and was stringing at tension of 27lbs, you would require 2 of these flying clamps to be positioned in-parallel for every string being tensioned.
And please note certain brand(s) of stringing machines require an additional mounting kit for stringing badminton racquets eg Klippermate, Stringway, etc.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Tremont Research T-145 II
My 1st stringing machine was the Tremont Research T-145 II (now using a different stringing machine).
Bought the T-145 2nd hand from my flatmate when flatting in New Zealand - circa 1989. The following pix shows the unit with the various components provided.
My T-145 came with the following accessories - a awl, a setting off awl (blunt), a hex key (for adjusting the position of the mounting arms), three clamps, pair of mounts/nuts and a pair of long screw/nuts with a gripper at the ends. My (then) flatmate bought only the basic necessities required for stringing badminton racquets with him (to NZ).
The T-145 was designed to be a portable unit, to be mounted via securing the unit to the side of a furniture via gripper(s) and screws. I used to secure the T-145 to a microwave table with a layer of cloth underneath to prevent damage at the anchor site.
The tensioner was alike a modified fisherman's scale mounted onto a platform with the scale in KG and LB(s). One of the three clamps would be required to secure the string to the tensioner to perform the tensioning. Hence the other two clamps are for the stringing process.
I "fondly" remember the unique Tremont clamps which permitted clamping of 2-main strings with 2-cross strings simultanously eg in '#' pattern. The locking mechanism for the clamp was alike a locking plier with a adjustment screw at the rear of the clamp, to vary the tooth's width to accommodate different string thickness. In theory, a very handy design. However I experienced slippage once I started stringing at higher tensions! And if you over-tighten the clamps, they tend to became unusable. A minor annoyance was that these clamps were easily disengaged eg accidently when weaving a new string nearby and you just happened to nudge a clamp in-use at the wrong angle!
However the T-145 major drawback was it's tensioning mechanism. To tension any string, you need to crank the tensioner to move it down a horizontal track. Unfortunately the tensioner has to be crank (again) to return it to the starting position once you have completed tensioning a string - no auto return as this was a budget unit! Hence took double the effort to tension a string! You could delay the return process once there was additional slack eg say only return the tensioner to the initial position after tensioning every 3-5 strings. Thus you had to be quite ENERGETIC as much more effort was required to complete the stringing processes!!!
Bought the T-145 2nd hand from my flatmate when flatting in New Zealand - circa 1989. The following pix shows the unit with the various components provided.
 |
The T-145 was designed to be a portable unit, to be mounted via securing the unit to the side of a furniture via gripper(s) and screws. I used to secure the T-145 to a microwave table with a layer of cloth underneath to prevent damage at the anchor site.
The tensioner was alike a modified fisherman's scale mounted onto a platform with the scale in KG and LB(s). One of the three clamps would be required to secure the string to the tensioner to perform the tensioning. Hence the other two clamps are for the stringing process.
I "fondly" remember the unique Tremont clamps which permitted clamping of 2-main strings with 2-cross strings simultanously eg in '#' pattern. The locking mechanism for the clamp was alike a locking plier with a adjustment screw at the rear of the clamp, to vary the tooth's width to accommodate different string thickness. In theory, a very handy design. However I experienced slippage once I started stringing at higher tensions! And if you over-tighten the clamps, they tend to became unusable. A minor annoyance was that these clamps were easily disengaged eg accidently when weaving a new string nearby and you just happened to nudge a clamp in-use at the wrong angle!
However the T-145 major drawback was it's tensioning mechanism. To tension any string, you need to crank the tensioner to move it down a horizontal track. Unfortunately the tensioner has to be crank (again) to return it to the starting position once you have completed tensioning a string - no auto return as this was a budget unit! Hence took double the effort to tension a string! You could delay the return process once there was additional slack eg say only return the tensioner to the initial position after tensioning every 3-5 strings. Thus you had to be quite ENERGETIC as much more effort was required to complete the stringing processes!!!
Kept the old reliable till 2002 when I relocated to South East Asia. Decided to let it go then as getting a racquet re-strung was MUCH cheaper in South East Asia than Down Under!!!
When I checked in early 2012, I discovered the company was no more. The company was registered as TREMONT RESEARCH CO INC., CHICAGO, ILL, 60610 USA with patents at http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3823609.html
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