Hi people,

I bought a used Eagnas Hawk 80 (I think its a Hawk 80) for $120 CAD.

I tried stringing my racket today by looking up information on the Eagnas website, but its so old and **** that I couldnt find anything about it.

There is nothing online with enough detail that I can use to correctly set up my machine.

So as a really dumb idiot desperately trying to learn how to string a racket. I could really use some help!

I know im missing two shoulder supports but I cant find replacements anywhere online! And the clamps are for tennis rackets not badminton so I had to shove it between strings. Is there a replacement available that is cheap?

I didnt expect to need more parts so my budget is basically non-existent

You have plenty of parts on aliexpress.
From the look of your side supports, it could probably be replaced by these

As for the clamps, there are even more choice

Thank you. Ill keep these in mind if my budget ever allows.

I did unfortunately fail right at the end by snapping thr string. But while I was using it, I had fun.

I just wish it was as easy as the videos showed. Though I will say, yeah its my fault for not researching thr machine well enough, but then again...no one had information on it and Eagnas' website...I have nothing but colorful language for it.

I do want to continue stringing. Its fun, it'll allow me to string however loose or tight I want without anyone telling me othetwise and in my area of canada, stringing is kinda expensive with long turnaround times.

That is a massive red flag imo. Do you have some knowledge about the do's and dont's when it comes to using a drop-weight tensioning system? I put together some information on that in an article on stringin.info that might be interesting to read:
https://stringing.info/2020/01/21/drop-weight-machines-theory-and-cardinal-errors/

IMO still the best drop weight technique is shown by @thyrif in his video:

As for the machine... well, it is what it is. If you can find the missing parts somehow you might be able to make it work and to get out halfway decent jobs. I wonder how you've replaced the missing side supports in that first job you didn. In any way be very careful when it come to higher tensions and take maximum caution not to make mistakes in your technique. Next time it might not be the string that snaps, but the frame that breaks.

My machine is not like this at all so I didnt think it was applicable to me. It was my first time, I looked up many different channels and posts before trying it.

I did the best I could with whatever instructions I could understand.

on the contrary. This machine and yours share the exact same tensioning principle which is THE very foundation of everything else that comes afterwards. If you can't handle your tensioning system safely, you will end up with damaged rackets and crappy string jobs.

Your machine is the same type as my machine (drop weight, 6 point mounting, fixed clamps), my video is very applicable to your situation.

I really recommend replacing the missing support before stringing another racket. It is dangerous to your racket, especially since it looks like the weight is positioned for a higher tension.

That being said, stringing for yourself can be such a newfound freedom, I hope you stick it out and wish you the best of luck.

The first time stringing for me took 4 hours. After ten it took me an hour. It will become a lot easier with practice.

No, thats just how it came. I play at 24lb. Not super high or low.

Though the drop weight is so much different on your machine that im struggling to understand how to follow you.

Sorry, im not the brightest bulb there it.

While I really enjoyed just giving it a try, i might just heed s_mair advice and just get my rackets done professionally instead.

In what way do you think your dropweight is different? To me it seems it has the same type of sliding gripper, arm, and weight?

Mine is a one piece, everything rotates so I keep fiddling with it till it pulls horizontal.

I bring the weight up, hook the strings in the gripper with enough tension hopefully, drop the weight. Usually it's too tight or loose so ill pull and drop like five times before the bar is horizontal.

On my last pull I got impatient and gave it a nudge down...I know, I'm an idiot.

People usually do it this way:
- leave the weight resting
- rotate the gripper horizontal
- add string to gripper
- hold the gripper and rotate the weight
- release and hope the weight is horizontal

What i do differently is that I hold the weight horizontal and then rotate the gripper.

You don't have to rotate them together.

The eagnas weight doesnt ratchet. The weight and head are one assembly. Both go up and both go down.

This redditor has the same type

As you can see, one piece

Okay, now that is just a plain stupid construction.

Don't be so hard on yourself. I bet that 99% of all beginners on a drop weight machine are making that mistake at some point in their carreer. As long as you learn your lesson and don't repeat it, it's all good. As I said, luckily it was only the string that gave way and not the frame.

Where did I give this advice?!

Just make sure to give yourself time to learn the technique and to start from the basics. And definitely fix those side supports before you string more rackets!