What do the terms “constant pull” and “lockout” refer to?
You may have noticed the terms “constant pull” or “lockout” on your invoice. These terms refer to methods of tensioning (pulling modes). All stringing machines have to employ some means of applying tension to the strings as the stringer weaves them into the frame. Until a few years ago, professional stringers in the U.S. almost exclusively used machines with spring loaded tensioners. On these machines, tension is applied by turning a crank which locks in place (hence the name “lockout”) when the desired tension is reached. The drawback to this method of tensioning is that after the tensioning device locks, the string immediately begins to relax and drop in tension. Quality electronic stringing machines (like my Neos 2000) employ the use of piezoelectric sensors to monitor the tension applied to the string. When the string reaches the desired tension, the machine monitors the string for relaxation and pulls further as required. Because of this extra pulling, constant pull machines strin
