Trad Gang
Topic Archives => How To - Resources => Topic started by: Rob DiStefano on August 22, 2009, 11:29:00 AM
-
geez, it's taken me months to find the time to put together something digital on how i spin strings, but fellow trad ganger larry smeen and i put together some footage this past wednesday. it shows me using the unistrut endless jig i built, spinning up a 2 color, 60-1/4", 8 strand dyneema'02, padded loop (dacron), skinny string for a 62" 55# mohawk longbow.
some video caveats ...
this is an uncut, unedited raw video. so you get to hear and see some bloopers.
there are annoying clicks and pops courtesy of a cheap squeeky tripod.
the original video is dvd quality and a 720 wide 1.7 gig mpg file. the best i could do, for now, is to convert to a wmv file that's 124 megs in filesize, sorry.
post script - about an hour after finishing the videoing, i accidentally knocked the 20# string jig off the table, sending the end of the unistrut into the top of my right foot ... larry drove me to the er and 3 stitches later the bleeding stopped. stuff happens, eh?
after a few dayze, this post will get moved to the how-to forum.
spinning a padded loop skinny bowstring (http://www.tradgang.com/videos/rob/es1.wmv)
....
-
Thanks, Rob!
-
"this is an uncut, unedited raw video..."
I sent the youngins outta the room before playing it. :D
Seriously, I've had alot of use for the one I made with your plans. Can't say thanx enuf.
-
Thanks alot for your time and info. Im gonna go type one now.
-
Thanks!! I have found this to be very helpful!
-
That was an excellent demonstration. At the risk of being slightly off topic, what advantages do you see for an endless string vs. a flemish twist?
-
That was excellent! Thanks Rob. :thumbsup:
-
Excellent Rob!!!
Some questions - can you try to explain the amount of tension you use on your server?
Can you tell us about the wax you use?
Last - did the stitches hurt? :)
Thanks
Steve
-
Very cool thanks for taking the time to make that video.
-
flemish or endless? both will get the job done extremely well! i like endless because it will clone any string perfectly on the first spin, and they are extremely precise.
-
i like serving tension to be on the tight side, but not TIGHT. if the spool starts to drag/bind even a little bit, the tension is too tight.
i use beeswax.
the stitching up didn't hurt a bit, thanx to novocaine - it was the loss of blood that had me scared, it was a gusher!
a new and much improved spinning video is in the planning.
-
False advertising!!!
That "endless" string video ended! Bummer!
And did you really say "serve that #*%$^&*?"
Killdeer :eek:
~Always get tape.
-
Thanks for the explanation on why endless. I noticed as I build flemish strings sometimes I'm not so precise and so I may have to twist more or less to get brace height. If the string is too long, it's just going to weigh more, so some of the benefits of a lighter string are diminished. Now (as if I need one)another reason to tinker in the shop and build a spinner jig for endless strings.
-
Originally posted by Killdeer:
False advertising!!!
That "endless" string video ended! Bummer!
kinda like 'the endless summer' ....
And did you really say "serve that #*%$^&*?"
insert q-tip, remove ear wax - 'serve this puppy' :D
Killdeer :eek:
~Always get tape.
-
Originally posted by Bruce Martin:
Thanks for the explanation on why endless. I noticed as I build flemish strings sometimes I'm not so precise and so I may have to twist more or less to get brace height. If the string is too long, it's just going to weigh more, so some of the benefits of a lighter string are diminished. Now (as if I need one)another reason to tinker in the shop and build a spinner jig for endless strings.
fwiw, i also believe there's no benefit to tons of string twist - makes for a spring-like effect that's not a good thing.
the how-to forum has a pictorial thread for building the super simple unistrut endless jig.
-
rob, does it matter what kind of string you use? could you use regular fast flight?
-
Originally posted by eman614:
rob, does it matter what kind of string you use? could you use regular fast flight?
i'm not exactly sure i understand your question - endless strings can be made from any string fiber, dittos for skinny strings. all that really matters is that you use enuf strands to make a safe string that can handle the bow's weight, both drawn and released.
in the vid i'm using bcy's dyneema'02, which is actually dynaflight'97 but with lots less wax. endless strings need far less wax than flemish strings, so why add unnecessary weight to the completed string?
anyhoo, even 4 strands of d'02 would work as a skinny string for a 55# bow since dyneema is at least 100#/strand, and a 400# tensile strength bowstring is over 7 times the bow's 55# holding weight.
dacron's lower 50# (at best) tensile strength makes it difficult to use for skinny strings. best that i'd dare to use is 10 strands of b50 for a 50# hill longbow. ymmv.
very low strand counts may make for a faster and quieter string, but there's less 'meat' in the strand count so durability may be a factor, specially when scrambling through bush on a hunt.
-
rob - very useful post. thank you
rusty