String question..

[dustin smith]

Well I am ready to start tillering my first homemade bow. so I just ordered me 1/4# Brownell B50.. Wondering how many strands I should use and what size serving?

[Jesse Peltan]

For number of strands take bow weight divided by 5. For example a 70# bow needs a 14strand string.

[Pat B]

I use 14 strands on most of my selfbows.

[Innocente]

i buy my strings here.  http://www.3riversarchery.com/Strings+Bow++Double+Loop+B-50+Dacron+Endless+Bowstrings_c40_s232_p0_i4243X_product.html

the only 2 options are: 14 or 16 strand.  i always buy the 16 strand.  i don't know, i guess it seems right to me to err on the side of overly strong.

[dustin smith]

I am shooting for approx 45#'s on the bow.. So i guess if I make 14 strands would be plenty.. Anyone tell me what size severing i should use for the center?

[AkDan]

I adjust my serving to my nocks.  Even dropped a strand in a string to get the right tightness to my nocks once the string was served.  I would hit up a bow shop and get a couple short lengths of different sizes before buying a spool of serving to figure out what is going to work for you.  Jmho.
I am thinking about going to some skinny strings and see what all the hype is, however I'm a little worried about getting my serving thick enough to not have loose nocks.  Doubling your serving I would think would negate the hole point of going to a thinner string all together?

[Art B]

A 12 strand string is more than plenty for a 45# bow IMO. The .018 serving would be suitable for either the 12 or 14 strand string. ART

[Loren Holland]

you don't need to add too many strands or you reduce performance...a string should be 5 times the strength of the bow plus 10% (or is it 20...been awhile since i read that chapt of Bowyers bible). ex B-50 is rated at about 30lbs i think, so if you are making a string for 60 lb bow, then 5 x 60=300 then 300 divided by 30 lb rating is 10 strands plus the safety margin.  12 strands is what you need for safety, if you add two more just to be safe then you are up to 14, you certainly can but it is two strands you don't needthat will slow down your performance

[frank bullitt]

Well, from what I understand you are starting to tiller the stave? I would make a tillering string at 16 strands.

Then when you are finished and ready to shoot at around 45lbs., you can make a 12 strand at the proper length and put on the serving.

Good shootin, Steve

[dustin smith]

thanks for all the input..