String Material Identification

[Gapmaster]

I need some help trying to figure something out. I have a string that needs replacement on a longbow I have. I have the old string. I am going to make a new one, but I'm not sure if this old one is Fast Flight or Dacron or whatever. I'm afraid to make one out of 452 and use it when it might take my bow limb tips apart. How can a guy identify what the old material is that came on the bow. All this string material looks pretty much the same to me. My longbow was made a about 10 years ago by Bob Lawson. It's a great bow. I won the bow in a drawing and he donated it to the club holding the tournament. I would prefer to use a newer kind of string material, but if I have to use B-500 I will. I sure would hate to ruin it. Thanks, Gapmaster

[Orion]

I can tell the difference between dacron and most fast flite materials, I think, at least most of the time (L0L).  But I'm not sure I can explain it.  Dacron tends to be thicker per strand, and on an old string, there tends to be more fraying.  

But, since you want to use a fast flite type string, it doesn't really make much difference what the current string is made of.  You need to look at the limb tips/overlays.  If they're fairly substantial, they'll probably handle a fast flite type string.  If not, probably best not to chance it.

[Bjorn]

Take a fingernail clipper and try to cut the string ends around the spliced areas. If they cut easily it is B50; if you kind of have to saw the strands with the clippers it is a Spectra type-string (non-B50).