strings breaking below serving

[jrstegner]

I have been shooting traditional bows fpr 19 years. In all that time I have never had a string break. That is until today, I had two strings break on the shot. The first one was a SBD D10 string that had maybe 500 shots with it. I had just shot about 75 arrows or so and upon realease the string just broke. The arrow struck the bullseye and had normal flight. I assumed upon striking the limbs the string just gave out, and I chalked it up to a freak occurance.

Several hours later I headed back out to shoot with a different bow and had the exact same thing happen after seven shots with a DF97 Champion string that was a couple years old but had very few arrows through it.

My bow room is 68 degrees and 50% humidity. I keep three or four bows strung at a time. I  unstring them to adjust fistmele as needed. I adjust fistmele by twisting from both ends. I hang my strung bows horizontally from the ceiling. Both strings broke in exactly the same spot, immediately below the serving. What is going on here?

[mikebiz]

Are you wearing an armguard?  Did the strings look frayed at all prior to the breakage?  I have a feeling that something you are wearing while shooting is cutting the string.  I remember having that happen years ago when I used a cheap armguard that had aluminum slats under the cheap pleather.  The edge got exposed after lots of shooting and it cut the string.  Hope you figure it out.

[Kris]

My first thoughts were exactly consistent with mikebiz above.  Wouldn't even have had to have been your arm guard though...what else was different or did you do different that day that contacted the strings below the serving?  Did they look worn or cut or maybe a combination of both?  Did they both break in exactly the same spot?  Too weird if they both broke coincidently on the same day!

Please post, if you figure it out.

Kris

[jrstegner]

Thanks Mike I think you nailed it! The strings showed no wear prior to shooting but my armguard is one of the slap on jobs that has a sharp edge and I was wearing a heavy coat. The edge of the armguard probably cut a couple strands and the heavy poundage bow probably did the rest to the skinny strings,

[kennyb]

See how awesome this site is? Problem solved! Good luck JR!    

[wildgame]

Same thing happened to me a while back! Im never using a arm guard with any type metal in it agian!

[jrstegner]

Thanks guys. I probably would have figured it after a couple hundred dollars worth of strings,

[flippnsticks]

quote:Originally posted by kennyb:
See how awesome this site is? Problem solved! Good luck JR!    

[mikebiz]

No problem jrstegner.  Sometimes I get things right     You should invest in a leather armguard.  I suggest you look at Mike's Archery Leather.  He's a sponsor here and a fantastic leather craftsman.  I have his Latigo 3DB armguard and it is beautifully crafted, soft and very comfortable.  Simple to put on/take off, too.  Hope you're problem is solved.  Keep shooting.

[Swamp Yankee]

Yeah, glad you figured it out.  I was going to say you might not want to buy a lottery ticket today  

[smokin feathers]

good that you figured that out, if you wear overalls much you got to watch out too!! i have had a few exciting moments from the string catching the left button.