string for a selfbow ?

[daniel boon]

I'm looking at getting a new string for a 68"-50#@29" snakeskin backed juniper LB, can I use FF, or should I stick to dacron?

[bowhuntingrn]

Stick with Dacron, that is unless you can find an artificial sinew one. The artificial sinew not only looks really cool on a selfbow, in my experience you'll also experience less handshock with it.

[ddauler]

Originally posted by daniel boon:
I'm looking at getting a new string for a 68"-50#@29" snakeskin backed juniper LB, can I use FF, or should I stick to dacron?

I use both on mine like FF due to no stretch. Have been using on Hickory and Osage bows for 20 years no issues. Just twist up flemish timber hitch for bottom.

[Flinttim]

Dacron. You can get away with FF if you put some hard tip overlays on it (like horn etc). I just this morning repaired a tip overlay on a new acquisition. It's a glass bow but has walnut tip overlays. At some point it had FF on it and the string cut like a saw thru the soft walnut. I find FF to be too harsh and unforgiving for self bows. As to artificial sinew. Be careful and get the stuff made from Dacron (polyester). Some of it is nylon and will stretch forever. I find the dacron artificial sinew at a flea market I go to now and then.Look inside the tube and it will usually have a tag that says "Dacron or Polyester"

[Pat B]

I use only B-50 on my selfbows. That being said I have 2 selfbows that Dano(Dan Grens) made for me and both have FF strings and neither have tip overlays.

[tippit]

I use 450+ on all my selfbows...actually on all my longbows.

[Bjorn]

I use FF type strings on my self bows with no problems.

[Orion]

Me too.

[daniel boon]

Thanks everyone, I may just try a FF string on it.

[Mike Yancey]

I put Fast Flight Plus on all my self and sinew backed bows with and without tip overlays. Once you shoot on with FF you will never go back to anything else. I use the bronze color and they look very natural, I twist a flemish loop for the top then twist the last 6'' or so and tie a timber hitch like ddauler said on the bottom  and they work for me. Im with Flinttim on the artificial sinew, I don't see how you could ever get it to quit stretching.

[Pete W]

I don't use any tip overlays and only use 10 strand DF97 with 16 strands in the loops {Flemish} on my selfbows. No problems with Ash, Hickory, Osage, and Hop Hornbeam.
 Pete

[snakewood3]

FF plus. No tip overlays unless a very soft wood such as yew or juniper. Artificial sinew has way too much stretch.

[Flinttim]

Best to clarify the artificial sinew thing. There are TWO types, one nylon and one Dacron, the same thing your B50 is made of. I've made lots of strings for primitive bows from the Dacron (Polyester) artificial  sinew. You just have to know where to find it.