String Fit Problem

[SenterShot]

I'm nearing completion of my first bow (61" recurve--was supposed to be 60", 46#@28"). None of the strings I've bought have a loop large enough to string this bow without a fight, in spite of the fact that my limbs are only 1.5" at the outer curve (I'd intended for these limbs to be 1.75").

How far down the upper limb does a string usually ride while the bow is unstrung? Are my limbs way too wide towards the tips? The large loops on my strings are 1.75" after being forced a bit.

[Robertfishes]

How wide are the tips at the string grooves? Most of mine end up 5/8 wide at grooves and 1 5/8 wide at end of riser fade.

[macbow]

If your going to make bows might as well get into string making as well.
That way you custom fit as needed.

[johnny girardi]

you may have longbow string

[Roy from Pa]

Recurve bows need a string with a much longer loop.

[Robertfishes]

on my one piece recurves the top loop of the un strung string is aprox 4 1/8" from string groove.  At that point my average limb width is just a fuzz over an inch wide. I measured a couple of my bow tip widths using a digital micrometer and at bottom (widest part) of string groove they ran between 0.690 and 0.700 inches wide.

[SenterShot]

Man, I'm really impressed with the folks on this forum. I just wish I'd known what questions to ask before I started glueing stuff together!

macbow, I hear you. I can also see a little artistry in matching string colors to the bow. For right now, however, I think I'd better get a little more proficient at getting the curves right on this silly stick.

I double-checked the string's package--the "FirstString" from Bass Pro says it's for a recurve. It measures 1.400" from the Y in the serving to the top of the loop...guess that means the loop has a circumference of 2.800" after all the abuse I put it through (like step through stringing just to get the other end onto the far notch!)

Robert, my notches are about .405 in the notch, and the tips are about .725 right below the notches. As for thickness, they are avg. .368 from belly side to the groove across the back (target facing side).

If I read you correct, the width of your limbs tapers from tips all the way to fadeouts, right? Mine max out in the curve, and then continue at 1.525-ish all the way to the sight window. Should my limbs be the narrower in curves?

[Robertfishes]

Yes my limbs taper  from end of fades  to tips ..thats the way  my Black  Widow recurves  were made and  I copied that  from them. some guys taper the last 14 or 16 inches. I build a 58 inch one piece recurve with a 22 inch riser, I started adding a 27-29inch powerlam on the last 4 builds.