High Preformance Strigs

[D]

I was just reading some about high preformance strings and how much better they are suppost to be. I'm really not for sure if I've ever had a high preformance sting on any of my bows I've had.   I've only used b-50 on my bows ive made.  My question is how much extra tip do you have to put on a bow to make it FF compatable??  I mostly use deer horn for my tips.  Is the deer horn strong enough with a strip of glass or phenolic??  I assume there wouldn't be any problems with it but I'd rather not destroy a bow.  Do they really make that much of a difference?  Which material would you all recommend??

[PEARL DRUMS]

I make 8 and 10 strand D97 strings for all my bows, overlays or not. The differenrce is night and day and you will wish you made the switch 5 years ago.

As far as detroying a bow or sawing a tip off? Thats a crap rumor that has perpetuated into a big, scary FF monster! Its quite silly really.

[Walt Francis]

D, I think the bow I sent you has Astro flight on it.  If not, you can change it and use any of the new materials on it without any worries.  As a precaution, I pad the loops with 4-6 strands of B-50.  However, I have been known to forget the padding and used those strings without any adverse affects.

[rmorris]

I use 452x on all my bows and some just have wood for the tips and I have never had a problem. I also don't pad my loops so if there was a worst case for disaster that may be it and it has not happened. Yes, at $50 for a spool of string compared to $10 for b50 it is still worth the cost!

[karrow]

i have made enough string that my spool of b50 is almost gone, and am looking for a new material to try. there are plenty of choices for sure. if one were to expeirment with the skinner strings (8-10 strands) how do go about padding the loops on a flemish type srting? and i asume any string material would work for the padding?

[D]

I guess I'll be purchasing some...lol  Thanks for all the info guys.  Walt I just had the bow you made in my hand(THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH)  and I forgot all about the string being a good string.  Thanks again everybody..

[Pete W]

Everything I have gets a 10 strand DF97 with 16 strands in the loops. I pad with DF97 too, because that is what I have. Also many think the modern material is more expensive, it isn't. First you get a lot more on a spool of the same weight, and secondly you use a lot less to make the string.
 Pete

[LC]

I was just like karrow and ran out of B50 after using it for umpteen years. Had a couple FF strings in the past and hated them. Long story short I took the plunge and bought some D97 and I didn't like it at all. Finally bought some Ultra Cam and it took a few tries of getting the right length as it doesn't stretch like B50. Now I wouldn't shoot anything but! I always thought my homemade TD's were smooth shooting but WOW! Yes it's faster, smoother shooting and durable. Just a huge difference like shooting a different bow. I use a 8 strand endless padded loops with UC also and build up nock area for a perfect fit with dental floss for my 50lb bows.

[BrokenArrows]

I still prefer B50/55; it's quieter than the other stuff I have tried (FF, FF+, D75, DF97, UC). The stretch/creep doesn't bother me (learned to minimize and live w it long ago). To me it's not "shock", it's spirit; the new stuff feels "dead", and not in a good way. YMMV.

My friend broke the tips on two Groves bows from the 70s using FF when it first came out, so some old bows do not handle it as well as others. His other Groves w Dacron only are still going strong.

Not definitive, but I'm not experimenting w my old bows.

[Robertfishes]

In 1994 A friend helped me make an Osage self bow, we used a 3/16? inch thick piece of Chechen(poison wood) for the tip overlays..My friend made a Fast flite string for the bow, no problems with the bow it never broke.  I now build Fiberglass backed bows, I use 030 fiberglass and 1/16" phenolic for tips now. in the pic the glass is red and the black is phenolic. I don't build strings, but every string I have made for me has padded loops in it    

[Roy from Pa]

I'm old school and still use B-50.

[LittleBen]

I've been using 8125. I don't see a point in using Dacron. The ff type matls are faster and quieter

[rmorris]

Alright, I just finished up that 57# 68" hill bow and it shot a 600 grain wood arrow 162fps with an 17 strand b50 string and 175 fps with an 14 strand 452x fast flight string. There was hardly a noise difference , the b50 may have had a slight deeper sound but the 452x makes the bow feel more solid if that makes sense.

If 13 fps is a big deal to you I would make the change.

[rmorris]

Oh yah I padded the loops with 8 strands of 452x if that matters to anyone

[Prairie Drifter]

13fps is the equivalent of 6-7 lbs of draw weight.For me that is a big deal.

[fujimo]

Well done Ralph
the perfect test, geuss the proof is in the pudding!!!
 but i still shoot B50- 'cos i'm not smart enough to know any better- and thats what i have!!
thanks