Bow string basics?

[Thunderkat]

OK, my first bow was a Samick Sage with 30 pound limbs and first few shots were OK, took the bow to an archery shop and they set up my nocking point and put some velcro material on my shelf.   The bow shoots great.   I bought a second Samick Sage with a 35 pound pull and the bow string is too thin for my arrows to lock onto the nock.   I bought a fastflight arrow string for that bow and that string is even thinner and I have to hold the arrow in place to shoot it (nocks don't grab on even a little).    Is there something I am supposed to do to get my arrows to lock onto the bow string like they did with my first bow?   I googled this and can't find anybody that talks about this topic.   Getting really good at shooting and want to buy more than a starter bow now but I think learning some gear basics is in order, don't want to be stuck with my 30 pound starter bow forever. 

[Possum Head]

When confronted with this I build up with dental floss. Afterwards when ordering a string I’ll specify the nock I expect the serving to fit. All our string making sponsors have gotten it right thus far.

[Thunderkat]

The archery shop recommended I use Gold Tip Traditional 500s and they shoot great but forgive my ignorance, how can I tell the nock size?  Until now I thought all nocks were the same size.

[McDave]

There is a standard nock size for carbon arrows.  It would be a real pain to adjust nock size for a particular string.  Better to buy a custom bow string to fit your nock, as was suggested, and is not that expensive, or to learn to serve your own strings, which is also not particularly expensive or difficult.  If you serve your own strings, you can put a layer of thin serving over the serving that is already on the bowstring, or just remove that and serve with a thicker serving.

[Thunderkat]

Thanks, ok, now that I know the proper terminology it is easier to look things up.   Found out about center servings and videos on how to do it as well.   Hopefully I ordered the right string the other day, ordered another bow string with hopes it would fit my nocks.   If not now I know what I need to do and might even do it myself if this new one doesn't work out for me.

[fisherick]

Something else you may try is boil some water in a coffee cup and place your arrows nocks in for a 2-3 seconds to soften up nocks. Then pinch nocks and fit on string. May need couple try's for proper fit.

[SteveB]

I and most custom string makers will ask you what arrow you are shooting and then build your serving to fit.
If I have any doubt, I ask questions until I am sure of your needs. Any doubt and I will have you send a nock for fit. Personally I would never alter a nock in any way.

[Thunderkat]

I and most custom string makers will ask you what arrow you are shooting and then build your serving to fit.
If I have any doubt, I ask questions until I am sure of your needs. Any doubt and I will have you send a nock for fit. Personally I would never alter a nock in any way.

Awesome, still new, still learning.   If the string I ordered doesn't work will order from you.   Well, I have two bows, wouldn't mind upgrading the first now that I think about it and want to buy something other than starter bows soon.   Big hurdle will be when I do my taxes, got hit hard last year and made even more this year but no matter how much I make feel like I am not getting ahead, gotta love taxes.

[Bowguy67]

Reread what McDave said. Reserve w a thicker serving. It comes in varying diameters. Serving is easy and something you should learn to do. String making is not out of most fellows ability either.
I’m by no means saying an experienced string maker isn’t going to initially build you a better string but they started right where you are.
In time most appreciate doing simple maintenance like serving strings or making strings. It puts more of you in your sport.
If you’re in need of a quick fix for now the dental floss trick works. You still gotta serve it on though. Imo just reserve string the right size.

[Thunderkat]

Reread what McDave said. Reserve w a thicker serving. It comes in varying diameters. Serving is easy and something you should learn to do. String making is not out of most fellows ability either.
I’m by no means saying an experienced string maker isn’t going to initially build you a better string but they started right where you are.
In time most appreciate doing simple maintenance like serving strings or making strings. It puts more of you in your sport.
If you’re in need of a quick fix for now the dental floss trick works. You still gotta serve it on though. Imo just reserve string the right size.

Yes, I saw it and responded that now that I knew the proper terminology was able to find videos online.   The video I saw started with the string without any serving, will have to find videos on how to take the serving off without damaging the underlying string.   The string I recently bought that was too thin is actually phenomenal compared to the string the Samick Sage came with but like I said right now I have to hold the arrows in place to shoot them like that.   Seems much faster and quieter BUT accuracy is not as good without the good nock.   The serving device was only $17 with thread, seems like an inexpensive project.

[Thunderkat]

I and most custom string makers will ask you what arrow you are shooting and then build your serving to fit.
If I have any doubt, I ask questions until I am sure of your needs. Any doubt and I will have you send a nock for fit. Personally I would never alter a nock in any way.

Thank you for responding by the way, went to your website and ordered two strings.   No idea what I was doing with all the silencer options, just added to see if I liked them.   If you think there are options better for a beginner let me know.   I can't wait to try them out, still ogoling new bows so more orders will come and I shoot every day so will be ordering new strings when those wear out.  Thanks!

[McDave]

“will have to find videos on how to take the serving off without damaging the underlying string.”

This is a little scary, even after having done it a number of times.  You just have to have a sharp razor and cut into the existing serving without cutting into the underlying string, kind of like a surgeon making his first cut into the skin without cutting into the parts below.  I will say that although it is a little scary, I’ve never cut into the string below.  Probably shouldn’t have said that; tempting fate, you know.

If you cut where the serving has been doubled under, it gives you a little more room for error.  You can tell because there is a bulge in the serving.

[Bowguy67]

To once again add to what McDave said and I’m only saying it cause you seem so ne, once that initial cut it made(you only need one strand) the rest comes unravelled. I normally start close to the string n cut up and away from string. Sort of leaving very tiny bit of serving material on string. Than I use fingers to pull it apart which is very easy. Like McDave said the first time is scary but just be careful

[Thunderkat]

To once again add to what McDave said and I’m only saying it cause you seem so ne, once that initial cut it made(you only need one strand) the rest comes unravelled. I normally start close to the string n cut up and away from string. Sort of leaving very tiny bit of serving material on string. Than I use fingers to pull it apart which is very easy. Like McDave said the first time is scary but just be careful

  That makes sense, the video I saw of applying the center serving is just one knot, then a continuous wrap, followed by one more knot and a burn. 

[Bowguy67]

Pretty much. But applying serving only won’t get you results. You need a finished diameter that dif size serving material can help you accomplish

[McDave]

I have three sizes of serving I use: .019, .021, and .024.  The .019 is when I need to add a second layer to a skinny bowstring.  The .021 is when I make my own bowstrings and just need a normal sized serving on a normal sized bowstring.  The .024 is if the original serving is too small, as in your case.  If I use two layers of serving, I put the .019 on the bottom and the .021 on the top, because the .021 is less likely to sink in between the loops of .019 than vice versa.  While one spool of serving is probably a lifetime supply for me, and I still had plenty left on my original spool from the 1980’s, I bought a spool of Halo because it was touted as being so much better than anything else, and it probably is.

[Thunderkat]

I have three sizes of serving I use: .019, .021, and .024.  The .019 is when I need to add a second layer to a skinny bowstring.  The .021 is when I make my own bowstrings and just need a normal sized serving on a normal sized bowstring.  The .024 is if the original serving is too small, as in your case.  If I use two layers of serving, I put the .019 on the bottom and the .021 on the top, because the .021 is less likely to sink in between the loops of .019 than vice versa.  While one spool of serving is probably a lifetime supply for me, and I still had plenty left on my original spool from the 1980’s, I bought a spool of Halo because it was touted as being so much better than anything else, and it probably is.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!   I was just looking online and saw several sizes of center serving string and was thinking WTF!!!    OK, will give that a try.   Ordered some new ready made strings but kind of want to give it a go myself.   I can practice on the too small string and on the other one I accidentally cut while trying to put on a nocking point myself and now that I know it looks like I put a gash in my center serving only, good thing thing I didn't throw that string away.   

[Alexander Traditional]

There's a video a guy has on you-tube. He shows how to serve and back serve for the final knot. He shows it on a broom stick with rope so it's very easy to see what he's doing. If you punch in wheelie pete it should come up.

[Thunderkat]

Nice, about to watch it, the last one I couldn't see what was going on.