Flemish string problem

[The Gopher]

Hello, i have made a few flemish strings and i am having a problem. I am using two bundles of B50 and instead of the bundles twisting together evenly, one of the bundles tends to wrap around the other as if it were a core, this leads to the "core bundle" being much longer than the other bundle in the end. This has happened to me on more than one occasion, and although i purposly focus on not trying to let this happen it still seems to happen, and it is always the same bundle. i have been using green B50 ad Brown B50 and it is always the green that is the "core" and brown that wraps around the green. When i have the bundles laid out the green feels thicker than the brown. i have double checked that i have the same number of strands in each bundle. could that spool of green B50 be a little thicker than the brown? has this ever happened to any of you?

[Bowman0202]

Might be that you are twisting one bundle tighter than the other as you go along.  Try keeping any slack out of the bundle twists as you go along and when you wrap one bundle over the other, pull them both tight as you go along.

This is probably not the best English/writing to explain what I'm trying to convey, but I find that my bundles only wrap evenly if I keep tension on them as I go along.  Hope this helps.

[LBR]

Could be a few different things--one color may be a little thicker, you could be twisting one bundle tighter, etc.

If the difference in size is noticeable, you might drop one strand from the thicker bundle.  When you start the second loop, keep a check on the bundles as you go--pull them tight and see if you have slack in one bundle.  If you do, you can put a little extra twist in the slack bundle to cheat it out.  Putting back twist in the bundles before you start should help also.

Chad

[Orion]

They're supposed to be the same diameter, but in my experience, there are often differences.  That's one of the reasons I've gone to solid color strings.  Don't want to mess with the diameter differences.  Have you tried it with two bundles of the same material?  Still possible to twist a decent string if the two different bundles are close to the same diameter, just need to be very careful to do the same amount of twisting on each bundle or, if anything, twist the heavier stuff a little more.  Sorry I can't be of more help.  Good luck.

[zilla]

Are you straightening the bundles after the first loop, and adding back twist?

[Dano]

Have yo tried waxing the green bundle more? I have had B50 that didn't seem to have any wax on it and it caused simular problems.

[George Tsoukalas]

keep in mind that you only reverse twist the loops not the whole string. If you do the loops by twisting away from you and back towards you, then hang a loop on a nail, etc, remove your twisty tie from the other, pull tight, and twist the whole string counter clockwise. Hope this helps. Jawge

[Falk]

Gopher,
I own B-50 spools from different years (almost ages) and not all are the same - as far as applied wax, initial twist (spun) and surface characteristics. Some are rather hard and/or slick whereas others are soft and lean more. They just don't mix in a flemish string and would produce something you described.

Good advise was already give above, but let me add some thoughts. Make sure you:

- align strands parallel and don't change start and end positions, after cutting them off the spool
- twist every bundle in the same direction - always tightening the initial twist of each single strand. If some start to fray you've mixed ends (see point above). This will also increase diameter
- pinch each bundle between thumb and index finger (or what else boddy appendices you like to use) - so parts already done don't move, as you revers twist loops and splice
- make sure to apply same amount of twist and stretch as you go
- if it doesn't work otherwise, then give a good deal of wax to each bundle to make them act the same. I prefer less wax though, but sometimes this is the way I've to use
- try a three bundle string. Even though it's more difficult to keep all tensions even here - it might be easier to do for you?! I like them better.