Strands For FF Skinny?

[pebowbender]

Thought I would make my first "Skinny String" tomorrow. I have 3 different colored spools of Brownells FF. Thought I would use the third color to be the "cut away". Build a two bundle string with the extra strands(odd color) to be cut at the serving and at the flemmish ends. That should save from having to "double serve" and lay in strands for padding the loops. My question is, how many strands do I need to end up with. The bow is a r/d 3pc t/d longbow 59# at my 29" draw. Thanks in advance for any advise.

[artifaker1]

I think they are using either D97 or 8125 or even 450+ varying the strand count according to the size of the FF. I'm shooting 10 strand 8125 on my Morrison limbs. There is a sponsor on here selling D97 with 8 strands, D97 being a larger stand. And 4 or 6 strands with 450 plus. I haven't heard about anyone using brownells for skinny strings. It might not have enough deneema or strectra in it to do that without creeping a lot.
You might try a search of the posts as there has been much discussion on this subject.

[Bjorn]

I would use 10 strands of 8125 or 8 strands of D97. Frankly I haven't researched FF, but it is not as strong as D97. Someone on that super long 'skinny string' thread did do a strength test on FF; do not go by the MFG claims!
I would suggest using 6x bow weight or 360 lbs, so that likely means 10-12 strands padded to 16 in the loops, and creep, no idea about FF. Let us know how it works out. Stay away from mixing colors too much the string properties vary.

[Don Batten]

Hey Page, Ive made em out of FF. I'd try 8 strands for that weight. I got one on my Welch recurve and its 59lb at 28. Good luck brother. DB

[pebowbender]

Thanks for the input. I have rethought my recipe. I will pad the loops with 6" strands. If I cut like I originally intended, the strands would be 16". The whole premise of this skinny string thing is to decrease the weight of the string which in turn should have the same affect as reducing the weight of the arrow. I also think the reason people are reporting a decrease in bow noise is because the less strength in the skinny string is preventing the limbs from coming to an abrupt stop which should yield less vibration. For years we have considered 8grains/lb to be a minimum arrow weight, and haven't considered string weight into the equation. The string/arrow weight combination determins the performance of the limb and not the arrow/string material. This "Skinny String" thing is starting to make since to me know and I can already see that it is going to give me something else to tinker with in our beloved sport.

[frank bullitt]

Page, I've made alot of f.f. strings for almost 20 years. I would start at 12 strands, then try 10, and maybe 8. Find what will work for your set-up.

  I shot 18 strand, f.f. for years, and liked the performance and durability. Mostly selfbows and a Bob Lee recurve. Have fun, and Good shootin, Steve.

[pebowbender]

Made a string today. 12 strand. Haven't shot it yet, will tomorrow after work. I did weigh it though. 99.6 grains with silencers, padded loops and 4 extra strands under the serving. My 16 strand weighs 116.4 grains with silencers. Not scientific but I can't see that the added creep from lesser strands can possibly be worth it.....guess I'll have to see tomorrow. Probably need to compare the performance with a chrony and try different materials. I don't think FF is the right material for a skinny/wonder string.

[pebowbender]

Made my first skinny string and unless something changes...my last fat string. Shot that 12 strander today and can't believe how quiet my already quiet(I thought) bow was! My arrows are now under spined and I will have to drop at least 25gr of tip weight if not 50gr. I may borrow my neighbors chrony to see the actual performance gain. I was a sceptic but now am a believer! Don't see how dropping strands can make a bow that much quieter but it really does!

[pebowbender]

Only shot the string about 40 times yesturday and it only crept a half an inch last night.

[Rob DiStefano]

theoretically, a 60# holding weight bow can use as little as 4 strands of 125# tensile strength string fiber.  okay for a flight bow, but not practical for a hunting bow, imo.  

i use 8 strands of dyneema'02 for a 55#@29" t/d longbow - padded loop endless, of course.

[Jason Jelinek]

For my 48# Kota Prairie Fire Hybrid I used 9 strands of my old FF padded to 21 strands in the loops.

For my 62# Hill Wesley Special I used 12 strands of my old FF padded to 18 strands in the loops.

I've been shooting both strings for over 6 months now with no creep or problems.  The skinny string really made my Kota quiet, the Hill was pretty quiet to begin with.

[Paul WA]

I hope you have better luck with the D97 than I did, 8 strands with padded loops on a 53@30" LB never stopped creeping. I shoot close to 100 arrows a day and every morning for a month I had to twist it up to my 7" brace height ...PR