String-eating Recurve!

[SveinD]

I'm fairly new to archery, only shooting since March this year, so I don't have that much knowledge yet. So sorry if this is a unnecessary question  :p

Since i got my recurve in March (35@28 60" Samick Lightning) I have used more than 4 strings, 2 of whom were damaged at the tip, but then i sanded the tips down, and that was ok.

Now my problem is that the strings (flemish twist B50) stretch, making my brace-height go from 7 3/4" to just below 7 in under 3 weeks.

This has happened with my 2 latest strings, and is fairly annoying  

Do any of you have a clue as to what the reason might be?

Thanks for every thought!
~SveinD~

[Shaun]

A new B-50 string will stretch for a while as it gets broken in. This is normal and can be adjusted by twisting to shorten. After one or two adjustments it will stop stretching.

[SveinD]

Thanks Shaun  

For a while i thought i was doing something very wrong!

[String Cutter]

After you twist the b50 to raise your brace back up... make sure you check your nock point too.

[SveinD]

Hmm, good point! Hadn't thought of that!

Thanks StringCutter  

[Chris Wilson]

Stretching is just the nature of B50 dacron.  It'll eventually settle in, after a while.  Just check it frequently and adjust as needed.

[Charlie Lamb]

Not meaning to be a smart ass here, but if your nocking point is in the right place before the string stretches, it will be in the right place after it's readjusted.

Matter of fact, I've never seen a nocking point move because the string got longer or shorter.

[lpcjon2]

Don't forget to twist it in the right direction or it will un twist.I always twist one end and then do the other end it's a habit from shortening wheelie strings.

[SveinD]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Don't forget to twist it in the right direction or it will un twist.I always twist one end and then do the other end it's a habit from shortening wheelie strings.

hehe, that one i actually anticipated ^^
but thanks anyway!

Charlie : Sometimes smartassing is necessary  

Thanks to you all for the good feedback!
What a great community this is!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

like Charlie said,
I shoot b50 on a curve bow and after I initially got it broke in I just leave it strung up but I shoot at least five times a week.
 Even after I got it shot in it will creep just a little if I unstring the bow for a few days after I restring it and shoot a 1/2 dozen arrows and I have to twist it up to get my brace right and shoot it in until it stays put. I did have to adjust my nock a little during the initial shoot in but but now it stays the same cause I usually only get about an 1/8" of creep when restringing it but I like things spot on so just give it about 1 or two twist and shoot a few and check it until stays put.
Good luck. I do plan on switching to different string material but haven't yet due to being in the middle of hunting season and didn't want to change my set up I had ready to go. After season goes out I'm using some of Chad's strings unless it's on a bow not rated for FF

[Dave Bulla]

Hmmm, you shouldn't HAVE to twist both ends of the string.  Twisting one will twist the whole thing when you put tension on it.

[reddogge]

Take the bottom end off and twist that one.  It's easier that way.

[Big Ed]

As always great advice from above, twist it up and have fun.

[Bill Carlsen]

Me, either, Charlie.

[J. Cook]

I'm with Charlie on this one...B50 stretches over the entire lenght of the string.  Whether you twist it from the top or the bottom to shorten, has no bearing, as once tension is place on the string, the stretch is absorbed through the entire lenght of it.

[Dave Bulla]

One thing further, the only way I know of that a nock will move (provided it's on the string tight and doesn't slip) is if one of the loops slips.  Slip in a loop causes uneven movement.  Stretch in the string does not.  If the loops are even close to properly made, they should not slip.  Of course, your thread needs to be waxed when you build the string but all the B50 I've seen was waxed from the factory.

* I take that back, I've heard of the entire serving moving on the string too but I believe that was usually a monofilament serving.

It's been quite a while since I've built a string but I once made the mistake of twisting one direction in the loop then twisting the other direction in the string and it didn't stay together.  Of course, it depends on how you look at it... which way the string is facing and all that but I always twist to the right and wind to the left.