Trouble with home made string... help!

[Bill Tell]

So I have had some luck in making my own flemish twist strings and they end up looking pretty good.  But... they keep stretching. I am using T Plus and am finding that I need to constantly be twisting up to keep my BH correct.  Is this happening because I didn't serve the ends of the string?

Thanks gangers.

[Killdeer]

Flemish strings don't need to be served at the ends. I wish I could be of more help, but I am not all that wise in the ways of string materials. Maybe with pics of your work, and the number of strands and all that, a REAL stringmaker will have some constructive input for you.

Killdeer

[reddogge]

Do you prestretch them before using?  My string making friend does that and it helps with minimum stretching.

[Bill Tell]

I don't pre stretch them.  However I don't unstring it very often so it should settle in and then hold.  Mine doesn't it just keeps stretching.

 Killy... it is a semi skinny string with nine strands and double served to have the nock fit loosely snug if you know what I mean.

[AkDan]

how much initial stretch a string has depends more on the builder then material though the material will have SOME effect also.   How much that material creeps is a different story.  That is almost strictly material specific.  I dont use tplus so I cant say anything about it.  I've noticed my skinny strings dont stop creeping...well what little I've tinkered with them they havent, but I havent done much with them either.

I also prestretch a string it will help with the initial stretch of a string after it's built.

[Bill Tell]

When I initialy string one of my strings it will  require about 4 to 6 twists after leaving it strung over night.  Then it is slow to move so I think maybe you are right that it is just creep.  They say it isn't supposed too but then I'm not supposed to pick my nose either.

[30coupe]

I had more creep than I liked with six strand (padded loop) strings, both Flemish and continuous loop. I went to eight strands (continuous loop) on my 46# Kanati and virtually eliminated creep. That is using D97. I have no experience with Tplus.

[Gil Verwey]

I use 6 strand 450+ padded flemish and endless loop strings and they do not seem to stretch for me. I can't speak for other materials. I am about to try Ultra Cam though. You may want to shoot a PM to CJC. In the past I used to get my strings from him and he does a great job. He may be able to give you some better advice than I can.

Gil

[Oliverstacy]

Did the string have a larger than normal wax content?  I notice when I'm making strings the more wax the strands starts out with the more it seems to want to stretch.  I've now started ordering low wax content directly from BCY and they seem to stretch less.  

I shot my 14 strand D-97 string all year and it stretched a small amount when I first started (100-200 shots) and then stayed put for the next 2000+ shots.  It lost some brace height again in August when it got hot and humid but a few twists took care of that and it hasn't moved since.

Just a thought.

Josh

[lpcjon2]

Is it truly stretching or slipping how long are your loop twist? Mark the cut off ends and see if they are pulling through.

[Bill Tell]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Is it truly stretching or slipping how long are your loop twist? Mark the cut off ends and see if they are pulling through.

Well that's just it.  I think it may be slipping.  That is why at the very first of this I was asking if you need to serve the ends.  I was wondering if my ends are slipping because they aren't served.

[AkDan]

are you twisting far enough past where the ends taper into the string?  I would assume you are so slipping isnt likely though possible I'm sure, I've never seen of it happen.  I keep twisting quite a ways past the ends, not as much as LBR does though.   I think the string would fail before it would slip...just my opinion, like I said I've never seen it slip becuase of to few twists...they hold together or they dont.

and no you dont serve a flemish twist loop.

If you dont already have it, I'd look up LBR on here and order 'doin the twist'.   (www.recurves.com)

most if not all materials have SOME creep.  And you wont get ALL the stretch out just buy string and shooting a bow.  I bet most of this is just initial stretch coming out of it.  Along with some creep going on.  more so then actually strands slipping.

[lpcjon2]

What type of wax did you use when making the string I have purchased a wax without reading the label once and it was a synthetic wax that was so slick that I couldn't serve the string if it was on the string I had to toss out the string.I think it was a silicone based wax it sucked bad!

[crookedwoody]

i usually twist my ends after the loop at least 20 twists[10 each color].when measurin string to start 2nd loop i add 1 1/2" to finished string.i use 8125 string which is close to d-97 10-12 strand and use .30 serving.my strings stretch a little then stop,with an occasinal added twist.dont know if this will help you or not.good luck,chris

[Bill Tell]

Originally posted by lpcjon2:
What type of wax did you use when making the string I have purchased a wax without reading the label once and it was a synthetic wax that was so slick that I couldn't serve the string if it was on the string I had to toss out the string.I think it was a silicone based wax it sucked bad!

Just used the wax that 3 rivers sells for string making.  I don't think it is anything special.

[crookedwoody]

i use scorpion venom wax.so far so good