Advice for an OLD B50 stringmaker?

[PICKNGRIN]

O.K. I will have to admit I am never first in line to try anything new.  I have been making my same B50 flemish twist strings for over 20 years now(mostly 14 strand with .18 serving).  But lately, a few of the bows I have picked up on the classifieds have come with these skinnier ff strings and I have to admit I kinda like em!  I am looking for advice/opinions on what would be a good material to try.  Also wondering about serving thread diameters that my nocks will fit.

[LC]

Sounds like myself a few months ago. I've tried D97 and didn't like the constant creep and now I've settled with Ultra Cam love it. As for center serving use what you got and just use flat dental floss only in the nock area to make a custom fit. That's what works for me.

[str8jct]

Sounds like our nocks are about the same fit.  I use .029 FF serving on 16 strand FF plus with no probs.  FF plus I don't think is being made anymore but is still available, it is being replaced by TS1 plus, which is basically the same thing I think but have never used it.

[Orion]

I've used D-97 for a couple of years.   I don't find it creeps much on a 12- or 14-strand string.   .024 halo on a 12-strand D-97 string is about the same as No. 4 nylon on a 14-16-strand dacron string.

[Ground Hunter]

What Orion said!  H

[Mudd]

I along for the ride here. I would like to ask one question please.
If I can twist up a B-50 string is it the same as twisting one up from the new stuff.
Thanks!
God bless,Mudd

[Bjorn]

6 strands of 8125 makes a nice skinny string for a 50# bow. And it won't creep like D97. You will have to experiment with your nock size and the serving size...........

[katman]

I found ultracam does not stretch/creep as much as D97.

Serving size will depend on number of strands in the string which will depend on bow weight and your comfort zone. 6 strands holds up well but I have gone to eight for low 50# bows as our woods can be tough on equipment.

Twisting mechanics are the same but you will need to make a couple to get the formula for the right length.

[Rob DiStefano]

pick any popular modern hmpe string fiber and have at it.  almost all will be around 100#/strand tensile strength if not more, so they're fine for low strand count 'skinny' strings.  i prefer the bcy fibers, such as dyneema'02 and formula 8125.

as to the center serving diameter, that'll take some experimenting/testing, but in a pinch an added underlying or overlying serving of dental floss or string fiber will help to build up the nock point area of the center serving.  don't forget to pad the loops!

[Mudd]

Maybe someone at this weekends UBM will have a string building demo with the new stuff.

I've never served a loop before and it doesn't make me feel comfortable thinking about it either..lol

I'm such a sissy!!

God bless,Mudd

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Mudd:
Maybe someone at this weekends UBM will have a string building demo with the new stuff.

I've never served a loop before and it doesn't make me feel comfortable thinking about it either..lol

I'm such a sissy!!

God bless,Mudd

'served a loop'?  sounds like yer talking about an endless string?  if so, here's yer video ..

 padded loop skinny endless string spinning video

....

[Tater 2]

I have been using Ultra Cam for a couple of years. I prefer 10 strands with an additional 4 strands of B50 in the loops (2 per bundle) total of 14 strands in the loops. Twist it up put it on your bow overnight set the brace height and no stretch or adjustment. Works on all my bows, if your going below 50# you could probably drop to 8 strands if you wanted.
  Ultra Cam is the quitest material I have used for making strings and I have tried most of them at one time or another.

[PICKNGRIN]

Thanks for all the info.  Guess I just need to take the plunge!

[LBR]

I'm partial to Dynaflight '97 and 8125.  How the string is made will have a lot to do with how much stretch/creep you get, along with strand count, draw weight, etc.  How it's made and tuning will have as much or more effect on noise than anything else, although it seems there are a few bows that seem "picky" about string material.

Chad

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by LBR:
I'm partial to Dynaflight '97 and 8125.  How the string is made will have a lot to do with how much stretch/creep you get, along with strand count, draw weight, etc.  How it's made and tuning will have as much or more effect on noise than anything else, although it seems there are a few bows that seem "picky" about string material.

Chad

i'll second what chad sez.  my go to fiber is dyneema'02, which is just a low wax version of df'97, and i have no added issues of stretch or creep that some folks see with df'97.

[DesertDude]

Hey Rob,

 When I read the Topic "Old String Maker" is it wrong that yours was the first name that came to mind? I'm only 50.....

Mark

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by DesertDude:
Hey Rob,

 When I read the Topic "Old String Maker" is it wrong that yours was the first name that came to mind? I'm only 50.....

Mark

shirley you jest!    

[KentuckyTJ]

Allen Shafer makes my strings. They are all Flemish D97 8 strand padded to 16 in the loops. Not sure on the serving size but they fit my trad only nocks perfectly. Makes my 50 lb bows come to life.

[DesertDude]

Shirley,  

 I need to go make some arrows...  

[Danny J]

Alot of experience and good information here.
Great post Rod.