my first Flemish string-failure...why? help please

[JamesKerr]

I would try making some 2 bundle strings and see how they come out. I can make 2 bundle strings fine, but when I try a 3 bundle it comes out all wrong.

[Lashbow]

I made another attempt at the string. Re made the loops and made sure I put a sufficient twist in the string in between the loops. Well it ended up a bit too short for my longbow, but I twisted it some more and made it at least string on my recurve, It is really too long but it did at least put a good amount of tension on it. pulled it back a few times and seems to be just fine.
The problem was not twisting the entire string before stringing on the bow.
Thanks all for your help!
Jasen

[Orion]

Yep.  That's what I figured.  Glad it's working for you now.

[Jeff Strubberg]

When you twist the first loop, you will get counter twist in the body of the string.  If you don't take precautions against that, the first time you put pressure on the string one of the loops will unravel as you described.

Some put twist in the sting before they start.  I always ended up with too many or too few twists when I tried that.  If you just use your fingers to comb through the bundles after making your first loop, you will remove the counter twist and the string will come out fine.

[Lashbow]

OK all, I am confused again.
To see how short I was on the string, so I can adjust next time. I stuck it on a nail and measured. just shy of 60". HMMM, I wonder what the string I have on the bow is. just shy of 60"
OK so I brace it with the string I made. 9" brace height. Too much. I unstrung and restrung with the string that came with the bow. Brace is at 7.5"
So I measured the two strings again, just to make sure. They are within a 1/4" of each other.
How is this possible. My 1st thought is it has something to do with the new string needing to stretch, but it was brace on my 60" curve the entire day yesterday, granted it is too long for that bow, but it was under tension.
both string B-50
What gives?

Jasen

[Grey Taylor]

All I can say at this point is that it takes more than just being braced for a string to stretch out. Some guys shoot it for a couple weeks, some guys hang heavy weights on it overnight. But simply putting it on the bow won't do enough.

Guy

[Lashbow]

It shrunk by 3/4 of an inch overnight. Oh I am talking about the string I made in case we have anyone just tuning in. I'll put some arrows through it this weekend and see what happens.
Funny that when unstrung they would measure the same.
does it stretch that much from loose to being strung?

[Jeff Strubberg]

They stretch a lot when you apply pressure, especially B50.  

The more twists you have in the body of the string, the worse the stretch will be.

[gringol]

I think you might just need more wax.  B-50 is pretty slick on it's own.  The first string I made was with synthetic sinew, which is heavily waxed; I had no problems.  I switched to b-50 and had the same problems you are having.  I couldn't fix it until I waxed heavily before the twisting began and a little during the twisting.  Also, but sure you twist and tighten as hard as you can.

[Lashbow]

Since my brace decreased a little. I decided to serve the string. I have shot a few arrows through it and checked my brace height. 7.75" right where it needs to be. I will continue to check as I shoot to make sure it where it needs to be. All in all I learned a lot. What not to do, and that I was doing a lot of things right,
Now I just need more bows to make strings for.
Thanks again

Jasen