Measuring a string

[acollins]

I am going to order a new string. I am leaning toward an SBD  my question is do I just order one 4" shorter than the bow or should I measure my old one. If I should measure my old one do I subtract a certain amount for how much it stretched. My bow is a 62" Martin Hunter.

[mountain lion]

Usually for a recurve its 4" shorter and a longbow is usually 3" shorter.

[A.S.]

I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.

[JRY309]

I would measure the actual string you have on your bow.The 4" shorter rule for recurves isn't always accurate.It worked for my old Bear Grizzly a 54" string for a 58" bow.But on my Martin Hunter recurve 62" takes a 3" shorter string,a 59" string on my Hunter.My buddies 62" BW MAII uses a 59" string also.I prefer to measure the actual string or I go 3" shorter for both recurves and longbows.

[Oliverstacy]

Originally posted by A.S.:
I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.

+1  

Please...Please...Please measure the string.

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples…if you have a FF string and getting a FF string take that measurement, same applies to Dacron.  If you’re switched from Dacron to FF (or vice versa) the string length will be different as Dacron will stretch more under tension on the bow and will be different while off the bow.  

Thanks,

Josh

[ddauler]

4" for Recurve and 3" longbow of course if you like the brace hight at unusuall distance this may not work if buying a custome string always measure.

[Will Cocke 2]

Take your string off and measure it.

[JRY309]

I usally go 3" shorter for both a recurve or longbow.My Hunter 62" takes a 59" string with a brace of 7&3/8" to 7&1/2".My Savannah 62" takes a 59" string.I also made a string for my buddies BW MAII 62" took a 59",I made a 58" string for it and the brace height was way too high.I seen older vintage recurve call for a string about 4" shorter,but thsoe older bows run alot higher brace height then most recurves today.

[LBR]

I prefer mine measured on the bow or otherwise under tension.  Any string material will contract some when the tension is removed.  AMO states the string should be measured under 100# of tension (except light bows, then it's 50#).  

Ask whoever is making the string what they prefer.

[eflanders]

Originally posted by Oliverstacy:
 

Originally posted by A.S.:
I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.

+1  

Please...Please...Please measure the string.

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples…if you have a FF string and getting a FF string take that measurement, same applies to Dacron.  If you’re switched from Dacron to FF (or vice versa) the string length will be different as Dacron will stretch more under tension on the bow and will be different while off the bow.  

Thanks,

Josh [/b]

There is a good reason why these well respected and qualified string makers are making the same suggestion here.  Do yourself a favor and follow their advise.

[BowDiddle]

When I ordered my first string from one of the popular string builders, I did not follow his string measuring instructions.

I mean, I read them, and watched the video. Thought to myself WTF there ain't no need for all that, and just took the string off the bow, and measured it.

When I sent him the order with the measurement, he instantly questioned the string length as compared to the bow length I listed, and asked if I had followed the instructions. I lied, said yes, and he didn't question me any further.

I got the string, and it was waaaaaaaaay to short, so I emailed him and told him the problem.
He said "Thought So", had me call him, and asked again if I had followed his measuring instructions. I fessed up, and said no. He just chuckled, and said go get me a good measurement (which I already had done).

The real surprise was when he built me the correct length string, and didn't charge me for it even though it was my fault the first one was wrong.

Some good folk out there for sure.

Moral of this story is, if your going to get a custom string built, follow the builders instructions, and you'll be happy from the start.

[cahaba]

When I ordered an SBD string he asked me to measure it while braced on the bow. It fit perfect.

[critter69]

Listen to Josh (oliverstacey) he makes a great string. His are all I use now. Speaking of that. If you read this Josh I need to get in touch and get a couple more strings from you , just finishing up another bow.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Ok.... here's a question for you guys...

If you are measuring the string on a braced recurve bow, how do you go about doing this accurately?  

and...do you take the width of the tip notch into consideration?

On loop size... what is the standard procedure for measuring the loop itself?

[Zradix]

Kirk,
I've ran a some 1/16" dia or so string from back of groove to back of groove ( ends of string centered on the back of the bow, but running down the bow string) while the bow was braced.

measured the string and ordered that length.
It's worked for me several times.

If anything I try to err slightly on the long side.
Easy to take out some length with a few twists.
Kinda hard to stretch them suckers.