Fast Flight string on Old bows = :(

[JD in Atlanta]

Hello:

This a warning to those who don't think a high performance string wont damage your precious Vintage bow that doesn't have overlays or padded string. Check out what happened to my precious Ben Pearson Colt- I am still hurting    :(  That was a super accurate and smooth shooting bow! I just won a Ben Pearson Palomino to hopefully make me feel better!    

Before: Ben Pearson Colt 7070 47lbs

     

Another Before picture
   

After (The string split both limbs!)   :(  

   

[Blackhawk]

Wow...sorry for your loss.  

Can you post this on the ***********?  

There are lots of folks there who are firm believers in ff on old bows and tell us nothing can happen.  I would love to read their comments on this.

[warpedarrow]

Thanks for the after picture.  I always wondered what the low stretch string does to a bow.  Seeing the actual damage makes more sense than what I envisioned.  I will remember this picture the next time that I retip a bow.

How long is the damaged area?  If it is only an inch or less, I think the bow could be saved.

[zepnut]

That's why I never use FF. Just not worth it in my opinion.

[Horney Toad]

some people swear it won't hurt their old bows, but I won't chance it on mine.

[Iowa Tom L.]

Vintage bow that doesn't have overlays or padded string.

Just for clarification; is it felt that if a padded FF string had been used this likely would not have happened?

It's with  recurves that opinions really seem to vary.  I have never tried it, but I have read threads that leaned in that direction (padded-loop FF = no worries for recurves).  

For myself, I have always stuck with Dacron as I do not want to risk damaging the bow.  The only time I take the risk of damage is when trying to find an older bow that I can shoot (which is any bow I own; I guess I'm not a "true collector").  Sometimes that has ended in disappointment.  Once I have a "shooter", I want to keep it that way so I do not push my luck.

The opinions regarding older longbows and FF are much more consistent it seems.  I have a longbow with wood tips that I received with a padded FF string on it that I like the feel of better than the same bow with a Dacron string.  

I get the impression there is no concrete answer for recurves; that it's a crap shoot and each bow is an individual - but that your odds of damage increase if you use FF on a recurve bow not designed for it.

So, is it needlessly cautious or prudent to stick with Dacron with regards to older recurves (or even some modern recurves such as non-FF, Windauer-made Silvertips)?

I hope all of you are having a good weekend.

Tom

[damascusdave]

Those factors of tip overlays and the way the string is made are pretty important...just how many strands are there in those loops and what is the actual string material

DDave

[Phil Magistro]

The string does not look like the loops are padded.  I've seen other bows damaged like that with skinny strings and no padding in the loop.

I've shot dozens of vintage bows for thousands of shots with low stretch strings an no damage at all.  That includes bows with fiberglass overlays, wood overlays and no overlays.  The padded loops make all the difference.

[last arrow]

Not being familiar with the Colt, what type of overlay is on the tip.  I agree, loops should be padded for all bows using thin string materials.

[mahantango]

How many strands and what material? Are the loops padded? If so, how much? Makes a big difference.

[frank bullitt]

How about the whole Story?

Arrow weight, were the nock grooves clean and solid, did ya know the history or former treatment of this bow? Ever been dry fired?

[Captain*Kirk]

For my dollar, FF isn't worth the minimal speed gains on a bow that wasn't designed for it.

[Phil Magistro]

It's not just speed gains.  On most of my bows it's quieter.  It fits the nocks of the arrows better.  And I don't have to worry whether I've picked up a B50 or low-stretch string.

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by Phil Magistro:
It's not just speed gains.  On most of my bows it's quieter.  It fits the nocks of the arrows better.  And I don't have to worry whether I've picked up a B50 or low-stretch string.

To each his own, but no gains are worth what that picture shows to me. Sorry.

[Captain*Kirk]

 

Originally posted by Phil Magistro:
[qb] It's not just speed gains.  On most of my bows it's quieter.  It fits the nocks of the arrows better.  And I don't have to worry whether I've picked up a B50 or low-stretch string. [/b]

To each his own, but no gains are worth what that picture shows to me. Sorry.
I shoot FF on my Sage, but it was designed and built for it.

[59Alaskan]

That Pearson reminds me of my Pinto.  I am sorry you lost it. I make my own B50 Flemish twist strings

 

S

[damascusdave]

Pretty typical of people who say that a low stretch string was the only reason for damage to their old bow...the original poster never got back to any of our questions and has not posted anything since

DDave

[redfish]

I have been very impressed with the difference in performance of 12 strand B55 strings that I have been making lately over the old 14 and 16 strands that a of bows came with.

[59Alaskan]

Dave,
The OP did mention it wasn't padded.  That's likely the root cause.  It sure did mess up that bow.  I hope his Palomino treats him well.

[damascusdave]

I shoot lots of low stretch strings on old bows that do not have padded loops with absolutely no issues...a 24 strand BCY-X string does not require any padding...I was just wondering what the actual material was...there are a lot of different fibres that get lumped together as Fast Flight, fibres that differ considerably in properties

DDave