Flemish twist tricks/tips...

[AKmud]

I've been twisting up strings for a while now, but I have always struggled with making the taper clean.  Seems like there are always strands that don't want to lay down correctly and end up frizzing out.  I usually trim the ends down and burn them but they still don't finish up as cleanly as I would like.  

What tricks do you veteran string twisters use to make a really clean finished taper??

[PEARL DRUMS]

I dont know that there is one? I started making my strands all the same length to stop the tag end fray you speak of. It doesnt hurt a thing, just doesnt look purdy!

[Roy from Pa]

Wax the heck out of it and those tags ends will lay right down. Burnt the tag ends once, never again, all they did was melt and look like crap.

[George Tsoukalas]

Tags are a fact of life with the Flemish twist. Yo aren't doing anything wrong. Jawge

[frank bullitt]

I agree with George, this is the norm!

As the string settles from stretch and shooting, the ends will fuzz and stick out from the shock  of shooting.

I'm not a big fan of using flame, heat to burn the ends! Just as leaving a bow strung in a hot place!

Rob, are you one of those "perfectionist" types?

 

[Art B]

What all the others said!

Fingernail clippers will take care of those loose ends. Better have some really shape ones for the FF materials......Art

[REBbowhunter]

I used to worry about them when I first started making strings,
Tried burning and cutting.Now I just leave them be.

[broketooth]

ive only made 3 strings , my third is my best yet. i dont have a flemish string jig just add 18 " to the length you need and 2 nails on a board. its a primitive flemish string for sure and functions just fine no issues yet . im satisfied. ruddy

[D]

I've just started making my own strings and have only used the B-50 material.  I have a ball of straight bees wax.  Its more sticky than regualar string wax.  I've had no problem withe the ends even wanting to come loose but I haven't shot them a lot either, so it might fly all to crap later.  I got the wax from an art teacher in highschool and I've managed to hold on to it for eleven years now.  It works great fot the tips so far.  I looked for some of it at hobby lobby but the bees wax there was way harder than what I've got.  Mine is soft enough that I can form mine and shape it with my hand.  I ran each strand through the ball and it all sticks together really well.

[hova]

my tag ends get a little dab of very thin epoxy. i didnt like burning it...

[SEMO_HUNTER]

I don't worry about those little tags sticking out, just be sure and stagger your strands like you should on the jig so each one is a tad bit shorter. Then practice braiding your ends down into the string as far as you possibly can, don't stop short or you will have more sticking out.

I actually think they add to the traditional look of a Flemish twist string myself. That's one of the characteristics about making my own strings that I like. Pair it up with a set of natural beaver silencers and your rockin!  

[KochNE]

Lots & Lots of Bohning Tex-Tite bowstring wax throughout the twisting and then another good coating once I'm finished & before every shooting session.  My first string I didn't have the wax and couldn't even get the FastFlight to stay twisted together worth a darn.  With the wax, I haven't had a single loose end/ fuzz/ etc.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Tags are just part of the flemish string makeup, just think of them as mini silencers.

[AKmud]

Ok, I'm convinced...I'll let them live.     I have seen some strings on here that are so clean you can barely tell where the taper ends.  I guess I'll just wax the tar out of them and make 'em sticky.

[oldbohntr]

Been making strings with those tag ends sticking out forever - after the strings a week or two old, I sometimes trim any that are 1/4" or so with a razor blade knife(haven't cut a string yet, but the nail clippers are a decent idea).  After that I don't pay any attention to them at all.  

If someone else cares about how my strings look, they really need help!

[T Folts]

To hide the tags after I trim load the area up with wax and take a piece of leather and rub in the wax real hard and fast, the leather will heat up the wax and set it in giving a nice clean look.

[cyred4d]

Agree that tag ends are just part of making a string. I always trim them because I think it makes the bow shoot better.

[Loren Holland]

i just serve it over the tags, and never worry about it again. it fixes the aesthetics, is durable, and if i lose a 1fps oh well.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Originally posted by Loren Holland:
i just serve it over the tags, and never worry about it again. it fixes the aesthetics, is durable, and if i lose a 1fps oh well.

I have also served over them on a few of my first ones because I wasn't real sure of my twisting abilities yet and I wanted to make sure they didn't slip. I don't think it hurts anything at all if a guy doesn't mind using up some of that high dollar serving thread. That braided stuff I use is outrageously expensive! I use it very sparingly nowadays.   :eek: