Longbow and recurve strings?

[Don Armstrong]

I have been using Dynaflight 97 for strings on my longbows and recurves. I have plenty of dacron and B55 but I'm not a big fan of either, due to the stretch. It is manageable, if I stretch my strings for a couple of days, but they still stretch some. I am about out of Dynaflight 97 so is there a better material out there. I usually do flemish string, even though I have a terible time, making them the right length. I have found the Dynaflight 97 a little loud, even when making 10 strand string, on high peformance bows. Thanks, Don

[frank bullitt]

Don, D97 is a good material. Yes, there are other good ones.

I like the Astro Flight, by Brownell! 450p by BCY is another good one.

[Art B]

Have you thought about using a dampener of B-55 with the D-97 to help reduce the noise in your strings Don? I use a 50/50 mix of FF and B-50 or B-55 in my strings with excellent results......Art

[Don Armstrong]

Art, I have padded the loops with B-50. Are you using, say 6 strands of each, to make a 12 strand  string? Don

[parson48]

I'm  fairly new at all of this, but, being a bullet caster, I have a lot of lead around. When I make a new string I attach it to a hook and hang a bucket of ingots on it for a while. Seems to take care of the stretch. Oh, I use B-55.

[Art B]

I'm using a 50/50 mix of 8 strands of FF for one bundle and 5 strands of Dacron (cut 2" shorter because of stretch) for the other bundle Don. I still get a low stretch flemish twist string without the noise.

You can add several strands of Dacron (cut 2" shorter because of stretch) to each bundle of the D-97 for a dampening effect if you want to go that route.

I've made 3 bundle strings with 2 bundles of FF and one bundle of Dacron which works very well also.

Experiment a little bit Don, you may be surprised at what you'll come with......Art

[Onehair]

Art I posted the same thing about 4 years ago and nearly was run out of town. FF and Dacron combined make a great string. After the initial settling in I got no  stretch.

[PEARL DRUMS]

D10 has about zero stretch and its dang close to D97 diameter. I love the stuff.

[Art B]

I here you Onehair. And you're right, the combo does makes a great string. And I get the same reaction when I bring this up also. Ain't got a horse, so I don't reckon they can run me but so far  :D  ........Art

[PEARL DRUMS]

Riddle me this Artsy. If the FF wont stretch then how in the world will the Dacron be able to stretch at all if its bundled with the FF? And, whats the advantage to mixing the two types? I use all 12 strand FF and add 4 strands of dacron to my loops for cushion.

[Roy from Pa]

Splain it to em Arty Boy:)

[Art B]

Any type string material will stretch to some degree Pearly. Even this FF material. But the more strands you add the less it stretches. Or more cable like it becomes.

In a perfect world, you would want a string material that would stretch just a tad to prevent that common whack or twang but still deliever the added performance of a non-stretch string. Nothing available that I know of.

Ask yourself this, why do some guys prefer a skinny string. Could it be that it's lighter or faster, or perhaps it helps quiet their bows also? If it helps quiet their bows, then why? Less strands equal more string stretch.

Matter of fact, that's the trick to making a quieter string that'll work for 'bout any bow. Gotta ask youself this Pearly, if 5-6 strands is sufficient for the type string material that you're using, then why are you using 12 (what's it like, 120 lb test? Probably more comfy on the fingers I expect.

So the added Dacron does several things to help make a bow quiet. It's a dampener for one thing, or kind of a shock absorber. Provides for a larger diameter string but still allows the FF strands some give.

Just my way of thinking guys, so now don't all you kind folks run out and buy me that horse.  :eek:  Art

[PEARL DRUMS]

Sounds good to me Art. I was just curious. I love my FF strings with B50 pads. Next time around I will mix in a few full dacron strands and see what happens, if it gets better than it is now I to will be making blended strings and we may need a wagon behind that horse to haul me!

[Art B]

When you get the chance Pearly, try that 50/50 string. I like that better than adding the Dacron to each FF bundle. Be sure to cut the Dacron bundle 2" shorter to allow for it stretching out after you get the second loop finished. When you have that done, take a large dowel or screwdriver and place through the loop and stretch and twist until you have it half way twisted up. Then reverse loops and proceed to stretch and twist your string up.

Give us a holler back and report your results.

Oh, still waiting on your results Roy. How long does it take you to make strings anyhow? Geez! Art

[Don Armstrong]

Sounds good Art. I will make one tonight. parson48, I put about 200 lbs on a dacron string with my stretcher and I have stretched one about 4". I belive I could get 6" but it would destroy the string. I have put enough pressure to pull the loops apart on a Dynaflight97 string but it only stretched about 1". I had to have at least 400 lbs. on it. It was bowing my unistrut about 2". Dacron and B-55 are good strings if you don't mind twisting them up every few days. This is just my opinion and experiance but you may get better results than I do. Don

[Art B]

Don, make the string up so that it has plenty of twist so that the two different materials mesh well together.

I never really had what you call a lot of stretch problems using the Dacron strings. Never had a need to pre-stretch one with weights either. I turn the bows over my knee each time I strung them up and pressed down on the tips taking the initial stretch out. Only noticed an 1/8" drop from there.

My strings are made up clockwise. The material's individual strands are also slightly twisted clockwise. But 95% or more of the strings I see are made up counter-clockwise. Opposite of what the strands are twisted. I got a sneaky suspicion that's why some have more stretch problems with Dacron strings than others.

[frank bullitt]

Art, I don't have issues with dacron stretching.

Also, you sell Ice to Eskimos, too?   :D  

I feel you are an intelligent man, I wouldn't run anyone out of town. But why cut the dacron 2" short? Do ya flemish twist both loops? Or one with a Bowyers/timber hitch?

If you twist it up, so the 2 will mesh, the High Performance material will carry the load! What's the reasoning, please?

Most of the stretch or creep problems, folks have, is because of too much twist in the "Body" of the string. The load or weight is working against the construction, not necessarily the  strength of the material.

How does this process work with an endless string?

[Don Armstrong]

I have always had issues with dacron strings stretching. When I shot NFAA BHFS-L, I had string stretching  issues and two of the guys I shot with, both state champions, had strands break often. I am talking about compounds with dacron. I am sure it's something I'm doing wrong but it was a fact of life years ago. Don

[frank bullitt]

Don, I hear what your saying. But compounds with dacron, have been, since like, the late 80's.

The newer materials of today, have been blended to soften the shot. I remember the days of Dacron only. And a time when Kevlar was being explored.

[Art B]

To get the two different materials to twist up and round out you need to take the slack out of the Dacron Frank. Yes, this is for a double loop flemish twisted string.

I agree, the FF material will share the bulk of the load, but with the Dacron stretched out, it'll share some too. Plus, I don't think a slack bundle will absorb vibrations as well as a taut one.

I don't build endless strings Frank. But if'n I did..............

Now, how much ice did you say you needed today    Art