flemish bow strings unraveling

[CalebNH00]

While I have just finished my first bow string, i want to know why it is unraveling? it's got   tons  of wax in it, so i can't figure out why?       I have followed Sam harpers instructions as best I can, but it won't work. The string started at a 7 inch brace, and then after serving it it was at a 5 inch.    :confused:

[macbow]

It's not unusual for them to slip and stretch at first.
Some,of my friends,actually make a,string stretcher to eliminat this problem.

If it actually unraveling then there is a different problem.
Too much wax could cause problems. The wax is great for keeping strands together for building. The string holds together by friction of the twists holding to each other.
A lot of wax could cause slippage.
Pics?

[CalebNH00]

a pic for you.

[CalebNH00]

oops, realized that that doesn't help much, so now looking at it I think that maybe I just should have been made shorter, perhaps 8".

[Roy from Pa]

B-50 will stretch like crazy for a while, it will take about 20 shots through the bow to settle it down. Making strings is an experimental thing, you just need to adjust your jig and make another an another till you find what length you need to set your jig too. You do know that taking the string off the bottom limb and twisting it counter clockwise will shorten it?

[Trad Dad]

I think it's clockwise look strait into the string to shorten it.

[Trad Dad]

Just looked at that string on Sam's site and you are right Roy, counter-clockwise to shorten.

[CalebNH00]

okay guys, i thins I'll just make them at an 8" brace so that they stretch to a 7" brace. does that sound good to you?

[k-hat]

I would prestretch it, but that's me.  I have had some success with putting one loop around something very sturdy, then a dowel or screwdriver through the other loop, and pull pull pull.  You can feel it stretch as you do this.  Someone may have a better way, but i'd rather stretch it out off the bow than have an ultrahigh brace.

[Brianlocal3]

If you get a scrap rag and run it up and down the string while strung up till its so hot it gets hard to hold on to anymore , they tends to help get initial stretch out. Also shoot it and keep it strung overnight ( glassed bow only I'm assuming)

[D]

with my B-50 after I get a string made I put screew driver through one loop and stand on both sides of the screew driver and put another one through the top and I hold it in my hands and use my body to stretch it as hard as I can.  Then I wax it while holding it and then take a piece of leather and run it up and down the string pretty fast to get the wax heated up so it will melt into the string then I stretch it again.  Usually don't have much setteling after I do that.

[Echatham]

i stretch mine overnight with ratchet straps. one at each end of my work bench... tighten til it twangs like a guitar string. never had BH change more than 1/4" after that.

[Roy from Pa]

That's not a bad idear:)

[razorback]

I put a dowel through a 2*4 and hook one end to that, I then take a quick grip clamp and hook the other end through that. Put other end over end of board and crank it in. Strum it till it purrs.

[CalebNH00]

thanks guys for the info, I'll be trying my next string today(hopfully).

[goobersan]

I hang a 50#-100# weight from a new string overnight or longer. Haven't noticed much stretch after that. The ratchet strap is a real good idea. Thanks Echatham

[John Scifres]

I hang a 25# dumbbell on the string overnight to stretch.  Keep in mind that the more you twist, the more a string will stretch over time.  I try to make them so that 15-20 twists is all I need.  I think that makes them look good but doesn't add too much mass.

[talkingcabbage]

If you're making a string with a loop at each end (verses having one loop and a bowyer's knot on the other side), you may be twisting the loops opposite each other.  What I mean is, if you twist one loop counter clockwise, you need to twist the other loop in the same direction, otherwise they'll untwist each other.  Clear as mud?

[Roy from Pa]

Yup I got ya there. But even if he made only one loop and went with the bowyers knot, all he has to do is hook the loop end on a post and pull the string tight and twist it counter clock wise to twist up the string.

[Danny Roberts]

I like to serve over both ends up to the loops. Makes for a neat looking string and no worries.