Serving On A Bow String?

[greenfish13]

Hello,

I am in the beginnings of making an endless bow string for my 60# fiberglass and wood laminated longbow. The current string is old and needs to be replaced. Any way I am wondering about serving material for the bowstring. Can I simply use Cotton Thread to serve the bow string or is there a better material that is easy to acquire with out having to order it from a website or go to an archery store? Where I live there are no archery stores and internet purchases take an eternity to arrive at my home. I really don't want to wait to get started on the serving aspect of the string. So are there other options that I might be able to find at Ben Franklins, Walmart, Kmart, Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace Hardware? Those are stores within my town area.

I am using Brownell B-500 Dacron string for the bow string. How much should I expect the string to stretch upon bracing and shooting the bow? I want to make the bowstring identical to the one that is on the bow now, so I think there will be about 10-20 strands in all, but I haven't counted how many strands there are yet. Again the bow is 60# and is fiberglass laminated with wood, if that makes any difference in string stretch.

                   Thank you,

                    Darrin

[macbow]

I would suggest about 14 to 16 strands.
For serving some of the strong fishing line will work.
Don't like monofilament because if it breaks it will,all unravel.
Any of the braided type line.

With the endless loop and B-500 I'd start with a,string 1 inch
Shorter than the old one to allow for stretch .

[greenfish13]

Thank you Macbow,

Why braided fishing line? Is there a difference between it and cotton thread?

I'll be sure to make the string 1 inch shorter than the original, I was thinking a half inch before, but wasn't sure.

[Roy from Pa]

Cotton thread won't last very long.

[macbow]

The 1 inch is still a guess.
Like ole Roy said the Cotten would wear,out fast.

[Art B]

Wal-mat sells upholstery and outdoor thread. Both are polyester and would wear well I think. The latter a little better perhaps.

[Roy from Pa]

Well the ole man on the mountain has spoken:)

[greenfish13]

Thank you everybody for your input. Maybe I'll try making the string 1 1/2 inches shorter than the original one. Worse comes to worse I'll have to make a second string.

One more question, how important is waxing the string? I have extra bow string wax lying around but have never used it.

[Roy from Pa]

Very important.

[macbow]

Important especially of the B-500 isn't pre waxed.
Just don't over do it. Put it on then use a small piece of leather or,cloth wrapped,around the string and rub it up and down to heat up the wax.

[canopyboy]

I don't think B50 (or B500) will stretch that much on an endless loop string, and definitely not 1.5 inches.  I would make it no more than 1/2" shorter.  You can always take up a little length with a few twists to get the right brace height.  But you can't really make it longer.

[greenfish13]

Alright I'll make the string 1 inch shorter and go from there, god forbid if I make another string after this one. It'll be fun to make the string, just a lot of patience and music playing in the process. Anyway what does wax do for the string that is so important? Does the serving on the string get waxed too?

[Roy from Pa]

I would say one inch shorter will suffice for B-50. The wax just protects it, no do NOT wax the serving.

[goobersan]

would serving it with b-50(500) material work just as well?

[Grey Taylor]

Originally posted by goobersan:
would serving it with b-50(500) material work just as well?

Pretty thick.

Guy

[red hill]

Ditto on the braided fishing line. I made my first strings entirely of the stuff. It works well if you're in a pinch.

[LittleBen]

At the same time, serving material is fairly cheap, comes on a spool that fits serving jigs etc ... just a thought.

[cunruhshoot]

I get my serving material from 3 rivers only about 4 or 5 bucks a spool and the serving jig to wind it on is quick and easy. The first 10 strings I made using the serving jig I spun one round at a time until I learned that you can spin it and be done in about 45 seconds...Felt a little silly after I figured that out.

[greenfish13]

I got the polyester yesterday from Walmart, won't be able t work on the string until Saturday it looks like though. sigh can't wait.

[bigbuck150]

I would just get some  brownell #4 serving .  You can find it online for under $10