Selfbow string material

[1oldbowguy]

I would like to know what string material most of you use, B50 or B55.      Does it matter?
Thanks much
Phillip aka 1oldbowguy

[Jomohr84]

I use b55, before that I was using d97. The b55 is way less expensive and performs good enough for me that it's not worth the extra money for any of the ff materials. B55 doesn't stretch or creep too much imo, and I have been happy with it.

[Jomohr84]

Never used B50, so really can't compare between b50 and b55

[PEARL DRUMS]

I use nothing but D10, D97 or 452X. 6,8 or 10 strands. I wont use B50 or B55 on anything I build or ship out.

[scrub-buster]

I use fast flight and D-97.  I get it at the Tennessee Classic from vendors.  It's not near as expensive as ordering it online.

[Pat B]

I have always used B-50 or B-55, 14 strands for over 45# and 12 strands for 45# and down. I use B-50 because I just love the ridiculing I get from my friends.    

[PEARL DRUMS]

For those saying it costs too much. Consider 6 or 8 strand strings as opposed to 12,14 or 16 in B50. Also, head to the BCY website and look at how much comes on the 1/8 or 1/4 pound spool of each. You may just find out B50 costs more and wears out/frays much faster. So in the end, B50 costs you more $$.

[1oldbowguy]

Thanks all for your help. So it looks like D97 would be a good choice as would B55 for regular use on bows around 50#'s.

[PEARL DRUMS]

D97 on everything is a good choice. Leave that stretchy junk for Pat and Jon  

[Jomohr84]

On 3rivers site D97 cost 6 times as much per foot as b55. If it delivered 6x the performance, I would be sold, but imo it doesn't deliver even 2x the performance. Granted it may perform a little better, but just not enough for me to justify the cost difference. Guess I'm one of those extreme cheapskates, lol. I may use a few less strands per string with d97, but that still doesn't nearly offset the cost difference.

[Jomohr84]

Checked out bcy site, it cites more per spool than 3rivers does of d97. If accurate, it would only cost around 2.5 times as much for d97, which is more reasonable.

[George Tsoukalas]

B-50. Only my internet friends make fun of me.  
Jawge

[Roy from Pa]

I just twist up dead road killed squirrel tails..

[scrub-buster]

I get spools of D-97 at the Classic for $10.

[LittleBen]

Originally posted by Jomohr84:
On 3rivers site D97 cost 6 times as much per foot as b55. If it delivered 6x the performance, I would be sold, but imo it doesn't deliver even 2x the performance. Granted it may perform a little better, but just not enough for me to justify the cost difference. Guess I'm one of those extreme cheapskates, lol. I may use a few less strands per string with d97, but that still doesn't nearly offset the cost difference.

6x the performance? Definately not. I don't even know if the performance difference is meaningful to be honest.
What I do know is this .... I have literally never worn out a FF string, and I HAVE worn out b50. The durability is incomparable.

If you're making your own strings, e cost is pretty minimal either way. A 10strand BCY 8125 string which is fine for nearly any mortal draw weight is 75 feet of string or less.

At 8200ft/LB, and $40 for 1/4#, thats 2050 ft for $40, or about 2 cents per foot. So that fancy string only cost $1.50.

So b50 may cost less ... But when I go to mcdonalds I still get cheese on my hamburger even though it costs 12% more because it's still only a buck ....

[1oldbowguy]

Roy, we have lots of road kill squirrels round here, how about opossums?  

[1oldbowguy]

Thanks LittleBen, good way to look at it.    
Roy, got lots of road kill squirrels around here, how bout some opossums, kind of heavy on the tails.     Learning more and more, I think.  

[Wolftrail]

I have not been at this game long,  I bought B-50 becasue of cost. After I twist a string I put one loop on the bench vise and use my body weight to stretch it.

[Roy from Pa]

Opossums are great, ya don't even haft to twist them, just tie a loop on the end.. LOL

[Krasus]

I use b55. But I pre stretch my string before I tie my continous loop.  Pretty easy. Just pre loop the amount you need and hang a 25 to 30 lb weight on the threads overnight. Good to go and no more stretch.