How To: making a round 2-bundle string

[highPlains]

I put together a little tutorial on creating 2 bundle flemish bowstrings.

There are a lot of string making tutorials on the net and some great ones that I've seen on here. But making the string to come out nice and round was a problem when I first started building strings. So I decided to create a little tutorial on building ROUND 2 bundle strings.

I initially planned on posting all of the pictures here on the TradGang. But there was so much writing, and so many pictures that I decided to just throw up a link. If there are a enough people who wish, I will take the time to put up all the pictures here on the TradGang.

I know it's lame to include "teaser" pictures, but I am going to do it anyways - a little preview of what the tutorial is like.

I hope you enjoy.

 Click here for the whole tutorial.  (lots of pictures)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[A.S.]

Thanks!!

[benny]

I would use a nail instead of a screw.

Benny

[JEFF B]

thank you sir  

[SCATTERSHOT]

Nice tutorial, Tommy, thanks.

Gene

[Oliverstacy]

This is a great lesson...thank you very much.  I'm going to liberate a few paper clips from work and put them to better use at home.

I can usually keep a D97 string twisted very tightly together while building it but I struggle with a Dacron so I hope this helps, I don’t see why it wouldn’t help greatly.

Josh

[Gordon martiniuk]

Good tips Thanks I will try your tricks  

[Falk]

just had a look here and like to mention two or three things:
1) great pics and nice presented - well done!
2) never thought twisting a string could be done way different then I'm used to do it
3) the screw - already mentioned above
4) "padding" - well, as I am not a native speaker, I may be wrong here but I am quite certain and think backed up by the anglo-saxon literatur of the last 150yrs, that you may have confused padding(*) with splicing and/or the splice?!

Your well done tutorial might be refered to by many people in the future, so the nomenclature is somehow crucical IMHO. I dont want to tell you what to do, but confusion in "string making" is already high enough, that there is no need to add on other point to it.

Someone out there to set me straight on this one?!?

* padding - as I always thought of it - is done by adding strands to the loops for reinforcment or to simply building up their diameter. The part of string in question is called splice.

[d. ward]

I've been making strings myself for a good many years and for some reason I just can not help myself but I gotta always look at threads and posting on string making.I love making strings there really fun to make and save you a ton of dough over the cost of buying them.Another thing making them for my personal bows the length always comes out correct rather then buying a string waiting 3 days for it to get here and it don't fit.
You did a great job on your tutorial simple fast and easy.I'am not going to mention the dry wall screw eather ! but I believe Falk is correct in saying lots of folks will look at this just as I did.We can't help ourself as we are trad junkies.I do also think thats splicing rather then padding.Padding would be extra strands added to protect your loops or serveing area.
Again great job and believe it our not you home make string jeg looks so much like mine.I actually had to go out into my shop this morning and make sure mine was still here.Once more great job sir.bd

[pebowbender]

Excellent tutorial!! My cabled strings have been a "thorn". Thanks!!

[Arrowslinger]

[highPlains]

Thanks guys. Falk and Bowdoc, I will certainly do some research on the "padding" vs "splice". I would like to use the correct terminology, I chose padding because I thought it was simple. I appreciate the correction, I love learning stuff like that.

As for the screw...I knew when I looked at the pics that some would comment about it.     That board is about ten years old and the screw has never presented a problem. Since it ain't broke we ain't fixed it.    

[Oliverstacy]

Just incorporated some of the lessons into my building and built my best string to date.

Thanks,

Josh

[R.W.]

Very good tutorial. Thanks for that.

[the force]

Thanks ive been wanting to learn this so i can make my own

[Walt Francis]

Thanks, I have bookmarked your tutorial for those I teach bowmaking.  I hate stopping somebody in the middle of making his first bow to give a lesson on how to make strings.  Also, you are a lot better at explainig the process then I am.

[vtmtnman]

I've used the countertwist method and it made my strings MUCH better than before.Such a simple thing and it made a big improvement!

[tradtusker]

one of the best tutorials iv seen thanks for taking the time to write this up Tommy !!

five stars

any way we can put this up on the how-to forum?

[ga_cis]

Thank you.  How far are the two rows of nails on your string jig?  I need to make one.  I have seen instructions to make them 1-1/2 inches apart, but that seems too close to me.

[snag]

Best tutorial on this subject that I have seen. Very well done! Thanks, David