String Help

[BWallace10327]

Just a few weeks ago I put a new B55 Flemish twist string on my Martin longbow.  It seemed to break in just a little quicker than B50.  It seems a little quicker than too.  However, there has been multiple occasions when I would set the brace at 7 1/4" and verify the measurement before unstringing the bow.  The next time I strung the bow up the brace height would be 8" or even a little bit more.  Can any one tell me why this is happening?  I've never experienced this before.

[reddogge]

Some flemish strings may contract slightly when relaxed. Try stretching the strung bow over your knees when first stringing it to bring it back to the brace height you need.

[BWallace10327]

I'll give it a shot.  I have never had that happen with a B50 of High Performance Flemish string. Sounds like it is just the string and not so much the material.

[LBR]

Polyester/dacron (B-50 and B-55) is very elastic.  I can easily stretch a string 3" or more on my jig, just to have it retract when the tension is removed.  

All materials will retract to some degree when you unstring the bow--how much depends on a lot of factors such as:  draw weight, strand count, type material, type string, how many twists are in the string, temperature, etc.

When you brace the bow, give it a little time or just shoot a few arrows to settle it in.

Factors that have the most effect on string stretch are:  type material, draw weight, strand count, and temperature.  

The most elastic is polyester/Dacron.  Heavier draw weights will cause the string to stretch more when strung (thus retracting more when unstrung), as do lower strand counts.  Materials stretch more in higher temps.

Chad

[BWallace10327]

That is great info. Thanks. I always knew b50/55 strings stretched farther than fast flight, but I was unaware of their retraction.  Am I correct in assuming that as the string is used more and more the amount of retraction will decrease just as the stretch does?

[LBR]

To a degree--same variables apply--but it will always have some elasticity.