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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Possum2 on January 23, 2010, 06:09:00 AM

Title: Skinny strings
Post by: Possum2 on January 23, 2010, 06:09:00 AM
When you guys talk about skinny strings what are you refering too or is the person making it. What are the avantages?  Is it fast flight? What is the string material and srand count?
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: JRY309 on January 23, 2010, 07:53:00 AM
Strings with less strand count,they can be made from any of the newer low stretch string materials.Like D97 I have been shooting 8 strands upto 60#,they seem to be quieter then my 12 strand D97.Also I have used 450+ 6 strand strings,Super Shrew have been using these strings for years.There are alot of other strings you can use a lower strand count in,these are just some I've been using.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 23, 2010, 07:54:00 AM
'skinny strings' means a modern hmpe fiber string (dyneema, vectran, spectra, etc - dynaflight, ts1, 450+, fast flight, etc.) with a much lowered strand count.  for bows up to 50# or so, 6 strands is a safe bet, and 8 strands for 50# and above.

dacron skinny strings are stretching it way too far, pun intended.

low strand count strings are lighter and less prone to making vibration noises on arrow release.  some folks also note increased arrow speeds.

any one of trad gang's string making sponsors can hook you up with a superb skinny string for you to trial out for yerself.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: katman on January 23, 2010, 07:59:00 AM
Skinny strings are just that. Smaller diameter string made by using less than the previously accepted norm. They are made with the newer fast flight type material. I use 4,6 and 8 strand D97 on my bows, compared to the 14 strand 8125 that came with it is looks skinny.

Advantage for me is reduction in bow noise and increase in performance is an extra benefit.

Folks are using many of the newer materials D97, 8125, ultracam, ts1 and others. Search for the thread OL and skinny strings.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Possum2 on January 24, 2010, 11:37:00 PM
I haven't read this post in a few days sorry but when you get the strands this small what serving are you usind in order to get a nock to snap in place. I have seen where they do a double layer or thread a little bit of floss underneath the nocking area. Just curious!!!
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Raging Water on January 25, 2010, 12:51:00 AM
I'd like to try a Skinny String. Who makes them?
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Bjorn on January 25, 2010, 01:07:00 AM
Chad at recurves.com does a great job.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Flying Dutchman on January 25, 2010, 03:39:00 AM
Pierre and Jean-Pierre make great skinny strings and they are sponsor here!

Here is the link:  http://www.sbdbowstrings.com/bowstrings.html

You can see mee at the trophy page..... (The Netherlands)
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: katman on January 25, 2010, 07:22:00 AM
Possum2, I have heard of 3 methods for serving skinny string for correct nock fit. Currently I prefer double serving, first layer I use .018 braid and then a thicker layer of 62xs or halo in the opposite direction. Another method I may try is a thicker one layer serving then build up nock point with dental floss for correct fit, and lastly laying extra strands of string material on the string prior to serving to increase size and single serve to fit.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: NDTerminator on January 25, 2010, 07:43:00 AM
Skinny strings scare me a little bit, thing I'll watch on the sidelines for a bit yet before getting in that game...
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Raging Water on January 25, 2010, 09:07:00 AM
I have ordered from Pierre a couple of SBD strings last week. I did not know they are Skinny Stings. I emailed Pierre about my Assenehiemer and he will make me a 57". I will let you know how they work out.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Chris40 on January 25, 2010, 12:00:00 PM
Joker (Steve O) made me a string Saturday, when I was over to his place.  Blew my mind the difference it made in performance. At first I was skeptical about it.  He made me an eight trand out of fast flight (can't remember the material off hand)  It did make a difference.  BTW.  He makes a very nice string and showed me how he does it ad let me help him.  Pretty cool.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: NDTerminator on January 25, 2010, 01:15:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Chris40:
Joker (Steve O) made me a string Saturday, when I was over to his place.  Blew my mind the difference it made in performance. At first I was skeptical about it.  He made me an eight trand out of fast flight (can't remember the material off hand)  It did make a difference.  BTW.  He makes a very nice string and showed me how he does it ad let me help him.  Pretty cool.
I've read mixed reports on this.  Most stated the skinny string was more quiet but didn't give them an increase in speed.  Can you give the specifics of the performance difference you got?
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: LBR on January 25, 2010, 01:32:00 PM
I'd be curious to hear about that myself.  Things can happen, but I'd say a noticeable increase in performance would be the exception, not the rule.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 25, 2010, 01:43:00 PM
i have no experience with skinny strings and recurves.  i would think there's still gonna be limb slap happening without some form of string wrap near the loops, such as bowhush.

with longbows, the less noise was very obvious to me.  as to increased arrow speed - i would say yes, because the skinny string is just lighter due to far less strands.  but i can't perceive a speed increase, and i refuse to resort to a chrono.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Raging Water on January 25, 2010, 04:09:00 PM
Just got my Skinny String from SBD for my Great Plains Take Down. I tried it on my Assenheimer. It fit perfectly.

It has the puff ball silencers and padded loops.

I went out and shot it. Here is the scoop -- super fast and super quiet, no hand shock.

I don't have a meter so I don't know if the SBD shoots faster, all I know is it was fast and smooth.

I think SBD Skinny Strings are all that and a bag of chips.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: onewhohasfun on January 25, 2010, 04:17:00 PM
NDterminator, Ron has been using 6 strand 450 on his Shrews for many yrs.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Steel on January 25, 2010, 04:54:00 PM
I have found skinny strings to be quieter and a few FPS faster from Chrony testing several of my longbows/recurves. The quiet part is the number one reason I put the skinny strings on my bows now any extra FPS gained is just a bonus. I just put in a order for two more SBD strings with the yarn wraps they make one of my old nosiey recurves quiet something I could never get done before after several tricks I tried in teh past.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: ishoot4thrills on January 25, 2010, 05:05:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
 but i can't perceive a speed increase, and i refuse to resort to a chrono.
Rob, why the negative bias concerning chronographs? Don't you ever get curious? I have experimented with chronos for years. You can learn very much from shooting through them.

And I thought you were a "techie"!    ;)
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Dr. Ed Ashby on January 25, 2010, 05:11:00 PM
Back about a year or so ago - while I was still laid up awaiting back surgery - O.L. and I did a lot of skinny string testing (all the way down to a 2 strand string on a 35# bow). O.L. started a thread on TG about the testing and results. I can't remember the thread's title, but perhaps someone else might. It's a worthwhile read. Those test certainly altered the string design I use now!

Ed
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 25, 2010, 05:14:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by onewhohasfun:
NDterminator, Ron has been using 6 strand 450 on his Shrews for many yrs.
as i recall, 450 is a very large diameter string fiber, twice that of df'97.  

'skinny string' means to me cutting down on the number of hmpe strands of the string fiber you commonly use, to decrease string weight and vibration, while still keeping an acceptable level of string tensile strength.  

so, if yer using 12 or 14 strands of df'97, that would safely equate to to 6 or 8 strands of the same fiber.  

all if this is based on your bow's holding weight, and the tensile strength of the type of hmpe string fiber you're using.
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: Rob DiStefano on January 25, 2010, 05:19:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by ishoot4thrills:
 
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
 but i can't perceive a speed increase, and i refuse to resort to a chrono.
Rob, why the negative bias concerning chronographs? Don't you ever get curious? I have experimented with chronos for years. You can learn very much from shooting through them.

And I thought you were a "techie"!     ;)  [/b]
i've owned 3 or 4 good chronos at one point or another over the last 15 years or so.  i did a lot of bow and arrow and string testing.  while the speeds were interesting to take and review, none of that stuff had anything to do with my real world of bowhunting.

all that matters to me is the best compromise of trajectory and quietness.  whatever arrow speed it takes for an acceptable result for me, is more important than arrow speed.  

i'm techie enuf to rely on that gray computer lodged 'tween my ears and thinning hair.  :D
Title: Re: Skinny strings
Post by: 30coupe on January 25, 2010, 06:38:00 PM
I've pretty much settled on 8 strand D97 strings on both of my Kanatis. I don't know about huge speed gains. I'm like Rob...no chrono. They were fast enough to begin with. The 8 strands do seem quieter, and I use up less material.

The Kanatis have no hand shock anyway, so that didn't change, but I made a padded loop 8 strand D97 with yarn serving for my old Mahaska longbow and got rid of the hand shock completely! If you have a bow that has hand shock, I'd give the skinny strings a try if for no other reason than that.