After hours of you tube videos i decided to give it a whack at making my own 3 bunch flemish string.
Made the jig, and started going along. after a few practice runs at getting the twists right, I finally had a completed string. looked pretty good too.
I strung it on my bow and before I could let out all of the tension of my stringer the top end unraveled or just came apart? It did not look real loose and I had about 5" of splice. with it off the bow I took the other loop that is still intact, put it on a hook and gave it some good pulls. Sturdy as an OX.
Why did this happen? At this point I am nervous as can be about putting git on my bow, I would not like to have it go at full draw.
16 strands of B-50, 64" 62# bow
Thanks,
Lash
I'm going to make an educated guess that you twisted the first loop one way and then did the second loop the other way. It's a very common mistake but it will result in the string immediately coming apart when tension is put on it.
Both loops need to be twisted the same way, regardless of what your brain tells you, twist them both the same way and it will work fine.
Guy
Did you twist both ends the same way?I had a buddy many years ago wanted to make up a string.He twisted one end one way and twisted the other end the opposite way and it unraveled as soon as it was under tension.This was before you tube and he had no instruction,just wanted to learn to make his own strings.A learning experience for him.Next time hang it up on a nail and hang a weight on it and see if it unravels or holds the weight.
Sounds like you may have twisted the 2 end loops in different directions. When string gets tensioned it should want to tighten at the ends, if one unravels it probably was twisted the wrong way.
16 strands of B-50 should be fine for a 62# bow.
I actually did the loops the same. I twisted the bunches clockwise then folded the two bunches one twist counter CW.once that loop was done, went to the other side of the string and exact same thing. CW twist bunches the CCW the bunches back over each other. It was a 3 bunch string so I know I am not explaining the 3rd step but basically that same thing just with the 3rd bunch. Each of the strands of the bunch are different lengths to help it gradually fold back into the string. I have about 5" splice from the end of the loop to the longest strand. So to the shortest strand in the splice it might be a bit shorter of a splice. The splice does not look much shorter than the string that came with my bow.
I actually shortened one end just now and made a longer splice in the end that came out. Re strung it and now both loops came undone. Can it be too short of a splice? I am going over in my head and I swear I can't see how the loops are going in the opposite direction. I am making them the same way on both ends. Any other ideas? Am i missing something?
Yep going opposite directions otherwise tension will tighten the string. I did it on the first 4-5 trys myself.
Mike
Jasen, do you have any way to post pictures of what you're doing?
String making is one of those things that just dies when you try to describe it with just typed words.
Guy
I am going to say like everyone else you twisted it the wrong way, don't feel bad I know several people who have done the same thing. Myself included. But either a video or some sort of pictures would help alot...
"Garfield"
When you put the string on the bow, do you give it 25-30 twists before stringing it? If you don't, the string will unravel when you put it under tension.
Thanks guys,
I will try to get some pictures.
If you can see both loops in the picture will you be able to see if it is twisted wrong? I want to make sure i post pictures that are helpful
Jasen
My 1st attempt at posting a pic
1st loop
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/port150.jpg
Both loops and the splices in the picture will be a good start. I'm sure we'll start hollerin' if we need more.
Guy
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/port150.jpg)
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/port153.jpg)
Sorry wrong one, and sized wrong
OK I hope this works
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/IMG_0400.jpg)
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/IMG_0403.jpg)
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/IMG_0404.jpg)
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/IMG_0408.jpg)
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/lashbow/IMG_0415.jpg)
I swear i re sized to 550 wide. Sorry they are huge
Jasen
You got me... those splices look fine so far as both being made in the same direction.
If that's not the problem then I'm stumped.
Guy
I did make a 6 strand 2 bunch string for my daughter. I am not stringing on a heavy bow, but it holds great under me tugging at it.
I am puzzled too
Jasen
The couple of times I've had flemish strings I've made pull apart I twisted the loops just fine, but when I went to put the final twist in the whole string before bracing the bow I twisted the wrong way. Sometimes it seems to me it's kind of an optical illusion where it looks like you ought to twist it one way when it actually should be the other.
That's what I suggested earlier. Need to twist the string about two turns per inch, (n the correct direction, of course) before stringing the bow. Are you doing that?
I did twist it but not near 2 turns per inch. I was thinking to brace it first then after it stretched twist it up.
Is that the issue. Not enough twists in the string?
I know I did not twist it much
I am kinda stumped, those pics of the loops look pretty good to me :dunno:
I will say that I find fast flight much easier to work with than b-50, but thats really not relevant to your post.
I would have to agree with Orion about the twisting of the string. I had the same problem when I started making flemish twist strings.
I will remake and this time make sure I have the twist in it. Just curious, on a 61" string, how much can I expect it to stretch?
My photoshop is down but if you take the last pic and place them end to end you will see they are twisting in the opposite way. The twists of the string need to go from end to end. Otherwise it will unravel when stretched.
Mike
double post
A string should look like this when twisted right laying next to eachother. Hard to tell but are you twisting the string and wrapping the bundles in the same direction?
(http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu36/L82HUNT/utf-8BV2VudHp2aWxsZS0yMDEyMDMyNi0wMDI5Ny5qcGc.jpg)
Your loops don't look too bad to me....the only thing that I notice is that your string will have to be twisted counterclockwise before putting it on the bow. The picture that Glenn posted would have to be twisted clockwise b/c his twists are the opposite direction.....I guess it doesn't matter as I've seen and had strings both ways???
In my last picture, they appear to ME anyway, that they are twisted the same direction. Am I missing something.
I am twisting the bundles one way and then wrapping the opposite way.
Jasen
QuoteOriginally posted by Lashbow:
In my last picture, they appear to ME anyway, that they are twisted the same direction. Am I missing something.
Jasen
It looks that way to me to. What are we missing. :knothead:
Have you tried a 2 bundle there easier to start with I think.
Twist away and wrap towards. when this happened to me I was twisting towards and wrapping away. (holding loop end in left hand and twisitn and wrapping with right hand)
It doesn't matter which way the loops are made so long as they are both the same.
For instance, Lashbow's last picture and L82hunt's picture shows strings that are made opposite to one another... BUT, the loops on both strings are made the same as their brother so they'll be fine.
What we can't see and has been noted as a possibility is the center section maybe being twisted in the wrong direction. Look at the splices and then look at the body of the string. The strands should continue in the same twist from the splice to the body.
Guy
I agree with Guy, As long as the center section is twisted counterclockwise (the same as the loops in that picture), there shouldn't be a problem with that string. Otherwise, I have no idea what's going on?
Jason
You should just do a two strand till you get the hang of making the twist.
"I agree with Guy, As long as the center section is twisted counterclockwise (the same as the loops in that picture), there shouldn't be a problem with that string."
I agree. Hes twisting and wrapping the wrong direction. It will unravel. Done it myself. Two times in a row until I figured it out.
Kudos for trying it. Keep at it, you'll figure it out.
Made a few short videos. They take along time to load so I will post as they load. Maybe it will help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGuWOL3YcmU&context=C458aceeADvjVQa1PpcFP1OTmvpXPeGD4OAbdF5BlGEWtKMVC2-IU=
Not the best but trying to use your video on your phone twist a string and film it at the same time is tuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8mp4kYyIWI&context=C458aceeADvjVQa1PpcFP1OTmvpXPeGD4OAbdF5BlGEWtKMVC2-IU=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_15M017kCZE&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp_umijyljQ&context=C458aceeADvjVQa1PpcFP1OTmvpXPeGD4OAbdF5BlGEWtKMVC2-IU=
I would try making some 2 bundle strings and see how they come out. I can make 2 bundle strings fine, but when I try a 3 bundle it comes out all wrong.
I made another attempt at the string. Re made the loops and made sure I put a sufficient twist in the string in between the loops. Well it ended up a bit too short for my longbow, but I twisted it some more and made it at least string on my recurve, It is really too long but it did at least put a good amount of tension on it. pulled it back a few times and seems to be just fine.
The problem was not twisting the entire string before stringing on the bow.
Thanks all for your help!
Jasen
Yep. That's what I figured. Glad it's working for you now.
When you twist the first loop, you will get counter twist in the body of the string. If you don't take precautions against that, the first time you put pressure on the string one of the loops will unravel as you described.
Some put twist in the sting before they start. I always ended up with too many or too few twists when I tried that. If you just use your fingers to comb through the bundles after making your first loop, you will remove the counter twist and the string will come out fine.
OK all, I am confused again.
To see how short I was on the string, so I can adjust next time. I stuck it on a nail and measured. just shy of 60". HMMM, I wonder what the string I have on the bow is. just shy of 60"
OK so I brace it with the string I made. 9" brace height. Too much. I unstrung and restrung with the string that came with the bow. Brace is at 7.5"
So I measured the two strings again, just to make sure. They are within a 1/4" of each other.
How is this possible. My 1st thought is it has something to do with the new string needing to stretch, but it was brace on my 60" curve the entire day yesterday, granted it is too long for that bow, but it was under tension.
both string B-50
What gives?
Jasen
All I can say at this point is that it takes more than just being braced for a string to stretch out. Some guys shoot it for a couple weeks, some guys hang heavy weights on it overnight. But simply putting it on the bow won't do enough.
Guy
It shrunk by 3/4 of an inch overnight. Oh I am talking about the string I made in case we have anyone just tuning in. I'll put some arrows through it this weekend and see what happens.
Funny that when unstrung they would measure the same.
does it stretch that much from loose to being strung?
They stretch a lot when you apply pressure, especially B50.
The more twists you have in the body of the string, the worse the stretch will be.
I think you might just need more wax. B-50 is pretty slick on it's own. The first string I made was with synthetic sinew, which is heavily waxed; I had no problems. I switched to b-50 and had the same problems you are having. I couldn't fix it until I waxed heavily before the twisting began and a little during the twisting. Also, but sure you twist and tighten as hard as you can.
Since my brace decreased a little. I decided to serve the string. I have shot a few arrows through it and checked my brace height. 7.75" right where it needs to be. I will continue to check as I shoot to make sure it where it needs to be. All in all I learned a lot. What not to do, and that I was doing a lot of things right,
Now I just need more bows to make strings for.
Thanks again
Jasen