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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: acollins on August 23, 2012, 09:15:00 PM

Title: Measuring a string
Post by: acollins on August 23, 2012, 09:15:00 PM
I am going to order a new string. I am leaning toward an SBD  my question is do I just order one 4" shorter than the bow or should I measure my old one. If I should measure my old one do I subtract a certain amount for how much it stretched. My bow is a 62" Martin Hunter.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: mountain lion on August 23, 2012, 09:18:00 PM
Usually for a recurve its 4" shorter and a longbow is usually 3" shorter.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: A.S. on August 23, 2012, 09:40:00 PM
I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: JRY309 on August 23, 2012, 11:17:00 PM
I would measure the actual string you have on your bow.The 4" shorter rule for recurves isn't always accurate.It worked for my old Bear Grizzly a 54" string for a 58" bow.But on my Martin Hunter recurve 62" takes a 3" shorter string,a 59" string on my Hunter.My buddies 62" BW MAII uses a 59" string also.I prefer to measure the actual string or I go 3" shorter for both recurves and longbows.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: Oliverstacy on August 24, 2012, 04:33:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by A.S.:
I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.
+1  

Please...Please...Please measure the string.

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples...if you have a FF string and getting a FF string take that measurement, same applies to Dacron.  If you're switched from Dacron to FF (or vice versa) the string length will be different as Dacron will stretch more under tension on the bow and will be different while off the bow.  

Thanks,

Josh
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: ddauler on November 05, 2012, 01:47:00 PM
4" for Recurve and 3" longbow of course if you like the brace hight at unusuall distance this may not work if buying a custome string always measure.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: Will Cocke 2 on November 05, 2012, 04:09:00 PM
Take your string off and measure it.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: JRY309 on November 05, 2012, 05:24:00 PM
I usally go 3" shorter for both a recurve or longbow.My Hunter 62" takes a 59" string with a brace of 7&3/8" to 7&1/2".My Savannah 62" takes a 59" string.I also made a string for my buddies BW MAII 62" took a 59",I made a 58" string for it and the brace height was way too high.I seen older vintage recurve call for a string about 4" shorter,but thsoe older bows run alot higher brace height then most recurves today.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: LBR on November 05, 2012, 05:51:00 PM
I prefer mine measured on the bow or otherwise under tension.  Any string material will contract some when the tension is removed.  AMO states the string should be measured under 100# of tension (except light bows, then it's 50#).  

Ask whoever is making the string what they prefer.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: eflanders on November 05, 2012, 06:45:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Oliverstacy:
 
QuoteOriginally posted by A.S.:
I ask my string customers to take their current string off the bow (while twisted to proper brace height), then measure it just like you would a piece of rope.

I would suggest you contact SBD to ask how they prefer it measured before ordering. It's better to ask before you order it, than to not ask and get one the wrong length.
+1  

Please...Please...Please measure the string.

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples...if you have a FF string and getting a FF string take that measurement, same applies to Dacron.  If you're switched from Dacron to FF (or vice versa) the string length will be different as Dacron will stretch more under tension on the bow and will be different while off the bow.  

Thanks,

Josh [/b]
There is a good reason why these well respected and qualified string makers are making the same suggestion here.  Do yourself a favor and follow their advise.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: BowDiddle on November 05, 2012, 09:47:00 PM
When I ordered my first string from one of the popular string builders, I did not follow his string measuring instructions.

I mean, I read them, and watched the video. Thought to myself WTF there ain't no need for all that, and just took the string off the bow, and measured it.

When I sent him the order with the measurement, he instantly questioned the string length as compared to the bow length I listed, and asked if I had followed the instructions. I lied, said yes, and he didn't question me any further.

I got the string, and it was waaaaaaaaay to short, so I emailed him and told him the problem.
He said "Thought So", had me call him, and asked again if I had followed his measuring instructions. I fessed up, and said no. He just chuckled, and said go get me a good measurement (which I already had done).

The real surprise was when he built me the correct length string, and didn't charge me for it even though it was my fault the first one was wrong.

Some good folk out there for sure.

Moral of this story is, if your going to get a custom string built, follow the builders instructions, and you'll be happy from the start.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: cahaba on November 05, 2012, 11:56:00 PM
When I ordered an SBD string he asked me to measure it while braced on the bow. It fit perfect.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: critter69 on November 06, 2012, 12:06:00 AM
Listen to Josh (oliverstacey) he makes a great string. His are all I use now. Speaking of that. If you read this Josh I need to get in touch and get a couple more strings from you , just finishing up another bow.
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on November 06, 2012, 01:35:00 AM
Ok.... here's a question for you guys...

If you are measuring the string on a braced recurve bow, how do you go about doing this accurately?  

and...do you take the width of the tip notch into consideration?

On loop size... what is the standard procedure for measuring the loop itself?
Title: Re: Measuring a string
Post by: Zradix on November 06, 2012, 10:32:00 AM
Kirk,
I've ran a some 1/16" dia or so string from back of groove to back of groove ( ends of string centered on the back of the bow, but running down the bow string) while the bow was braced.

measured the string and ordered that length.
It's worked for me several times.

If anything I try to err slightly on the long side.
Easy to take out some length with a few twists.
Kinda hard to stretch them suckers.