A while back a friend came over with a new Bear recurve he'd bought for his wife. He was happy with the bow, but not the string that came with it.
He wanted a B-55, because the string that came with the bow was just too noisy.
I talked him into a BCY-X. He was reluctant, but went with my recommendation.
A week later he was back wanting the same string for his new Darton recurve. He was floored with the results from just changing strings.
BCY knocked it out of the park with this one.
Chad
Chad,
I make my own strings for my longbows. I have settled on 8 strands of D10 padded to 20 in the loops with .030 Halo serving. If I went to BCY-X what would I notice is different in it's performance?
More stability, more consistency, especially in higher temps. Increased durability, and probably a quieter shot. With recurves we have noticed a big difference in noise levels.
How does it compare to 8190?
Chad,
You have a PM.
Bill
8190 is 100% SK90 Dyneema. BCY-X is 87% SK90 Dyneema with 17% Vectran. The diameter is very close--the X is a tiny bit larger. The Vectran makes it more stable in higher temps and seems to make it even quieter.
QuoteOriginally posted by LBR:
8190 is 100% SK90 Dyneema. BCY-X is 87% SK90 Dyneema with 17% Vectran. The diameter is very close--the X is a tiny bit larger. The Vectran makes it more stable in higher temps and seems to make it even quieter.
Is there a typo here?
87% + 17% = 104%????
Bisch
Yep it is 83% SK90 dyneema and 17% Vectran according to the website.
I've changed all my strings to X .
Sorry--fat fingers. 83% SK90 Dyneema, 17% Vectran.
It's not on my site yet, but should be soon. It is available.
Chad,
I agree 100%
I have had the exact same results with the BCY-X that I bought from you.
Thanks Chad!
Looks like I'll be ordering a couple spools soon!
I normally use 14 strands of the old 8125. How many strands do you think I'll need to get the same size diameter. 16?
:shaka:
I love mine!
I also shoot 14 strands of 8125, and 8125G. How many strands of BCY-X would equal the same diameter? Thanks.
Is bcy-x the same as the rhino material?
I recently picked up some X from Chad. Made my first string with it last week. It does seem quieter than the D97 that was on the bow (Hill Halfbreed). That bow was pretty darn quiet to begin with, but there was a noticeable "twang" without silencers. That "twang" is now just a short, low, buzz at most (also without silencers). I went with Chad's recommendations and built it with 18 strands, loops padded to 24 with B50 and served with 0.19 Halo. Fits my X-nocks and Bearpaw 5/16 indexed nocks (on tapered Surewoods) perfectly. Just a light, audible "snap", but still moves freely up and down the serving.
"I normally use 14 strands of the old 8125. How many strands do you think I'll need to get the same size diameter. 16?"
20 should be close--it's a very small diameter thread. I'm really liking 18-20 strands for pretty much any draw weight. It's not a "fat" string at all, but I can get a good nock fit on most any nock just by switching serving sizes.
"Is bcy-x the same as the rhino material?"
No. X's construction method is patented. As I understand it, rhino is 100% HMPE/UHMWPE--no Vectran. I haven't been able to find out what brand or grade HMPE is used.
BCY uses DSM'S "Dyneema" brand, and the highest grade available (SK90). DSM requires BCY to mention this on their label, so my guess is that's not what rhino uses.
Thanks bowhuntingrn! I haven't had time to do any experimenting on longbows yet. Further reducing what little noise you get from a Hill is pretty amazing.
Excellent post...I'll be trying some BCY-X. IMO strings make a huge difference for the most desirable traits extracted from Trad bows.
Kris
Thank you Chad! :thumbsup:
How does it work for endless loops? I've got a new bow to spin up strings for, and since everyone loves this stuff, I figured I'd ask.
Just how thin is it? I'll probably need to pad my loops a touch, but it makes a difference when I tie in my tunçs. Don't want them sliced through first shot.
I haven't used it for an endless string yet, but will very soon. No reason it won't work just fine.
The diameter is almost 1/2 the diameter of Dynaflight '97. With 18-20 strands it should be fine.
I have an endless string. It has a better feel and cleaner look than 8125 in my opinion. As far as noise goes I am not sure it is any quieter than my Angel or 8125 in this construction because the loops are served with the same material. Endless construction is more stabile by construction anyway so I am trying to decide if the performance of X trumps the unwaxed elements resistance of Angel.
I'd be interested in knowing as well. It would be going on my all-weather hunting bow.
I'm using 14 strands on my bow padded to 20 with "x" also. Bow is mid 50's. That makes a string real similar in diameter to a 10 strand ultracam string So far after using nothing but ultracam for the last few years I'm pretty happy. It doesn't fuzz like ultracam
Like I said I am loving mine! There is almost no initial stretch what so ever maybe just 1/8" and after that the string doesn't move. It's super fast and quiet. It also seems more resistant to abrasion than other strings I've used.
X will definitely be more stable than Angel in the heat.
It's going to fuzz less (I'm seeing practically none so far)because of the lower percentage of Vectran plus the higher grade Dyneema.
If you have used 450+ in the past, this is fourth generation blended bowstring material.
First was 450 Premium--invented by Bob Destin of BCY (who also invented the original FF many years ago for brownell).
Next came 450+--an upgrade.
Then came 452X and Trophy, which has been the standard for the wheel bow industry for years.
These led to BCY-X. It just keeps getting better.
I have now built 3 longbow strings of the X....a couple 18 strand padded to 24, and one 20 padded to 26. All are served with .025 62xs (dropping next string to .021) and are being shot daily on my Berry's. No silencers necessary on the Morningstar, but I decided to put some of Chuck Deshler's wool scallops on the Argos as its' a bit more high performance. I received a new to me Mohawk Sparrowhawk today and am shooting the same string without silencers necessary so far on it.
The biggest thing for me with this material besides its' inherent quiet and no-fuzz nature, is the utter lack of creep. On all 3 strings (after burnishing and initially setting brace height), I have had to add twists one time only within the first 25 shots, and that's it. Temps here have been in the mid to upper 90's for the past two weeks and my work schedule is such that I shoot in the heat of the afternoon till dark, so that gives you an idea of the stability.
I have only ordered white and tan, but I do notice that as the material diameters get smaller, the dyes and/or coating used plays a bigger role in the bundle diameters because of the large number of strands used in each bundle. This can cause you a few fits as you figure out your particular formula, but the effort in doing so will net you a really great string that should last a heck of a long time.
Thanks Green--that right in line with everything I've experienced so far.
With an 18 or 20 strand string, what dia serving would work for goldtip nocks?
There's a few different GT nocks, but I think with most of them .024 Halo or .025 62XS.
How does this stuff compare to Rhino?
It's going to depend on who you ask, what bow they put it on, how the string was made, etc.
I haven't used it but here are some general facts.
Rhino is 100% HMPE. Brownell doesn't say what grade or where from. Since DSM requires BCY to state it on the label when their products are used, I think it's safe to assume it's not SK90 from DSM. SK90 is the highest grade available.
BCY-X is 83% SK90 Dyneema, 17% Vectran. The Vectran stabilizes the material even further, especially in higher temps. My experience is materials with Vectran are quieter, especially on recurves (although I can get 100% HMPE materials acceptably quiet).
Darn it...now I'm going to have to get some spools and see how this works.
All very interesting reading. I like the way 8125 twisted and 8190 is great also. Granted I limited use with 8190.
Darn...Darn...Darn. :goldtooth: Always something new.
Josh
QuoteOriginally posted by Green:
I have only ordered white and tan, but I do notice that as the material diameters get smaller, the dyes and/or coating used plays a bigger role in the bundle diameters because of the large number of strands used in each bundle. This can cause you a few fits as you figure out your particular formula, but the effort in doing so will net you a really great string that should last a heck of a long time.
White seems to me (IMHO) not to absorb wax like many other colors do. It has a tendency to not "play" well with other colors. Metallic colors seem to be in the same boat...any yes it can be very frustrating! The worst I've seen is my GOLD B-55...I have written that spool off and don't use it.
Josh
Josh, give me a holler and I'll see if I can help you get started tinkering with X.
I have a spool of gold B-55 that's no stiffer than any of the others. White can be aggravating at times, but I don't have any problems with the metallic colors. The fluorescent will have the thickest coating, to get the colors bright.
Would one need to make the tie-in loops of BCY-X if I made a traditional string for one of my static recurred, or would some other material handle the stress. I have a bow that can handle the string, but anything with string bridges tunes much easier with the loops tied on so the knot rests on the bridge. I don't know the exact reason why, but it makes a real difference in shooting.
Also, is there a way to make skinny endless strings? I ask too many questions, but I don't know much about the new materials (but if you need an authentic silk string, I can make that) and I don't want to mess something up by ignoring some small thing.
I don't know anything about tie-in loops, so I'm no help there.
I reckon you'd make a skinny endless like a regular endless. Might want to double serve the loops to give them more surface.
Good news is I finally have BCY-X on my order form!