Is this bow FF? It's 3 years old..
http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o795/wadebinkley/5EA0D720-25F5-4B42-AC3B-F5A8FF839543_zpswppjbmxp.jpg
(http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o795/wadebinkley/5EA0D720-25F5-4B42-AC3B-F5A8FF839543_zpswppjbmxp.jpg) (http://s1343.photobucket.com/user/wadebinkley/media/5EA0D720-25F5-4B42-AC3B-F5A8FF839543_zpswppjbmxp.jpg.html)
I just checked my new WS and the glass wedge in the limb tip is in the same position as yours. So if that dark wedge is glass and not wood I would say you are good to go with FF. A quick call to HHA with the serial number should confirm one way or another. I just received a FF 12 strand from them for 45-55 lb bows. The string loops are padded well the serving is #4 nylon which makes my nock fit too loose for my liking with Gold Tip and Bohning classic nocks so I will probably reserve.
That bow tip looks exactly like my Wesley Special which is 4 or 5 years old at least and I have been shooting a low stretch string on it for most of its life--can't recall what type specifically--they all get called "fast flight" seems like. It should be fine.
Your bow has BOTH tip overlays and tip wedges, so it's FF-capable. It would be FF-capable with either overlays or wedges (generally speaking). I would think that most any HHA bow that's 15 years old or less would be FF-capable (probably even older than that).
Called today with the serial number and they said they wouldn't recommend FF on this bow.. Mind boggling if you ask me..
Well, a lot of bow makers seem a bit hesitant on that point. If they tell you to go ahead and use it and something goes wrong you can go back on them (at least that's what I have been told).
I have been using it on mine for years and it does not have the tip overlays. I cannot see that the modern strings have caused any damage at all. Of course, I draw less than 27", the longer the draw length and the lighter the arrow the more pressure is put on the bow.
Glad you called.
58
Just build or buy a string with padded loops and you will be good to go. Some B-50 or B-55 in loops will make you safe to shoot FF or any modern string material.
How about a few more pictures of your bow..... :)
Well, it's actually not my bow. A customer who needs a new string asked for a little help so I did my part. I would much rather make him a FF string than a b55. The FF materials are much easier to work with
Not all FF strings are created equal and the key component is the padding in the loops. Some don't have any at all and some, like SBD's, have more than enough. I have SBD's on all my bows including a self bow and 40 year old Bears with no problems whatsoever.
Tip overlays + deep core construction + glass wedges = ok for FF. As others stated, pad the loops for 'insurance' and you should be all set.
Tip overlays + deep core construction + glass wedges = ok for FF. As others stated, pad the loops for 'insurance' and you should be all set. Or just use B-50, it works fine too.
The "catch" for a string maker is, if he makes a "FF" type string for a bow after the bowyer says he doesn't recommend it, and something goes wrong with the bow, he/the string gets the blame. Won't matter how many people said it's ok.
I'd definitely stick to B-55 unless the bow's owner said differently and was fully informed of all the details.
Chad