I havent needed any new strings for a while until lately. I used to really like TS-1+ but I guess it is history. Now I see stuff like Rhino, Astro, XS2, 8125whatever!  

What are you guys using and would recommend for FF type string these days?

I like Astro and 450+ myself, they both feel similar on the bow to me. Astro is easier to work with if you make your own.

Thanks Jason. I was looking at buying some to make my own (finally). Is the Astro durable?

I have two spools of TS-1plus (yellow and green) stowed away just in case someone requests it       ...it makes a great string.

I have been building most of my string out of Ultra Cam and XS2. They both work great. I also have been testing out Brownell's new Rhino. So far it's right up there as one of my favorites.

Too bad Ultra cam will be history once everyone uses up their inventory - I love strings made of that stuff.

Are they actually improving these strings or just changing the names for marketing?

A.S. are those strings bright yellow and green or something mellow for hunting    

Asroflight, Rhino and Xs2 are all the same material, 100% HMPE.

It really is mostly a marketing thing, Rhino is marketed for x-bows, XS2 is basically Astroflight but thinner strands. They are all very strong.

BCY 8190

I was building Astro Flight strings and liking it, but this last order I got some old school Dyna Flight 97. I know why I liked it so much when I first started using it. Quiet and very low shock.

Keep it simple , those materials are not that much different . If you get a string that you are comfortable with stay with it . Be it fast flight or B-50 it don't mater . I have tried lots of them and I like B-55 the best cause it is a little better stretch resistant than B-50 and not so harsh as the hi tech stuff . But it all boils down to what you like . If what you like is not broke don't fix it .

Astro string material seem to quiet down all my bows and it's fast too, I use 12 strands string padded with 14 strands

A.S. are those strings bright yellow and green or something mellow for hunting      [/QB][/QUOTE]


My two stools of TS are plain 'ol yellow and hunter green.

Norb,

I used D97 for a long time and loved it. Then I switched over to 8125 (same stuff only thinner)and thought it was great. Now I'm using 8190 and think it's even better.
It's very strong, takes almost no time to settle in and stay that way and silences easily.

I know nothing about the other stuff.

I have spools of Ultra Cam stored away. Works well for me.

They all have names like some desk jockey in the army would come up with.  I can't keep them straight.

I really like ultra cam, for me it is the best strings I have used. It is fast and quiet, but I am not an expert.

QuoteOriginally posted by gringol:
They all have names like some desk jockey in the army would come up with.  I can't keep them straight.

Exactly!

Charlie, as usual you drilled down to the essentials of what I was looking for!  

I've been very impressed with 8190

"Are they actually improving these strings or just changing the names for marketing?"

I don't know about the other company, but BCY is constantly working to improve, even though they dominate the industry--I think they supply something like 90-95%.  They have all the big wheel contracts, but they still try to improve.

All HMPE is not made equal.  Original FF was SK65 Dyneema.  Dynaflight '97 is SK75 Dyneema.  Dynaflight '10 was SK78 Dyneema.  8190 is SK90 Dyneema.  Dyneema is a trade name for HMPE or UHMWPE, and considered to be one of the best.  There are cheaper versions.

Anyhow, the higher the number, the higher the grade.  8190 is made from the most durable, lowest stretch/creep HMPE available.

Other materials are blended with Vectran.  Vectran makes the materials more stable in high temps, but fuzzes up more.  452X and Trophy are great blended materials.

BCY already has plans to unveil an even better material at the 2014 ATA show.  I'm tinkering wih it now.

I have a few sample spools of 8190 for serious string makers and bowyers to try out.  If interested, send me a P.M.

Chad

Almost forgot--if you have any questions about strings or string material, I'll be glad to help--or at least try.  I'm working pretty close with BCY these days, so if I don't know the answer I can usually get one pretty quick.  That, and I'm a string nerd....

Chad