What is the rule for how many inches shorter a string should be on a longbow? I know its 4 inches shorter for a recurve.

I make mine 3 inches shorter on my longbows.

Thanks

I use a timber hitch and adjust it to get a good brace height (fistmele or just clearing the fletching.)  This means I can make it any length I want.

Oops, I should have asked whether your thinking of a Flemish twist or an endless string.  The endless isn't adjustable.

Im doing a flemish twist.

What is the bow?

The rules only apply if the bow is made to AMO specs, and it's 3" shorter than AMO length for longbows AND recurves.

AMO standards were adopted in Feb of '68.  A HUGE pet peeve of mine is bowyers and string makers not using AMO specs or worse yet, marking  their product as "AMO" when it clearly is not!!  If the bowyer doesn't go by the standards than it's a crap shoot.  I've had recurves that needed anything from 3-5" shorter than the marked length and longbows that needed 1-4" shorter than marked.

Well I was just wondering in general for self bows I have not made yet.

i have been looking , but what does AMO stand for?


-hov

Archery Manufacturer's Association

If Flemish twist you can make the string as long as the bow, put the timber hitch wherever gives the best brace height, and twist the string for fine tuning.

I was going to make it a endless loop flemish style shown in this video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwX4Q22D978    videos make it alot easier to learn

Just to be clear, an Endless Loop string is one type and a Flemish is another.
That video shows Flemish.

Guy

A string length for a bow by AMO is always 3" shorter than the bow. In fact, the bowlength is 3" longer than the necessary string.
It is the same for recurves and longbows. I have several books where a 4" shorter string for recurves is recommend, but by AMO, it is wrong.

Gundog

seems to me that unless you are planning to shoot competitions, or sell large numbers of bows, as a hobby bowyer you can make a bow any way you choose! Take a look at the incredible range of bows in the world. "Wrong" for AMO yes but don't get hung up on it if the bow is for going out into the wild or the back yard to fling some arrows. "Ideal" might be a goal - ideal performance for the bow you are making. AMO standards are manufacturers' standards and for the most part are fine but don't get stuck on it.
just my2c
chrisg

Gundog, you were doing so well!!!  AMO is always 3" longer than the string that braces the properly (as you said).  However, since that is totally independent of bow type or length, the old rule of thumb of 4" shorter than the bow length (as MEASURED, not the AMO length) for recurves and 3" shorter for long bows is also a valid rule of thumb.  The key here is to not confuse the actual length of the bow with the AMO length.  AMO length of a bow cannot be measured.  It is a contrived number 3" longer than whatever the proper string (as determined by the bowyer) is.

so its just a way of saying theres no way to standardize it , but if we tried , we'd call it amo...


-hov

I twist in a loop, the smaller one, and put it in the knock, then twist away on autopilot while watching discovery or something. when i get to the other end i lay my hand across the belly with one side of my palm on the knock. I twist in the second loop, the bigger one, and make  the end of it touch the inside edge of my hand. not scientific, but its worked so far. i rarely have to twist  more than a few times to adjust the length (except for after the first good stretch, cause i don't use prestressed string).  most of the time i just retwist the second loop and inch shorter after the string stretches, cause i don't like twisting the string that much, as it weakens it.

its no amo...but its worked everytime for me