Is there a formula to determine the number of strands needed for a given bow poundage?

Check this out........

http://www2.pcom.net/jthutten/jth/doc/flemish.htm

I've been using 12 strands for all my hunting weight bows (~58# at my draw).  I do pad the loops to 14 strands for piece of mind.

I have seen a formula somewhere, but a bowyer once told me that 12 strands of B-50 was good for anything up to 50#. I have settled on 14 strands because I like the diameter, and use it for everything.

I have a wrapper off of an old-old-old roll of B-50 on the back it listed how many strands per lb of bow weight. I dont think any of the new B-50 wrappers have it. A 14 to 16 Strand string will cover most of us humans. Those that shoot heavey weight 18 strands covers them.

Manufacturer specs lean to the heavy side--just a "CYA" kind of thing.

Dacron is generally 45-50# test per strand.  I prefer 12 strands up to around 55# and 14 strands up to around 65#.  Can't remember off the top of my head, but I used either 18 or 21 strands for a bow that was pulling around 125#--still stretched like crazy.

For real light weight bows (under 40#), I'll use 10 strands.  

Chad

How many strands do you need for your B50 bowstring.

40 to 50 LB range 12 strands
50 to 70 LB range 14 strands
70 to 80 LB range 18 strands

The "formula" is something like this:

To be save, your finished strings breaking strenght needs to be at least four times the maximum draw weight. Brownell gives 49# for a single strand of B-50. You do the math.

Depending on what I want and materials I use (B-50, linnen, endless, flemish, light arrows, crossbow string etc.) I most often calculate with six times, to play saver. In almost any case you'll find modern strings way above the requirements ...

I always go three skeins of five strands and pad each end with two strands. That is fifteen padded to 21 on the ends.  I think that doing every thing in threes gives a rounder and smoother string.

Thanks everyone.