Is anyone using the B55 polyester strings? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Thanks.

 

I use Dacron polyester B-50 and have for years. Don't see any reason to add the extra 5 to it. The old stuff works just fine.

The quietest strings I have are B50...just wondering what the B55 is like, since it's about time to restock. Thanks Pat.

Hey Andy!  The string i sent with the Habu is B-55 dacron.   :cool:

I replaced my 18-strand B50 string with an 18-strand B-55 on a old Kodiak Special and have about 2,000+ shots through it. I like it better, it hasn't fuzzed up like the B-50 and I haven't had to re-wax it but once, seems to be more abrasion resistant. Otherwise, there was no difference in speed or vibrations compared to the B-50.

BCY B-55 was $7 for 1/4# spool from Lancaster Archery Supply, which is $3 less expensive than the BCY B-500 or the Brownell B-50.

QuoteOriginally posted by rastaman:
Hey Andy!  The string i sent with the Habu is B-55 dacron.    :cool:  

I misremembered...thought you said it was B500! Thanks for the heads up!

gjarcher, is there a reason for 18 strands of B-50? I use 14 strands for bows up to 65# and never had a string break.

16-18 strand is normal for B50/B-500 on 60# bows.
BCY recommends 16-strand, Brownell 18-20.
 http://www.bcyfibers.com/technical_sheets/Bowstring%20Material%20layout%2012-17-08.pdf  
 http://www.brownellarchery.com/techinfo-2010.htm  

There certainly is plenty of safety margin, so you can always get by with a few less strands, some bows like it, some don't. I've made 14-strand B-50 and 18-strand B-50 with no noticable difference through a chronograph using a 10 gr/lb (618 gr)arrow.

I use 18-strand because it seems to absorb more vibration, has less stretch, and I use Spectra Brownell Mini Serving (.015")instead of BCY Nylon 350 for end and centerserving. With a small diameter centerserving, 18-strand makes for a better nock fit without having to 'pad' it.

i've spun up a bunch of b55 'dacron' (polyester) strings and don't see anything different (yet?) from b50.  i bought the stuff outta curiousity, but with all modern stickbows, it's best to use hmpe bowstrings for all the right reasons.  

these dayze i shoot 8 strands of hmpe (dyneema'02, the low wax version of df'97) outta my 55# longbow - super quiet and with more perceived arrow speed than heavier 12 strand hmpe bowstrings.  'dacron' is best left to older, marginal build bows.

Geez, Rob...I misread your post and first thought you said you were using hemp strings...time for some new bifocals!
 

'hemp strings' ....  :D