Making a bowstring strecher

[Bert Frelink]

Hey, here is a novel idea, how about you put the string on the bow and shoot it for a few days, that way you get a little practise in at the same time.
Regards.
Bert.

[traditionalman]

I like what I have seen and hope everyone keeps posting their ideas. We can get better together. As far a just shooting the string in we have all done that. You string and unstring your bow 20 times for a B50 flemish string. Also I use flast flight for my arrow nock and would like my string pre streched before I install the nock.
I think the boat wench and the turn buckel/all thread is also a great idea. I think a big game scale would be nice as I read somewhere it takes about 300 pounds to really prestreach a string right.

[Keefer]

Gary,
 I like the idea of prestretching as well verse's taking the string on and off and twisting etc,etc,etc...The topic was making a string stretcher and we posted as requested what we had made ourselves...I for one also like the boat wench and there is many other uses for the stretching jig other then just stretching the string...Just a nice handy tool to have around in the shop but if one prefers to unstring and string several times then that's his option but we were just posting for the fella who asked for help is all...Just another Novel idea...Regards, Keith   :rolleyes:

[Night Wing]

Thanks everyone submitting their photos. "Words" for descriptions of things are fine, but nothing beats a photo.    

BTW, Keefer (Keith) thanks for the private messages.    

[Osagetree]

Thanks Keefer and everyone else.

[Keefer]

Hey,
You guys are welcome and many have helped me along the way...I also learn from seeing better then reading...I got to say I learned several things off this site just this year and glad we all share our ideas with each other....  

[LBR]

There are detailed plans on our first video (Doin' the Twist) and they will be on the second one (yet to be named--should be out before Christmas).

I'd post a pic, but it would take a bunch of them to make it make sense, and I don't know how to post pics either....

Chad

[Steve Kendrot]

I've got pics Chad was kind enough to email me a few years ago. Will try to post them tomorrow. Can't seem to do it with my phone.

[traditionalman]

I apologise to Mr Frelink and everyone who thought I was knocking his idea. I was  not knocking his idea just stating that stringing and unstring the bow as the string streches is what we are trying to get away from.

If Mr Frelink or anyone else was offended I'm sorry. Everyone's thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

[last arrow]

The pictures look like you are going for a planned stretch distance. So how much do you stretch a typical string? 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, 1 inch?  

I have always just shot a new string some and adjusted brace height as needed.  after the initial shooting session, the brace height changes very slowly after that.

[Keefer]

Blaine,
Myself I stretch them about a 1/4 to a  1/2 " to just make them tighten up and pull the braided ends tight so I won't have much stretch in the beginning of a new string...I made mine quickly and just added 1" marks so I could see how much it stretched as I was tightening the rachet...You really don't need to crank it so hard just put some tention on it and using a scale will let you know how much weight you are putting on the string...My next one I   build will have 1/4" increments cause I just put 1" increments starting at 36" out to 72" on the oneI posted...I just wanted a reference point so I myself would know how much I was stretching my string...Now if you look at Ryans pic with the boat wench that's a very good idea and the scale will let you know how much tention is being put on a string...Gary I owe Mr.Frelink an apology as well...I thought he was just being a wise guy and I possibly took his post the wrong way...Very sorry Mr.Frelink for making a smart comment! God Bless, Keefer's <><    

[Steve Kendrot]

Here are pics of Chad's string stretcher:
Full Frame


Left Close up


Center Close up (looks like it allows a quick adjustment to string length )


Right Close up.

[Keefer]

Steve,
How's it been old buddy? Did you have many Sika deer drownings from Irene?

[Jeff Strubberg]

Shoot, I just put them on the bow overnight.  

There's a whole lotta ingenuity in this thread, but why pre-stretch a string?  Seems like an extra step to me.

[Steve Kendrot]

Hey Keith- No Irene didn't do much in Dorchester. No storm surge to speak of due to the north winds.

Jeff- I think most string makers like to pre-stretch their strings before they serve them and attach nock points so they don't loosen up and move as the string stretches on the bow.

[Ryan Sanpei]

Hey Gang,
Here are some my personal reasons for a string stretcher.

1) When I send someone a string I want to make sure that I get them the exact "final creep" length.  Even though I fallow the exact building measurements each time, I'm not always exact on the "final creep" length.

2) It saves me time because I can get most of the creep out within an hour.

3) It's easier for me to "burnish" my strings.

4) It's easier for me to tie on silencers, and nocks under tension.

5)  I made it high enough to serve my center servings, and I also use it to serve endless strings under tension.


Aloha!
Ryan

[LBR]

...why pre-stretch a string? Seems like an extra step to me.

I do it as a courtesy to the customer.  When someone sends me a measurement, it's for a shot-in string, and that's what I try to match.  Plus it saves the customer a lot of time shooting a string in, when they could be shooting for tuning, accuracy, etc.

I can pre-stretch a string in minutes under around 300# of tension.  I can also accurately measure the string by AMO specs (under 100# of tension) by just hooking my digital scale to the jig.

My jig also comes in very handy for serving the string, tying on silencers, etc.  

Chad

[mark land]

I use the same scale and crank setup like Ryan shows in his videos.  I check all string length at 100# but stretch them out at about 300# of tension and they are very stable once strung up on the bow.  But I don't stretch dacron strings more then 100# of tension.

[BCWV]

Mine's built like Chads but isn't adjustable, it's pretty well maxed out making a 63" string. I like the ajustability of his.  

[traditionalman]

I'm glad you mention only 100 pounds for a dacron string. I did remember reading 300 lbs tension to prestrech a string but that must have been for 8125,D97 and 450+ type strings.