Skinny strings?

[Don Armstrong]

When making skinny string like 8 to 12 strand Dyna 97, I usually serve with .018 traditional serving and then .024 Halo over that varing the tension to fit my nocks. I am having a lot of trouble pulling the halo thru the traditional and losing diameter. This is VERY frustrating. Is there a better way. I am thinking of going to 15 strand and giving up on the double serving. Thanks, Don

[Night Wing]

I'm not a fan of skinny strings. Twelve (12) strands is as low as I'm going.

Both of my recurve bows use 12 strands of Dyna 97. However, for the serving, I'm like most people. I pay attention to nock fit.

Since I use Easton Super Nocks fitted to my aluminum arrows, my serving is made up of 62XS in size (.025). Doing it this way avoids a double serving since the diameter is perfect for my nock fit.

I don't like Halo since it isn't durable enough to suit me. It wears out quickly for me whereas 62XS doesn't.

[JamesKerr]

On an 8 strand string I would use the larger diameter serving first than the smaller diameter. However I am like Night Wing except I found a 14 strand string of fast flight plus with crown .026 serving fits my nocks perfectly and performs excellent.

[Bjorn]

I use 6 and 8 strand D10 on my 50# bows; to get nock fit I lay in strands parallel to the string and serve over that with a single layer of whatever it takes. The number of strands in the string should not dictate nock fit.

[ishoot4thrills]

Originally posted by Bjorn:
I use 6 and 8 strand D10 on my 50# bows; to get nock fit I lay in strands parallel to the string and serve over that with a single layer of whatever it takes. The number of strands in the string should not dictate nock fit.

Ditto! This is exactly what I do. I lay 2 or 3 strands of thin Fast-Flite serving material on my string and then serve over them. Perfect fit and I can still use skinny strings and my nocks fit great.

[katman]

Since switching to 62xs I have not had any problems with serving on 8 strand astroflight. .018 under and .021 over.

[KentuckyTJ]

Your first serve isn't tight enough if its slipping through. I have done all my 8 strand strings that way and they are still holding tight.

[KEG]

I use 9 strand D97 or D10 to make my strings. If I want a little tighter nock fit I pad with an additional stand of string material. I serve with Brownell Diamondback 0.030. This gives me a good fit with Goldtip GTs.

[Greg Skinner]

I make all my strings with 8 strands of D97 and padded loops.  I use double serving of .021 braided and it fits GT and CE nocks perfectly.  I think Kentucky TJ is right, though, the first serving layer needs to be tight.

[drewsbow]

also serve the second time the other direction

[Don Armstrong]

I will need to get something stronger than traditional serving. I have served so tight it breaks. I am using Easton G nocks. It takes a tight .014 and tight .024 Halo to do a 12 strand Dyna 97. I must be serving my strings WAY tighter than you guys. You say string strand (diameter) should not dictate how tight my nocks are. I'm a little confused. If the string count doesn't affect the diameter, what does? Thanks, Don

[Shawn Leonard]

12 strand D-97 is no longer considered skinny from my reading. I have my D-97 made with 12 starnds and just a .024 Halo and my nocks usually have to be filed slightly. Shawn

[ishoot4thrills]

Originally posted by Don Armstrong:
........I must be serving my strings WAY tighter than you guys. You say string strand (diameter) should not dictate how tight my nocks are. I'm a little confused. If the string count doesn't affect the diameter, what does? Thanks, Don

They're saying that you shouldn't JUST let string strand count decide the diameter of your serving. In other words, if you want to use a skinny string, you don't have to settle on a small diameter serving area because there are several alternatives you can try to get the desired nock fit by making the serving much larger than the skinny string diameter. Am I making sense?  

[Don Armstrong]

ishoot4thrills, Makes perfect sense. Shawn, I tried a 12 strand Dyna 97 and .024 Halo. My Easton G nocks were very loose. I must be putting my serving on way to tight. I might be going a little overboard. I am always worried about slippage. Don

[ishoot4thrills]

I serve mine pretty tight myself.

[Razorbak]

use a layer or 2 of reg. masking or the blue painter's tape then wrap with .25 or .26 serving and your nock fit will be perfect..when I make a 8strand D10 I wrap with tape 1 1/2 times and use .24 halo and I get perfect nock fit and the tape is very durable and it will never move if served tight and snug