String length question - Ol Man?

[equin]

Hi All,

I'm trying to figure what string length I need for a red oak flatbow selfbow. There is no AMO listed on the bow itself, and I recently found out the bowyer I got it from last year (off ebay) is no longer in business.

I measured the bow from nock to nock using a measuring tape across the belly and came to 64." I still have the string, however, and looping one end over a nail and stretching it hand tight it measured out to 62 3/4." Does that seem kind of long for a selfbow that measures 64" nock-to-nock? If so, could the B50 string have stretched out that much over a year's time, even though I always unstrung the bow after every shooting session?

Reason I ask is because while doing a google search on determining string length, most folks recommend ordering a longbow string 3" shorter than the AMO length, and some even say that if it's a B50 longbow string, it should be about 4" shorter than the AMO length. I'm assuming the AMO length is the nock-to-nock length, correct?

So should I order 60", 61", or a 62 3/4" B50 string?

[huntinpool]

If you measured it then you need a string 3" shorter than the measurement. That is a good starting point. String it and get it to the proper BH and then take an actual measurment. That is the best way to get the right string.

[equin]

Thanks for the reply, Huntinpool!

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm still kind of confused. I measured the bow unstrung across the belly from nock to nock and got 64". I then measured the bowstring unstrung but hand tight and got 62 3/4".

When you say to string it, get it to the proper brace height, and then take an actual measurement, was I suppose to measure the string itself while strung and then subtract 3" off that measurement?

[huntinpool]

After you get it to the BH you want, take the string off and pull it tight and measure it.
You measured the bow right and 64" minus 3" would be a good starting point but the actual measuremnet is even better. I don't shoot a Selfbow so I don't know what an average or optimal BH would be. With the current string on , What is the BH?

[equin]

Oh, I get it now. Makes sense. Thanks!

[Ol Man]

3 inches less than actual will get you in the general area. I make all my strings 1/2" shorter for no stretch materials and 1" for Dacron or B-50. A 3" shorter string than your actual measurement should put you about 6 1/4" of brace height or fistmele. To get it to 6 1/2" you would need to put 6-8 more twists in it.

[equin]

Thanks for the reply, Doug!

[widdler]

That is what I was going to tell you. String it and check the brace height. If the brace height comes out right that is how long you want the string.