Ol Man, string question

[trad"Doc"53]

Been reading Mr. Adcocks theory on "skinny strings". How do you go about "padding" the string loops? And if you don't mind sharing, your thoughts on smaller diameter fast flight strings.

[Ol Man]

Tried the 4 strand -& 6 strand - the gain on the speed wasn't enough for me to want to take a chance on my bows. I spent a lot of time making them and there is so little gain in speed and sound reduction I won't recommend them. That doesn't mean you as an individual should not try them if you are do inclined. I pad my loops with 4 strands of B-50 I taper the add-ins as well so they still feather in to the string well. The smallest strings I will make are 8 strand but I prefer 10. I can get the same gain in speed by reducing the serving area on the string. Most guys make their serving 9 inches + long - I prefer 6 3/4"-7" This is why I take the time to ask split/3 under and longbow/recurve.

Just my opinion on the strings - not looking for arguments but a 2-3 ft. gain in speed isn't substantial enough for me to chance it. Remember a 4 or 6 strand string if it gets nicked you don't have enough left to continue shooting it.

[rubydog]

Ol Man I agree with you on the string issue. what you gain in speed you make up in noise. I have seen very few bows that don't sound like a .22 going off when shooting light arrows and a skinny string. I have built a few bows that people have blown up useing that concept. Speed is great as long as it is stable speed. Generally speaking, the faster a bow is the more they hinge on instability. I have a couple of bows that came with endless loop strings and I have no problem with them either. I will be getting with you soon as I need some asssorted string for my collection.

[trad"Doc"53]

Thanks guys for the input!! I agree totally! I make my strings using 16 strands so I can obviously drop down a few strands and still be safe. Thanks again guys, I really appreciate your taking the time to offer your input and help.

[rubydog]

Think about this, your in Colorado you have elk all around you and a big bull is coming in. Hastely you grab an arrow from your quiver and go to nock it because the bull is headed right to your shooting window. In your adreniline pumped state you accidently brush your skinny string with your well honed broadhead. Hunt over, go home your dream has just ended for a couple (if that) feet a second!!

[bob sarrels]

I am with Terry and Coug. 16 strands is what I put on them. A broke bow is worth a lot more than 3 or 4 fps.

[cooksomerice]

I am not an expert on the subject but I got into trad shooting for totally different reasons than speed/performance. When speed was my only concern, I shot a Matthews. I have since re-evaluated what is actually important and what gives me the most pleasure.

[dmaxshawn]

I thought about the Idea of skinny strings for a couple days when that 50 page thread got started last year and asked around and talked to a few bowyers about O.L. and I decided that I would just stay with my three bundle 16 strand string. Whats your bow worth to you and most of all the lost time to replace it if you dont have another in the stable? And all for 4 fps just as Bob put it. I might consider a new 12 strand from Wingnut over at Dryad after he tests them a little more. but until then I'm sticking with what I have. Hope this helps.

Shawn

[brent.westbrook]

what do you think about a 10 strand 452x with 6 strands of b55 in the loops and 20strands of 452x under the serving which is .19Halo?

I made it as a test run, and I figured ten strands of the 452x would be plenty strong and try to see if I can get the most gains while still keeping the risk down.

[Ol Man]

Brent,

I use skinny strings on a couple of my bows with very good results. But this being said they were built for skinny strings and are performers - they go on My Morrison Shawnee. A 452X 10 strand will indeed be strong enough. I don't use B55 or B50 in my loops. It defeats the purpose of the skinny string. I pad them with the same material. I also pad under my serving as double serving at best is a pain and the serving tends to separate over time.

[brent.westbrook]

so how much 452x in the loops would you say is enough?

[Ol Man]

I use 8 strands in all my loops

[brent.westbrook]

total or extra? That seems etremely small with 452x

[Mike Javi Cooper]

I concur with the others... I've tried the skinny strings and didn't see enough gain to make up for the trouble... went back to 14 strainds of D-10 I also built one I'm testing now with 16 strands of D-10 and I can see no difference with the same 6.5" serving on each.. I ain't doing all that work for 2-3 FPS... heck I'm shooting 600 grain arrows

if I cared that much for speed I'd be shooting 9 GPP or 415 grain arrows..

[RickBarbee]

Brent,

if you know the strand count that gives you the best nock fit with the serving size you have on hand, then build the 452X at 8 - 10 strands, and then pad your center served area, and your loops to that best nock fit size.

Rick