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Making strings??????
I would like to try making a string for a single cam bow. I am tired of paying the high prices. I don' t know how $5 worth of string can cost $35 to $100 bucks.
IroquoisArcher was nice enough to send me a picture of a jig he made. I am working on that part. Looks like he has this stuff figured out. What I need to know is how to actually make the string. I don' t know where to start. Are there any pictures, books, video, articles, that explain the process and steps I need to take? I am also researching the different strings. I have my own opinions on string material but was wondering what all the experts thought. Thanks |
RE: Making strings??????
I don' t know how $5 worth of string can cost $35 to $100 bucks. Now, if you want to do all the above, expect to invest a few hundred dollars into a string jig, string material, serving material, serving jigs, etc. It will probably also take an amateur about 90 minutes to make a string. If all that is worth saving approx. $35 on a string, then the following link will get you started. :D By the way, I think it' s worth it, that' s why I make my own. My preference happens to be Brownell' s Ultra Cam material. [link]http://applearchery.com/building_bowstrings.htm[/link] |
RE: Making strings??????
Straightarrow, thanks for the link. Wish I saw it earlier, would have saved some typing and it explains it better :D. Have you tried 450 Plus? If so how do you like it compared to the Brownells? I started with S4 but didn' t like it so have been a 450 Premium then Plus user and had no complaints. Have 8125 on the bow now but can' t see a difference between that and 450 Plus (or maybe I' m just set in my ways).
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RE: Making strings??????
It' s my opinion that you can make a great string out of almost any modern string material. It' s the string making technique, more than the material, that makes a great string.
I' ve come to like the Ultra Cam because it absolutely will not creep when made correctly and it doesn' t fuzz as much as most others. I' m sure you can make a great string out of the 450plus or the 8125. Some people choose a material simply based on the color it comes in, and with the quality of the string material out there, that' s as good a reason as any. |
RE: Making strings??????
Larry' s directions from that website are as good as any I have seen. Also, you can get his video on line from different places, I know lancaster archery has it.
Personally, I use the 8125 for my strings and I have never had any creep problems whatsoever. |
RE: Making strings??????
I also have Larry' s video and will tesify that it' s worth the price.
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RE: Making strings??????
I use 8125 and use a turnbuckle to add about 300 lbs. of pressure to my strings when I serve them....Zero creep and 8125 doesn' t " fuzz" like some of the others....My string jig is VERY primitive compared to most...It' s simply a 100" piece of 2" box tubing with a post on one end and a post with a turnbuckle on the other.....I use " quick-links" to adjust length.....I' ve made dozens of strings on this jig and they are are as good as any I have purchased....Total cost for jig......$24......
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RE: Making strings??????
I use 452 for all my stuff. I like the smaller diameter of the 452, it provides a higher strand count per bundle, and it makes two color strings look nicer. No creep- no stretch. Keep it waxed and it stays nice.
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RE: Making strings??????
i use ultra cam like straightarrow what i like about it is i can shoot it about 15 times and its done streching. put a few twist back in it and it is done no creep whatsoever.
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RE: Making strings??????
I started making my own strings a few years ago, and here are the three most important things I' ve learned:
1. The Cavalier serving jig is better than the Bjorn. 2. Buy a colored string material that' ll contrast with the black serving. The contrast comes in handy when applying the serving. Black on black is hard to see, especially with older eyes. (Plus colored strings look cooler!) 3. You don' t save any money making your own strings unless you like working for about $0.20 an hour! Maybe I' m too slow or meticulous, but I' m a tinkerer who loves " rolling his own." |
RE: Making strings??????
BTM-
I disagree that you don' t save any money making your own strings. Have you looked at the price of some " custom" strings out there? Want to spend approaching $100 for a set of Winner' s Choice? I' ll make my own for a fraction of that, and I feel that are comparable in quality as well. Prestreched, custom colors, no peep rotation, served under tension. A 1/4lb spool of string can make around 8 sets of strings/cables for an average bow. That 1/4lb spool is about $35-40, plus the end-serving and center-serving thread. |
RE: Making strings??????
I agree with Black Frog......I definately save money on strings....Even if you find a good custom maker that is reasonable, it' ll cost you $30+ for a one cam string....I bet I have about $8-$10 in material and an hour of my time in a string and it is as good as WC at $50 a string.....I charge my buddies $10 to build a string or cable and that more than pays for the string and serving material AND the beer they drink while I' m building it :D.
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RE: Making strings??????
CG-wish I was closer. $10.00 and you furnish the beer, sounds like my kinda string maker.:D
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RE: Making strings??????
Yeah, I' m a push-over....:D
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RE: Making strings??????
Sorry for going back to the basics but I have a couple of questions.
1. when I wrap the string around the post on the jig, can I simply tie the two loose ends together? If not, how do I keep the string end together? Also what knots do you recommend. 2. I want a two colored string. Let' s say I want a 20 strand bow string, do I just use one color and make 5 complete loops around the jig and repeat this process for the second color? 3. Once I get thee end loops served, can I stop serving and twist the string and put it under tension so I can serve it real tight. If I serve it tight without twisting the string, then I won' t have a twist throughout the string (only on the unserved portion). I hope these questions are clear. I don' t mean to be a problem but I really want to learn how to do this. I just bought a winners choice string for $100. If someone else can do it, so can I. And alot cheaper too. Plus it would be fun since I love to tinker. Thanks |
RE: Making strings??????
My comment about $0.20/hr was intended to be humorous. Apparently I failed.
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RE: Making strings??????
RE: Making strings?????? (in reply to buckskin73) Sorry for going back to the basics but I have a couple of questions. 1. when I wrap the string around the post on the jig, can I simply tie the two loose ends together? If not, how do I keep the string end together? Also what knots do you recommend. I don' t use knots. Instead of wrapping around the post, cross the tag ends and then wrap back inserting each tag end between the strings 10 or more wraps down the string. You serve over this and that anchors it for you. 2. I want a two colored string. Let' s say I want a 20 strand bow string, do I just use one color and make 5 complete loops around the jig and repeat this process for the second color? See above, just do it on both ends instead of just one. 3. Once I get thee end loops served, can I stop serving and twist the string and put it under tension so I can serve it real tight. If I serve it tight without twisting the string, then I won' t have a twist throughout the string (only on the unserved portion). Yes, you can stop and twist the string as desired and then apply your main serving. I hope these questions are clear. I don' t mean to be a problem but I really want to learn how to do this. I just bought a winners choice string for $100. If someone else can do it, so can I. And alot cheaper too. Plus it would be fun since I love to tinker. Thanks |
RE: Making strings??????
I take back about liking the 8125. Only tried one time and that was on my bow. But even with twisting it up about 25 times more tonight (on top of about 40 twists already in it) it stretched 1/2" . Granted this was a little less then a year old string but it had less then 300 shots on it. Already put the 450 Plus back on. Also went back to the 62 braid. The halo may be good but my release seems to not like it.
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