I recently installed a new string on my bow. I spent a few hours yesterday setting up the nock, kisser, string leeches, etc. and as an afterthought I decided to give a string loop another try. Since I hadn' t planned ahead & ordered one with my other accessories I thougth I' d just run to one of the local places & pick one up, but I couldn' t find one anywhere. The nearest pro shop that would have them in stock is 1 hour away & I didn' t want to mail order a $2 string loop and have to pay $6 for them to ship it to me so I decided to make my own.

I first cut 9 strands of serving string and then braided them into 3 pieces. I then braided those 3 pieces into a string that' s about the same size as my bow string. I waxed the heck out of my new string loop to stiffen it up and then installed it on the bow. I drew it back a few times but didn' t get to shoot it because it was dark. It seems like it will work okay. Has anyone else tried anything similar? Do you think it will be strong enough to last through the upcoming season?

I haven' t tried it myself, but there is a loop called the Catfish loop that is made similar to what you did. There are (or were) instructions on how to tie it on the Onieda site.

Sounds like a good idea there. Wal-mart carries them in my area.
TJ

Just checked the Onieda site. It' s still there, in the Technical Help area.

www.oneidaeaglebows.com

From what you described, as long as the diameter is sufficient to prevent the loop from pulling through your release jaws and your knots are good and tight, I think it' ll work fine.

The Wal-Mart, Dicks, & other stores in our area are just now starting to drag out their archery stuff, so no string loops yet. And I didn' t really feel like waiting. I think that my knots are probably okay. Braiding the strings together was just a way to keep the strands held together. I guess my main concern was in using the serving string to construct the loop. But I used the same stuff they described on the Onieda site for the Catfish loop so I should be okay.

Thanks for the link Arthur. That loop looks pretty interesting. I think I may try that next time. If I follow it correctly, they' re basically creating a loop with several strands of serving string, and then serving the strands together. It looks like it may take a few tries to get it down but it should be a pretty sturdy, stiff loop when you' re done. If my loop starts to wear a little maybe I' ll try to serve over it to create a smoother surface. I know I could just replace it with one from the store once they get them in stock but sometimes it' s just more fun to do things yourself.

Jeep, I made and used a catfish loop up until last season. The only reason I ditched it was I have a 28" draw length and decided to shoot off the string to gain some fps and ke.

The loop was very easy to construct and worked as advertised. Once applied however, you need a bow press to remove it unless you cut it and make another one. You also need to use some sort of nock points, or at least I did, as I couldn' t get the loop tight enough to stay in place.

My previous string was 3 years old and I shot with a release off the string for all but about 50 shots. It held up really well, but I just spent $75 for new string and cables and I' m planning to fling a lot more arrows with this string than I did with the last so I thought I' d try a loop again to protect my investment. Since I haven' t actually shot with it yet, I may still go back to off the string but I' m hoping to get used to the loop.

I did place a brass nock inside the loop just to make sure things don' t move around any. But I' ve got a 1" longer draw than you Range, so I guess I can give up a couple fps.

I broke the loop on my Q2XL this spring on a sunday morning about daylight warming up for a 3-D shoot. I didnt know what to do, so after a few minutes of thinking I cut off a peice of the braided cord that operated my wifes miniblinds, waxed it good and tied it on, it worked great and is still on the bow several hundred shots later, but Ill change it before season, hate for it to fail then[:@]

Well, it was a good thought but needs a little fine tuning. When I tied the loop on the other night, I tied it just a little short thinking that after a few shots the knots at the bow string would tighten up a little and it would work out to the right length. However, I didn' t anticipate that all of the braids would also get tighter after a few shots. So after only 5 or 6 arrows, the loop was stretched to about 1/2" longer than it needed to be. I haven' t given up yet. I' ll just remove & retie it and try again but shooting off the string just seems like much less hassle.