String Making

[Alex Greig]

I am perfectly capable of making a string for a recurve bow. Is there any reason to not make strings for my compound aswell. I know the number of strands, length etc required.

[ThePinkOne]

Originally Posted by Alex Greig

I am perfectly capable of making a string for a recurve bow. Is there any reason to not make strings for my compound aswell. I know the number of strands, length etc required.

Have you got a press?

You also usually need a small post for the jig to get the little loops too, plus many commercial strings are made "zebra" style i.e. with twists opposing so no twist in final string so peep stays put.

Then there's the fine are of getting string length correct so you don't have to put twists in... (s'OK on cables- no peep in the cables...)

In principle it isn't much different. In practise it takes more effort and time and kit (i.e. bowpress). With the price of strings I never felt it worth the effort on a compound, even though I made all my own recurve strings, I personally prefer to be out shooting the bow than messing with it.

P.

[geoffretired]

I have found little difference between making strings for recurve and compound, apart from the length, as TPO said.
The area that can be a bit fiddly is the end servings. On some compounds there is a tendency for the wraps to open and show the underlying string. Getting the best serving materials and optimum tension may need a bit of experiment.

[pyroarch57]

To make a good compound bowstring you need quite a bit of skill to get things right. Also if you want a top notch string that gives zero peep rotation you really need to be able to put the string under 200-300 lbs of tension.

[Tony_zelah]

I've been making my own compound strings for quite a while now The hardest job was working out how to make the string or cable small enough to fit securely over the cam pegs but not as I have done make them too small as I have done.

[greydog]

I just made my first set of string and cables for the XV, and had no problems whatso ever using one of Bruno's string jigs
I tried the zebra twist thing (twisting the strands on opposite directions) but didn't like the finish it gave. Served under alot of tension and nothing has moved.........................yet

[Alex Greig]

Originally Posted by greydog

I just made my first set of string and cables for the XV, and had no problems whatso ever using one of Bruno's string jigs
I tried the zebra twist thing (twisting the strands on opposite directions) but didn't like the finish it gave. Served under alot of tension and nothing has moved.........................yet

Ok thanks for that. I have one coming from bowsports, but I will give it a try aswell.

[Quadratus]

Originally Posted by greydog

I tried the zebra twist thing (twisting the strands on opposite directions) but didn't like the finish it gave.

Z-S or counter-twisting is quite commonly used outside archery, for instance on crane cables and drawing lines. For it to work properly you need two sets of string material, one the normal right-hand lay (twist) and the other left-hand lay. Otherwise , when you twist your 12 or whtever, strands anti clockwise, you are undoing the twists originally put in by the manufacturer. This probably accounts for the strange appearance. It could also have unpredictable effects on the whole stability of the string, and I for one wouldn't like to try it - at least, not on my own bow

As far as I know, there is no commercial source of left-hand lay bowstring material. BCY make it, I believe, but only supply it direct to Mathews.

[pyroarch57]

Here`s my baby! It will easily (and safely) take up to 450 lbs of tension.

[Tony_zelah]

Looks good pyroarch57 is it a self made jig or did you buy it from a retailer