What kind of string are people making for the Asian type bows?

[Prarie Bowyer]

I'm going try to make a bamboo backed horse bow.  I thought about doing a Flemish twist with extra big loops but then i'm not certain how to lay out those measurements.

Are there any sources for how they make those strings?  Are they endless loop strings? 

[mullet]

Endless loop is what is on my Horn bow.

[AngelDeVille]

Once I get ahold of some B-55 I'll be making a Flemish twist to replace the endless loop currently on my bow. I don't see why it won't work.

[PatM]

The trouble with a flemish twist with huge loops is the potential for the twist to run up into the loops. That will cause wear issues if the string has to split on either side of a siyah.
 Many of the original bows just had knots to form the loops. This kind of string is a bit unappreciated, I think.

[AngelDeVille]

I'm wondering if an overhand knot right at the splice, wouldn't solve that problem.

I have also seen original strings with very small loops and and extra length of string to form the large loop.

I'll see if I can find a pic.

[PatM]

There is usually a special knot used for forming the loops. The Turkish bows seemed to have the extra added loops. I think the one in TTBB shows a silk main string with sinew loops.
 Half-eye seems to use a simple knot for one end of his strings.
 Some ancient excavated bows on Atarn all show knots to form the loops. This one for example:
http://atarn.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2241&start=0

[AngelDeVille]

This is similar to what I've seen....



here is the complete website

http://heartwoodbowsonline.com/wordpress/?p=489

[sharpend60]

Dont use an overhand.
Its a weak knot.

I'm a climber for a living and dont ever put anything load bearing on a overhand...

Stick to one of the proven knots for archery or a figure eight or even a butterfly.

[Prarie Bowyer]

I saw a tutorial of a guy making an endless loop.  I think it was a comercial for his string making jig for crossbows. 

Now I get the idea but I'm trying to figure out how I'll layout my string.  What happens to the tag ends and such.  Is there a DIY jig plan some place?

[PatM]

You can just build an endless around four stout wooden pegs driven into a board. You can  tie the ends together and hide the small knot under the serving. There is no reason to bother with extra strands in the loops.
 After you have the loops served pull the string off the pegs and stretch it tightly between two  pegs and serve the base of the loops together.

[Guessed]

Not too sure if this helps but at 3:52 it sort shows what he's doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6qRnTVM2KU

[BigNocker]

I made a board as instructed by Ron Harris for making Flemish strings. Google it. Worked well for me and it only took a half hour to make the board out of a scrap piece I had laying around.  Each notch adds an extra 2" length to the bowstring, so if your bow was 50 inches, you might use the 52" notch to add extra length for the large loops.  IMO A little longer is better than a little shorter because you can always put a little extra twist in it to raise your brace height if needed.

[AngelDeVille]

For sure flemish twist strings are the best looking, endless loop are fine but boring.

[PatM]

Endless strings perform better though.