B50... why on earth do you guys use it?

[sleek]

I use spectra, almost Zero stretch, and only when you first make the string does it stretch a bit, then it wont any more. And it is sooooo cheap..... light weight, no waxing or anything. I love this stuff.

[rossfactor]

I use only hand harvested cat gut, from local cats.   

We are soooooo spoiled in the string department.  Making a couple nettle, hemp, linen or sinew strings... from scratch is a pain in the tuckas.

B50 is easy street, and I don't doubt that FF is even sweeter.  I guess what ever makes your arrows go flying off in the right direction, as fast as you'd like em to, is what you should use.

Gabe

[toomanyknots]

Couple of things; a properly made B-50 sting won't be as stretchy as you indicate, might take a look at the way you make strings.

Knew that was gonna be the first thing someone said.  I beg to differ.

I use FF exclusively on heavier weight bows above 50#. With my warbows, I can't even brace them with B50.

I made a b50 string for a 110# @ 32" bow once, 24 strands was what was recommended by a guy on paleoplanet as overbuilding supposedly will keep the stretch down. Stringing it was ridiculous. Drawing it was a joke. Shooting it was even worse. I use b50 when in a bind, but I am just done with it anymore. I can't see using it when I can walk down to the river and make a better performing string out of the weeds (nettle),  . Just had to get that off my chest this morning, sorry if I ruffled any feathers,  .

[RyanY]

Can't say I've had any problems with B-50. Maybe a little bit of stretch with a new string but nothing after that. I've even used it on warbows of up to 120#'s. I make my strings in a flemmish twist style.

[Jodocus]

Also, I usually make the string a bit longer and use it to tiller the bow from start, that way I have less stretch when bracing later.

[iowabow]

I hunted milkweed and b50 all winter. The how to is in this months issue. Works great!

[Pat B]

John, I just got my new magazine a few days ago but haven't read through it yet. I saw your article and dog eared the corner of the first page to come back to later.

[Eric Krewson]

Like I said, "look at the way you make strings", 24 strands, thats a rope, 14 would have been adequate but I would have gone with 16 just to be on the safe side.

I have made a whole bunch of bows, at least 150 and probably 10 times that many strings for myself and friends.

I have supplied the bows for most of the top selfbow tournament shooters in a three state area around where I live so I know bows and well as strings.

Some of the people who shoot my bows prefer B-50, most shoot DF-97. I have one personal bow that hates B-50 and one that loves it.

Your bad experiences with B-50 all come back to the way you make strings and what you put them on.

Mr. Pearl, where do you get DF-97 for 18 bucks? I have never found it for less than $27 for 1/4# spool.

[Carson (CMB)]

John, I also marked that article for the next chance I have to sit and read.  I like the idea of natural materials, and have made a couple sinew strings, played around with nettle, and made several linen strings.  But like Gabe said they are a lot of work.

As far as modern materials, I used B-50 for the longest time because that is what we used.  Finally tried fast flight last summer.  Bought a spool and never looked back.

[sleek]

Guys, you are all missing out on probably the best string material out there. I don't know why, but everytime I mention spectra, I get ignored. It only cost 7 bucks for a spool, needs no waxin, is very abrasion resistant, self lubricating, light weight, super thin, and after the innitial stretch, won't stretch any more. And its super easy to get.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Guys, you are all missing out on probably the best string material out there. I don't know why, but everytime I mention spectra, I get ignored. It only cost 7 bucks for a spool, needs no waxin, is very abrasion resistant, self lubricating, light weight, super thin, and after the innitial stretch, won't stretch any more. And its super easy to get.

Sleek I remember a thread last year on Paleo Planet where everybody was trying to figure out why your strings broke. I believe the conclusion was made that fishing line isnt bow material. Correct me if Im wrong.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Mr. Pearl, where do you get DF-97 for 18 bucks? I have never found it for less than $27 for 1/4# spool.

Eric the last two rolls came from Larry at Lost Nation, they were archery show prices. Most any vendors will have sales at shows, thats when I jump on it. I think 3 Rivers is under $27 a spool. Honestly, even if it costs me $25 a year more to use it, I would. I have made hundred and hundreds of strings now, I started in the mid 90's and even supplied a sporting goods store. I hope I have it figured out by now and that my taste for fast flight isnt a result of not knowing how to make a good string from B50.

[avcase]

Adoption of lower stretch string material has been gradual but steady. I started out 10 years ago with a spool of B50. I switched almost immediately to the low-stretch material due to the rubbery feel of B50. Later on, I spent a lot of time working with linen strings (for flight bows) and quickly realized a great linen string performs more like fast flight than B50.

The only good use I've found for my old B50 spool is as a binding to clamp wood laminations together.

One more bit of info. I've found that the common quoted breaking strength for B50 is about double reality.  I measured several spools and come up with 24-26 lb. 

Alan

[Christian Soldier]

Its cheap, readily availible, and easy to use.

I can get a spool from my local archery story for $7 and get at least half dozen (maybe up to a dozen with short bows  ) strings.

My strings are simply reverse twisted (pretty close to flemish).

Buying a FF string is around $10 and even though that's affordable, it just doesn't feel right to spend more on the string than it cost to make the bow. 

[sleek]

Pearl, the string broke because I had been making them too thin, without enough threads. I had been miscalculating, making them only 6 stands instead of 8 to 10. I have since fixed that problem and have had no problems with my strings since.

Scott, I was not aware of that fact at all. I use Zebco braided line at 7 dollars for a 110 yard spool of 50 lb test. Get it at walmart. Thanks for the info...