Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Easternarcher on February 07, 2010, 10:22:46 am
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Good Morning Folks!
Looking for a concenus here on number of strands of B50 for a 55lb longbow? First 55 pounder I've made and not sure of string count.
Any suggestions for best performance from an R/D???
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I use 14 strands of B-50 for bows over 50# and 12 strands for anything under. I haven't make bows over 60# or so
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I use 14 strands of B-50 for bows over 50# and 12 strands for anything under. I haven't make bows over 60# or so
I was planing on 3 ply so if I did 3 plys of 5 ea. I'd be good to go then...
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You'll be fine with that. Others may suggest fewer strands but I would rather have the extra insurance. I've never had a string break. (bite my tongue) ::)
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I build all of my Bows around 50-55 pounds...and make all of My Strings 14 strand 2 Ply.......JMO
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I use 15 strands whether 2 or 3 ply for 50# and over.God Bless
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Regardless of the overall number of strands, I always use 3 skeins/plies of strands. I find that 2 skeins give an odd shaped string section which needs more twists to make it round, when compared to 3 skeins. If making spiral coloured strings, I use two skeins of the lighter colour, and one of the darker colour. My favourite combo is yellow with black :)
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I always use 14-strand two-plies for about everything. Oddly, I have made many three-ply and two ply strings, and have come to prefer the two-plies myself.
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I always use 14-strand two-plies for about everything. Oddly, I have made many three-ply and two ply strings, and have come to prefer the two-plies myself.
I must Concur........... ;)
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Do you guys like the 2 ply bundles because they are easier to make ? I thought the reasoning behind the 3 ply was that they made a rounder string ? I will have to try a 3 ply and decide myself -just wondering what your thoughts were are both . 8)
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I prefer 3 ply for the reason stated by bobnewboy, I also try and use 3 different colours. My B50's are made with white, brown and green and I think they look good.
Craig.
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i use 2 ply 15 strands i aint got the 3 ply down to my satisfaction yet. black and red looks good.
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Wow, I must be under building my strings. I use 12 strands of B-50 2 ply on everything under 60#. Never had a problem... yet!
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20 - 30lbs. - 8 strands
30 - 35lbs. - 10 strands
35 - 45lbs. - 12 strands
45 - 55lbs. - 14 strands
55 - 80lbs. - 16 strands
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Another thing I've started doing is following a suggestion by Marc St Louis in an old copy of PA (I bought the whole back catalogue! ;D)
He suggested that when making a single-ended string (i.e one with only one laid-in loop), that the 'open' end could be plaited. I have done this a few times now, when I'm unsure of the correct string length (we all have that moment...), plaiting-in the last 4-6 inches of the string. This makes for a flat piece of bowstring at the other bow nock, and for me this seems to slip less when tied into a bowyer's knot/hitch than the round section of the rest of the string, even when waxed. An example of this can be seen in my build-along:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,14045.30.html
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The reason many of us overbuild strings isn't because of strength, it's comfort. A ten-strand B50 string is plenty strong enough for most bows, but I don't like the small diameter-it's rough on the fingers, seems to stretch more, and if you're using a timber hitch on one end, they want to slip. The fourteen-strand also fits my arrow nocks perfectly after serving.