Serving Bowstrings

[jaxenro]

Do you use any type of glue or shellac or anything to hold the serving on the string?

[bjrogg]

I don't not sure about anyone else
Bjrogg

[leonwood]

I just wax it along with the string and have never had any trouble

[loon]

no special treatment. just gotta make it tight and leave no spaces. (halo serving, FF string)

from this thread, seems like some natural strings were made saturated with hide glue. a  glued/bonded serving also makes sense w/ sinew bowstrings I guess

Code: [Select]

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/48330/hemp-bowstring?page=2

[jaxenro]

I am using a natural linen cotton material

[High-Desert]

I used to put a dab of super glue on the start and end of the serving. But if you serve the string while on the bow while strung, it makes everything much more tight and you shouldn't have any issues with the serving getting loose.

[avcase]

I try to avoid any super glue.  It creates a weak spot if it goes into the main string even a little bit.  You know what I mean if you ever spilled a stop of super glue on a pair of jeans and noticed the area around the edges of the glue spot breaks away, leaving a hole. The same will happen to the string, especially a natural material string.  The tension of the serving wrapped around the string should be more than sufficient to hold it in place.

Is the string linen or cotton?  Linen is far superior for a bowstring.  What are you using for a serving?  Are you using a serving jig or doing it by hand?

Alan

[jaxenro]

Miniature bow so strength is less an issue. Linen cotton mix string button thread serving. But I agree about superglue I was thinking something more like fly tying cement. But I do have another question:

Is there any type of formula for determining string length? Say if a bow is 72 Knock to Knock then a string x long should result in x brace height?

[Eric Krewson]

You whip finish the serving ends like one does when tying a fly, it isn't going anywhere. Serve back over your serving end a dozen times or so and pull it tight under the serving.

Your string should be about 3" shorter than your bow.

[jaxenro]

Perfect thanks

[Del the cat]

Just wax, my only comment is that braided string is much better IMO as it doesn't twist, tangle or fray as easilly.
Del

[Pappy]

I also just use wax and tie it in as Eric explained and have had no problem with it slipping. I have always heard and believe it's true that super glue will weaken the string. It makes it solid and will break when it bends. JMO.
 Pappy

[PEARL DRUMS]

The direction you wrap the serving on matters. If you are a righty you need to wrap clockwise. That way when the string gently rolls as you draw it keeps the serving tight. If you wrap the opposite direction it wants to loosen as you draw.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I use a little dab of clear nail polish on each end. It hasn't caused me any trouble and it's cheap insurance it won't unravel. Nail polish is liquid nylon and flexible when dry so it shouldn't hurt anything.

Kyle

[George Tsoukalas]

No, nothing extra. Wind  it like PD said.
I also poke an end of the serving through the Flemish and wind over about 1/2 inch of it.
I also do the whip finish that Eric talked about.
BTW I wind by hand with no serving tool. I wind it tightly.
Jawge