Author Topic: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?  (Read 1792 times)

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Offline toomanyknots

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Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« on: October 07, 2011, 02:46:42 pm »
I have some irish linen that is 70# breaking strength a strand, was wondering if I should push it and only use 4 strands for a string? I don't remember what the rule is about strings, I guess I've been overbuidling/winging it for a little too long on strings...  :laugh:... Off topic, it's pretty nice stuff. Very little stretch if any after the string is broken in.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2011, 02:48:43 pm »
Thats the basic rule I believe. I use 10-12 strand D10 strings and thats obviously well over 4x any bows draw weight.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2011, 04:09:04 pm »
Nope, don't do it IMO unless you still have 4 strands on the loops.
I though 5x was a reasonable minimum, and if you need an even number of strands e.g for a continuous loop go up to 6.
Continuous loop has half the number of strands at the loop.
What sort of string are you making?
Del
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Offline toomanyknots

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Re: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2011, 07:40:29 pm »
I guess that would be a flemish twist with two loops. To be honest I have never know the difference between a flemish twist and a continuous loop string?

"I thought 5x was a reasonable minimum"

I think that rings a bell,  ;D

"Continuous loop has half the number of strands at the loop."

Thats weird. The loops I make have twice the number of strands.
"The way of heaven is like the bending of a bow-
 the upper part is pressed down,
 the lower part is raised up,
 the part that has too much is reduced,
 the part that has too little is increased."

- Tao Te Ching, 77, A new translation by Victor H. Mair

Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2011, 08:02:02 pm »
A picture is worth a thousand worms  ::)

This is what I mean by a continuous loop string, "tricky chaps words, never got the hang of 'em"  ;)
Del
Health warning, these posts may contain traces of nut.

Offline Justin Snyder

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Re: Is 4 x the draw weight good enough for a bow string?
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2011, 08:45:38 pm »
I guess that would be a flemish twist with two loops. To be honest I have never know the difference between a flemish twist and a continuous loop string?

"I thought 5x was a reasonable minimum"

I think that rings a bell,  ;D

"Continuous loop has half the number of strands at the loop."

Thats weird. The loops I make have twice the number of strands.
Id be interested in seeing how you make your string. The way I know has the same amount of strings on the loop of a flemish and half the strings on the loop of a continuous loop string.
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