String length

[Shondy55]

Hey guys
I'm currently working on a hackberry static recurve bow it's 60"ntn how long should I make/order the string? Thanks

[BOWMAN53]

Rule of thumb is three inches shorter than the bow ntn

[Raptard]

well with the bow that i am making (and posting on this site) i was told that for mine it should have a 6" brace height, it depends on how much you recurve it i guess

[osage outlaw]

I keep shortening my tillering string until I get the desired brace height.  Once I get to that point I measure it from loop to loop and make a string for it.

[SLIMBOB]

I just put a bowyers knot in one end.  Adjustable.

[adb]

Rule of thumb is three inches shorter than the bow ntn

I've always found 3" too short especially with FF. If they're 2" shorter, you can at least twist it up shorter.

[Gordon]

2" shorter with FF strings.

[Thesquirrelslinger]

I think some string-making materials would stretch enough(maybe sinew? or maybe silk?) to have an effect on the length. Anyone ever had that issue?

[mwosborn]

I keep shortening my tillering string until I get the desired brace height.  Once I get to that point I measure it from loop to loop and make a string for it.

That's what I do.

[JackCrafty]

2" shorter is a good rule of thumb but I have to remind myself to be extra careful when I measure...  so I just remember 2-3/4".  I always mess up a string if I don't take extra time to measure it perfectly.

[Josh B]

I keep shortening my tillering string until I get the desired brace height.  Once I get to that point I measure it from loop to loop and make a string for it.

That's what I do.

Yep,  same here.  Josh

[dwardo]

I find about three or four fingers.from nock to string. Every bow is different but its where i start with the bowyers knot.

[JackCrafty]

I made a 50# bow yesterday, with a hemp string instead of B-50, and used the 2-3/4" measurement.  The string was way too short.

So I made a new string and measured it.  The hemp string is 1-1/4" shorter than the nock-to-nock measurement.  I use hemp for lower poundage bows and the kids' bows but decided to try it for a hunting style bow.

Hardly any stretch in the hemp.  I like it. 

[turtle]

I keep shortening my tillering string until I get the desired brace height.  Once I get to that point I measure it from loop to loop and make a string for it.

Thats the way I do it but lately i have been noticing that it almost always ends up being 2 inches shorter than nock to nock measurement. But thats for straight bows not recurves. Curves might be different.