loop reinforcement

[tanner]

Hey guys - I've been making my own strings for awhile and I'm starting to notice that I'm getting early wear/failure on the upper loop (the one I slip of of the shoulder to loosen the string before storage). I'm curious what you all do (if anything) to reinforce your loops. It had also crossed my mind that maybe I'm getting the upper loop too tight and that by making it a little bigger it might come off/slide a little easier with more room? I don't see/feel any sharp edges or burs on the shoulder. I think it's just the repetition of stringing/unstringing that's getting it. My setup details:

12 strands of B50
flemmish twist bowstring - Clay Hayes's method from youtube
55lb fiberglass recurve (I know - I didn't make this one)

Thanks in advance!

[Blaflair2]

I believe 12 strands is a little light. I usually use 14-16 strands.

[huisme]

B50?

Well there's your problem

I usually do sixteen strands of D97 just for volume, the material is strong enough to make ridiculously small strings.

[Del the cat]

I make continuous loop strings which have served loops.
I expect a served loop would be better. ...dunno if it is feasible with a Flemish twist. Well, I s'pose it's feasible but rather tricky.
Del

[Pat B]

Be sure all the corners and edges of the bow, tips especially, are rounded well and smooth.

[tanner]

Thanks guys!

[JW_Halverson]

I have had no problem with a B50 string on my main bow for 12 years.  The edges are rounded nicely and sanded to a fair-the-well. As for building them up, yeah I suppose you could do that, too.  Adding extra weight at the string or worse yet at the tips is the last thing I would opt for.  Lotta ways to skin that cat, and most of the different choices are not going to make drastic problems.  the difference in arrow cast from a 12 strand B50 versus a 10 strand is not going to make or break a 20 yd shot on a deer.

[thomcout_96]

You could use what's called a turkish loop. Go look this out on this site
http://heartwoodbowsonline.com/wordpress/?p=489

[Drewster]

Tanner, 12 strands of B50 is a bit light for a 55# bow, but still you shouldn't be getting that kind of loop wear.  I would increase my strand count to at least 14 and recheck all the edges on your sting nock.  Yeah, a bit larger loop might help a bit too.  Hope you figure out the problem.

[JW_Halverson]

I have been using 10 strand on 55# with no problem.  Each strand is about 50# breaking strength and you want 4X the draw weight in tensile strength.  10 strand would be 500 lbs tensile strength. 

[son of massey]

I have built up Flemish loops by just adding a smallish lengths (6" or a bit more) to the end I start the twisting at.  Effectively, if you want a 10 strand string you would still make it but you may make it 14 strand (or whatever) just at the loop and for a small section afterwards. I find it quicker and simpler than reinforcing a Flemish loop after it is made, and the extra strands get woven into the string pretty cleanly.

SOM

[PatM]

Adding material or changing the type of material doesn't eliminate the problem of wear. Are you sliding the loop down the limb? The problem is probably just the size of the loop relative to the outer limb width and possible roughness of the limb edges, not the actual nock area.

[_Jon_]

I make 10-12 strand D97 strings.  I make a lot of them.  Roughly 150-200 a year.  I pad the loops to make them 16 strand at the loops.  Pappy and other friends of mine are still shooting strings I made several years ago.  That seems to work for me.