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Author Topic: Bow String Material  (Read 7912 times)

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Offline CORIUS

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Bow String Material
« on: May 13, 2013, 09:23:57 pm »
Im just wondering what other bow string material there is out there besides dacron and sinew. Any ideas?0
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Offline bow101

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2013, 09:45:41 pm »
There is natural cordage as well just do a search. I'm using paracord seems to work, just to lazy  >:D to twist dacron is all   ;D  And it's silly because a spool of dacron cost less than the stuff I'm using....... :-[
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Offline CORIUS

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2013, 09:56:14 pm »
Paracord is very stretchy isnt it?
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Offline bow101

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2013, 10:00:36 pm »
Quote from: CORIUS on May 13, 2013, 09:56:14 pm
Paracord is very stretchy isnt it?

Ummmmm not 100% sure if its paracord, I buy it in a Canadian hardware store. It does stretch, initially but only so much.
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Offline bushboy

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2013, 10:05:09 pm »
Linen(flax),hemp,ramie,nettles.
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Offline bow101

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2013, 10:09:29 pm »
It has a Tensile strength of 400 lbs.  1/8 inch Nylon Braid Rope


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Offline Weylin

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2013, 10:11:36 pm »
I use fastflight. Dont cut corners in the string department.
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Offline Joec123able

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2013, 12:57:21 am »
Anything that will withstand the power of the bow nylon, cotton, linen , dog bane, yucca strings all can work
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2013, 12:59:28 am »
Quote from: Weylin on May 13, 2013, 10:11:36 pm
I use fastflight. Dont cut corners in the string department.

I agree with Weylin.  If I'm going through all the trouble and hard work of turning a tree into a fine bow, I'm putting a proper string on it. 
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Offline BOWMAN53

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2013, 02:40:28 am »
I heard dyna flight string is even better than fast flight.  They have it on 3rivers
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Offline CORIUS

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2013, 07:28:41 am »
How do you think hemp twine would work?
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Offline Olanigw (Pekane)

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2013, 08:51:09 am »
Quote from: CORIUS on May 14, 2013, 07:28:41 am
How do you think hemp twine would work?
If it's the hemp twine you find in most craft stores, poorly.
It's inconsistant and has weak spots.  It's not made to take a lot of weight.
Most of the "hemp" is actually jute, and the little real hemp twine I've seen has similar quality control issues, such as little woody bits and thin spots.

If you can get twine that is well made, it would work just fine.  True hemp is a pretty impressive fiber.
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Offline CORIUS

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #12 on: May 14, 2013, 10:56:04 am »
Its jute twine. Good thing you said that or i wouldve had it blow up on me
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Offline JeremiahVires

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2013, 11:19:18 am »
Either dacron, or Nettles.

To harvest nettle string, boil it, then just break the inner stalk and peel off the fiber.  Pull the fiber apart to make it thin, twist it, then make yourself a bowstring.
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Offline lostarrow

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Re: Bow String Material
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2013, 12:07:20 pm »
Start with the Dacron if money is the issue.You'll likely spend more money buying cheap alternatives that don't work than you would on a 1/4# spool.  Get practiced up on making them and switch to FF .If you want to go ABO ,you will at least know what kind of consistent results to strive for with your cordage. There is a lot of work that goes into a natural cordage string.You wouldn't want to put days of work into something that failed because you didn't have the basics of bowstring making down.JMHO. Look for sale stuff at the archery store you deal with. It's one of those items that can usually be had for a bargain.
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