I have been using Dynaflight 97 for strings on my longbows and recurves. I have plenty of dacron and B55 but I'm not a big fan of either, due to the stretch. It is manageable, if I stretch my strings for a couple of days, but they still stretch some. I am about out of Dynaflight 97 so is there a better material out there. I usually do flemish string, even though I have a terible time, making them the right length. I have found the Dynaflight 97 a little loud, even when making 10 strand string, on high peformance bows. Thanks, Don
Don, D97 is a good material. Yes, there are other good ones.
I like the Astro Flight, by Brownell! 450p by BCY is another good one.
Have you thought about using a dampener of B-55 with the D-97 to help reduce the noise in your strings Don? I use a 50/50 mix of FF and B-50 or B-55 in my strings with excellent results......Art
Art, I have padded the loops with B-50. Are you using, say 6 strands of each, to make a 12 strand string? Don
I'm fairly new at all of this, but, being a bullet caster, I have a lot of lead around. When I make a new string I attach it to a hook and hang a bucket of ingots on it for a while. Seems to take care of the stretch. Oh, I use B-55.
I'm using a 50/50 mix of 8 strands of FF for one bundle and 5 strands of Dacron (cut 2" shorter because of stretch) for the other bundle Don. I still get a low stretch flemish twist string without the noise.
You can add several strands of Dacron (cut 2" shorter because of stretch) to each bundle of the D-97 for a dampening effect if you want to go that route.
I've made 3 bundle strings with 2 bundles of FF and one bundle of Dacron which works very well also.
Experiment a little bit Don, you may be surprised at what you'll come with......Art
Art I posted the same thing about 4 years ago and nearly was run out of town. FF and Dacron combined make a great string. After the initial settling in I got no stretch.
D10 has about zero stretch and its dang close to D97 diameter. I love the stuff.
I here you Onehair. And you're right, the combo does makes a great string. And I get the same reaction when I bring this up also. Ain't got a horse, so I don't reckon they can run me but so far :D ........Art
Riddle me this Artsy. If the FF wont stretch then how in the world will the Dacron be able to stretch at all if its bundled with the FF? And, whats the advantage to mixing the two types? I use all 12 strand FF and add 4 strands of dacron to my loops for cushion.
Splain it to em Arty Boy:)
Any type string material will stretch to some degree Pearly. Even this FF material. But the more strands you add the less it stretches. Or more cable like it becomes.
In a perfect world, you would want a string material that would stretch just a tad to prevent that common whack or twang but still deliever the added performance of a non-stretch string. Nothing available that I know of.
Ask yourself this, why do some guys prefer a skinny string. Could it be that it's lighter or faster, or perhaps it helps quiet their bows also? If it helps quiet their bows, then why? Less strands equal more string stretch.
Matter of fact, that's the trick to making a quieter string that'll work for 'bout any bow. Gotta ask youself this Pearly, if 5-6 strands is sufficient for the type string material that you're using, then why are you using 12 (what's it like, 120 lb test? Probably more comfy on the fingers I expect.
So the added Dacron does several things to help make a bow quiet. It's a dampener for one thing, or kind of a shock absorber. Provides for a larger diameter string but still allows the FF strands some give.
Just my way of thinking guys, so now don't all you kind folks run out and buy me that horse. :eek: Art
Sounds good to me Art. I was just curious. I love my FF strings with B50 pads. Next time around I will mix in a few full dacron strands and see what happens, if it gets better than it is now I to will be making blended strings and we may need a wagon behind that horse to haul me!
When you get the chance Pearly, try that 50/50 string. I like that better than adding the Dacron to each FF bundle. Be sure to cut the Dacron bundle 2" shorter to allow for it stretching out after you get the second loop finished. When you have that done, take a large dowel or screwdriver and place through the loop and stretch and twist until you have it half way twisted up. Then reverse loops and proceed to stretch and twist your string up.
Give us a holler back and report your results.
Oh, still waiting on your results Roy. How long does it take you to make strings anyhow? Geez! Art
Sounds good Art. I will make one tonight. parson48, I put about 200 lbs on a dacron string with my stretcher and I have stretched one about 4". I belive I could get 6" but it would destroy the string. I have put enough pressure to pull the loops apart on a Dynaflight97 string but it only stretched about 1". I had to have at least 400 lbs. on it. It was bowing my unistrut about 2". Dacron and B-55 are good strings if you don't mind twisting them up every few days. This is just my opinion and experiance but you may get better results than I do. Don
Don, make the string up so that it has plenty of twist so that the two different materials mesh well together.
I never really had what you call a lot of stretch problems using the Dacron strings. Never had a need to pre-stretch one with weights either. I turn the bows over my knee each time I strung them up and pressed down on the tips taking the initial stretch out. Only noticed an 1/8" drop from there.
My strings are made up clockwise. The material's individual strands are also slightly twisted clockwise. But 95% or more of the strings I see are made up counter-clockwise. Opposite of what the strands are twisted. I got a sneaky suspicion that's why some have more stretch problems with Dacron strings than others.
Art, I don't have issues with dacron stretching.
Also, you sell Ice to Eskimos, too? :D
I feel you are an intelligent man, I wouldn't run anyone out of town. But why cut the dacron 2" short? Do ya flemish twist both loops? Or one with a Bowyers/timber hitch?
If you twist it up, so the 2 will mesh, the High Performance material will carry the load! What's the reasoning, please?
Most of the stretch or creep problems, folks have, is because of too much twist in the "Body" of the string. The load or weight is working against the construction, not necessarily the strength of the material.
How does this process work with an endless string?
I have always had issues with dacron strings stretching. When I shot NFAA BHFS-L, I had string stretching issues and two of the guys I shot with, both state champions, had strands break often. I am talking about compounds with dacron. I am sure it's something I'm doing wrong but it was a fact of life years ago. Don
Don, I hear what your saying. But compounds with dacron, have been, since like, the late 80's.
The newer materials of today, have been blended to soften the shot. I remember the days of Dacron only. And a time when Kevlar was being explored.
To get the two different materials to twist up and round out you need to take the slack out of the Dacron Frank. Yes, this is for a double loop flemish twisted string.
I agree, the FF material will share the bulk of the load, but with the Dacron stretched out, it'll share some too. Plus, I don't think a slack bundle will absorb vibrations as well as a taut one.
I don't build endless strings Frank. But if'n I did..............
Now, how much ice did you say you needed today :saywhat: Art
I liked it Art. Seems to add a little more speed to the arrows and is still nice and quiet.
Another plus for this type of string Roy, is that you can use the same material for all your bows. Or at least that's how it's working out for me......Art
Yup and I don't know what Pearly Boy is worried about, he hain't never made a bow that pulls more than 40 pounds:)
Ain't nothing wrong with 40 pounders Roy. Heck, I'm finally at the the point to where I can brag a little. I can now say my 40 pounders hit just as hard as the 50 pounders I use to make. So what does that tell you? :bigsmyl: Art
Huh, ya got lucky? :)
Naw, just means that my 50#er's shot like 40#er's Roy (laughing)!!!
No Art, don't need any ice! Cool breeze would be nice though! Tired of all this hot air!
I've built many, many strings, over the past 25 plus years, so I do understand "your Theory"!
If it works for ya, that's all that matters.
I have built strings, with 2 disimilar materials, but prefer to put even amounts of both in a bundle. Yes, the dacron probably acts as a dampener, that is the purpose. But now the manufactures have blended material with these properties.
Give one a try. That's what so great about building your own!
:bigsmyl:
LMAO Art:)
Ain't my theory Frank. Just picked up and expanded on what I've heard others talk about.
I agree, we have many choices in low to non-stretch string materials to work with today. Problem is, one type material may quiet one bow but not the next. No problem, we find another one that will, and so on and so on. I like how this mixed string works for all my bows. May not be for everybody, not advocating it really, just stating that it works, and works fine for my needs.....Art
Has anyone used 8125 in a blended string with Dacron or even TS1? I like the 8125 for no stretch and the ts1 strings seemed quieter but had a settling in period before they quit stretching. I like all 8125 but not the price.
Bruce, never used it. Alot of folks have!
First impressions, Are!