I'm making some self backed longbows for a couple of guys who don't know much about trad archery. I usually make flemish strings with just one loop for myself, but for these guys I'm going to make endless loop strings, not flemish type. What I need to know is, for a 68" nock to nock bow, about how long should an endless loop string be?
I would guess 63 to 64. Why not make flemish strings 63 to 64, then if need be, you could undo one end and shorten or lengthen the string. With endless loop strings, you could not undo the string.
I would assume you'll be using one of your one-loop strings for building and tillering the bows. If this is the case, just measure the end-to-end length of that string when the bow is finished and strung at the proper brace height. Then use that measurement to make your endless loop strings.
Guy
Troy, what Grey says. Use your tillering string at proper, finished brace, for a measurement!
Now as for length, for a 68" longbow,
should be about 65" long, but can vary some. But should be a good start for most straight longbows.
This has confused me a few times also. I set my home-made jig up for the length I want, but the endless loop usually ends up too long. I've started making single loop flemish twist strings. Less of a headache. I like the loose end of the string until it tangles in twigs or briars. :bigsmyl:
I added another peg to my jig. I tie one loop and run the string down to the end, around my "string length" peg, back down and up to the new peg. I placed the new peg so my loops are right at the length indicated by the "string length peg". Works pretty well so far. Although this doesn't account for string stretch, so I may need to move the loop peg down and 1/8 inch.
Please pardon the crude pic, but hopefully it gets the idea across
(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa343/Philip_Mazza/Archery/loopjig.jpg)