preferred serving

hova · January 27, 2011, 09:14:00 AM

I got my b50 from the nocking point yesterday , they shipped it before they even billed me . a+ customer service as well.

i was reading some flemish tutorials to see if i missed anything , and a couple of them call for "monofilament" serving. now is this actually just monofilament fishing line , or are they calling it mono , when its really continuous filament nylon?

im asking i guess , what you all serve with. i dont like the look of the denim looking stuff (dyneema i think) . and halo is just too expensive. the nylon serving is availablle all over for about 4-5$ .

just wondered if theres any other alternatives , and if people actually use monofilament fishing line to serve with...

i was just planning on using the b50 to serve my first couple , till i can get to the store and pick up something a little better.

i use self nocks btw , not glue ons.

thanks guys
-hov

JamesV · January 27, 2011, 09:56:00 AM

Hov.........

I use Fastflight serving now but I have used a lot of mono in the past. When Mono gets old it tends to break at the nock point (brass). I have used fishing line and I couldn't tell any difference. I read where some of the guys are using the Hi-tec fishing line.

James....................

Pat B · January 27, 2011, 10:08:00 AM

I like the camo nylon serving or similar in solid colors. I don't know what size it is. I like the camo because it blends in with the natural colored bow string, not necessarily for a camo effect but an unobvious one.
With self nocks you can adjust your nock to fit the serving. I like arrow nocks loose fitting anyway.

KellyG · January 27, 2011, 11:03:00 AM

Hmmm I bet that roll of spider wire would work it was to tuff for fishing you get hung up and like to never get the stuff to snap.

Dick in Seattle · January 27, 2011, 11:11:00 AM

"Preferred serving?"...

My preferred serving is large... unless it's Brussel Sprouts...

Seriously, I just use the regular Brownell twisted nylon serving material... comes in colors, makes my strings end up just the right size for my arrow nocks and isn't expensive. I would not use mono... I have experience with mono thread from my quilting and it just flat ain't nice to use. Plus, it gets stiff and turns yellow.

hova · January 27, 2011, 02:21:00 PM

i wasnt sure if they were using fishing line , but i guess its no different than monofilament thread. i do have some gsp for fly tying , but i was unhappy with it.

spider wire is rediculous. i quit spinner and bait fishing to use flies cause where i fish is rocks and roots , and i lost so many spinners. the one time i tried snapping my line , i ended up pullin the reel seat apart.

james , i just meant that i use self nocks , so the thickness isnt really an issue , but wear is. i used artificial sinew for my first couple bow strings , and they have A. sinew for serving and it has held up well , so i might just use that till i get to ripoff mountain to pay 8.99 for some serving...

thanks guys

canopyboy · January 27, 2011, 02:25:00 PM

I use the brownell twisted serving. But I'd really like a braided serving I think. I have some heavy spiderwire, I might try that and see what happens.

PEARL DRUMS · January 27, 2011, 02:30:00 PM

No mono for me, I use the same as the guys above do. Mono is hard, and IMHO unravels and breaks much too easily. Mono is what comes on most endless strings you buy for 5$.

Pat B · January 27, 2011, 02:35:00 PM

The only thing the serving does is protect the string. Almost any string or thread will do this. You just have to replace them when they wear out.

SEMO_HUNTER · January 27, 2011, 02:38:00 PM

Get some braided serving and you won't have to worry about slippage or damaging it anytime soon. That's what I use in .30 I believe? I'd have to look at the spool again to be sure, but that serving over 12 strands of B50 and I get a nice crisp nock snap with no nock wobble. I like it.

hova · January 27, 2011, 03:47:00 PM

12 strand sounds a like a lot of string. my a. sinew strings are only 8 strand...

hmmmm....time for some research...

i think i am just going to pick up some black nylon serving. i figure it like fly fishing leaders. if i have to make a new string every season , i will know its not going to break on me from wear/use/carelessness (yes i still do careless things...)

-hov

i was just joking about the price...shoulda ordered some from nocking point @ 4$

Ripoff Mountain Serving Thread

-hov

bigcountry · January 27, 2011, 05:11:00 PM

I like halo serving. Slick and tough

Roy from Pa · January 27, 2011, 05:56:00 PM

I use the Brownell also. Used the mono years ago though.

monterey · January 27, 2011, 07:07:00 PM

hova, you might consider that the nylon will have a stretch factor. Not sure how that would effect it's use for serving.

I have used made for the purpose mono serving and momo fishing line too. Did not like either and see no redeeming qualities in mono for serving.

Have had several spools of other serving in the box and both were satisfactory. Labels were long ago worn off and don't know what they were. Both ran out a few months ago and since there were still two strings needed I loaded up a server with B50. Excellent results!

Looked at some serving material the other day at Sportsman's Warehouse at anywhere from $10 to $45. Unless I want something special for color, I'm staying with the B50!!!!!11

hova · January 27, 2011, 07:16:00 PM

i think between the b50 i have , andthe artificial sinew , unless im really looking for a specific color for something , im just going to use what i have handy.

i just didnt know if b50 was super slippery or anything that would require specifically serving instead of anything else...

-hov

don s · January 28, 2011, 06:26:00 PM

i use brownell monofiliment .018 dia. i've never had a problem with my servings unravelling.
don

Mike Most · January 31, 2011, 09:04:00 PM

I serve my 14 and 16 strand strings with .22 brownell braided. Wears like iron. Nice fit on the index nocks.

hova · February 01, 2011, 11:30:00 AM

donS , i might have to find my fly box ... i have some 3x tippet (iirc .018 dia) , and the b50 raised fuzzy's. i dont have bow string wax , so that might be why it fuzzed up , and it didnt really stay round , it kind of flattened out.

gonna work on a flemish b50 for my long bow today. once the baby goes to sleep , its out to the lair to start removing osage bark...

Col HJ · February 01, 2011, 11:40:00 AM

The only real use for mono serving was to stand up to a release aid used on a wheel bow, it is a substantially harder material than mono fishing line and really of no use on a trad bow. Like others have said use braided serving from 3Rivers or if live near an Academy they sell a cheap braided serving that will suit you fine...keep it waxed.