Reinforced tips

[joegraham]

I've read that in order to use low stretch strings on any bow I make I've got to reinforce the tips.  What exactly does that mean?

[Roy from Pa]

Especially for an all wood bow, the tips need to be stronger.

So we add an overlay the last 1.5 inches or so of horn, antler, glass, etc.

But even glass bows have the ends of the limbs built up.

Look at the bows in here or on powwow and take notice of the tips.

[KenH]

If you don't reinforce the tips, you run the risk of the string actually cutting into the wood of the tips and weakening them significantly.  If that happens you may have to shorten the bow and reinforce the new tips!

[Flem]

Everything said so far is true. But that's assuming because you are using FF material, the string will be skinny. If you build up the loops, or make a fat string, you might not need to reinforce the tips.
I shoot unreinforced tipped bows, with 24-28 strand 452X without issue. Granted these are ASL's which are thicker at the tips than the speedster Bows most here are making and they don't slam home as hard either.

[joegraham]

I'm building limbs with a bocote core and fiberglass. On the back of the tips I use a three layer sandwich of ebony and bocote. On the belly of the tip I use a layer of ebony for the string groove.  My concern is that in all of those layers the grain is running in the same direction.  Should I be running some of the grain across, or using some material that is reinforced in both directions?

[Roy from Pa]

You will be fine.

[Wolftrail]

Weak strings - good strings........yada, yada,yada never the less its nice to have good strong tips protecting them when hitting the ground,  bumping stuff etc.

[Crooked Stic]

Also another important thing is the shape of the string groove nice smooth rounded transition to the belly. if you was to cut the tip off right thru the string groove it should be tear drop shaped to the belly.

[Wolftrail]

I had a brand new PSE recurve and the string broke on release because the string groove had a sharp edge cutting into the string.  Luckily the bow was not damaged.

[joegraham]

Flem, you recommended building up the loops.  Would you ever serve the loops?

[Flem]

I would add extra strands to the loops, rather than serving them. Thats for a flemish twist. I believe the folks that make endless loop strings add serving out of necessity.

[Crooked Stic]

Back in the day when I shot the other kind of bow PSE stood for Parts Scattered Everywhere. 

[alaninoz]

Pull Shoot Explode.

[Pat B]

I have a few selfbows that were given to me with FF type strings and they don't have tip overlays. I think FF strings affect all wood bows less that FG bows but that is only my take on it.

[Wolftrail]

Back in the day when I shot the other kind of bow PSE stood for Parts Scattered Everywhere. 

How long ago was that,  about 40 years.  Had 2 PSE bows never had them break.   Just about everything that is mass produced has problems,  just ask GM, Toyota,  Ford etc...etc..  Although not saying that PSE bows are the best bang for your buck.

[Mad Max]

I have a few selfbows that were given to me with FF type strings and they don't have tip overlays. I think FF strings affect all wood bows less that FG bows but that is only my take on it.

I see those guy's twisting short pieces of B-50 in the loops of FF strings at the classic while you are over there at THAT table.
Inside joke

[Pat B]

Here are a few pics of an osage selfbow that Dano(Dan Grens) sent me a few years ago with FF type string(note no packing) and no tip overlays.

[alaninoz]

I like the string keeper - if that's what it is. I've never seen one like that before.

[Pat B]

Yep, it's a string keeper.