Making flemish twist strings

[jpcarlson]

#5273

I need to make a new string for the old 68 Bear Kodiak I got for fathers day this year and wanted to try my hand at a Flemish twist string. I was going to purchase two spools of B50 Dacron in different colors. What length should I make it too? I know there is stretch I need to account for. Can I take the old string that braces to the right measurement and use it as a guide?

Thanks for any advice,

Jans

[Stephen Graf]

#39408

Aside from the string, you will need a string jig.

There are tutorials on the internet explaining how to make a string jig. From those tutorials, you will learn how to size the string.

Or… you could save yourself some time and trouble and just order the string jig that 3Rivers sells. It comes with good instructions and will have you making strings in no time.

Making strings is, imho, one of the best ways to save a little money and get a better match to what you need than buying strings. After you’ve made 3 or 4 strings, you’ve paid for your supplies.

Don’t forget to buy serving. If you are going with B50, then I would suggest nylon serving. It comes in a variety of colors and lasts about as long as the B50.

[Cameron Unruh]

#39696

I agree with Steve…I purchased my string jig from Three Rivers and have been making my own strings for 3 years now. It took me a while to get the process down so as to be consitent with string loop size and overall length. But now i can twist up a string in 30 to 40 min. T.J.’s book The Traditional Bowhunter’s Handbook is also a great resource and teaches how to make a string jig and how to twist up a string…Enjoy

[Arne Moe]

#40111

A little different opinion here. I used a string jig for about a year before I learned that it is much easier to just find a way to build your bundles 20″ longer than the finished string length required. I now just use a couple clamps that I can set at the required length to build the bundles. I have even used a couple chairs in a hotel room set so I could measure the length I wanted and built the bundles.

Don’t misunderstand, jigs work but are not required. I DO agree that you will need to practice building strings and learn what YOUR process needs to be to get a string that works and this WILL take some practice. I also agree that once you have learned to build a string it will only take a few minutes to produce one — BUT it WILL take a few tries.

As I build a string, I have the bow right there so I can “fit” the loops to the lower nocking point and then fit the upper loop so it just fits the upper limb at about the correct place( so it can slide down the upper limb).

If you are new to this, check out the video (DVD) “Doin’ the Twist.”

Arne

[jpcarlson]

#40170

Thanks for the advice guys. I want to learn to make them without a jig. Just one more thing I don’t want to have to invest in or build. Free time in my life is short. I really like the video Clay Hayes did on making a Flemish string without any jig and will try his method I think. Thanks again for the tips

Jans

[Clay Hayes]

#43728

[jpcarlson]

#48410

Clay, thanks for sharing your video. What a great and straight forward method to making a Flemish twist bow string! A few questions; With B50 string material, how many strands does a guy need to use? I know it is based on poundage but have heard you can use fewer strands than recommended due to how strong it is. I have heard this helps with a little extra speed.

When tapering the ends in, how much difference in length do you cut them off at to get them staggered nicely?

What type of string do you use to serve your string? Is this based on a thickness which corresponds to a knock size?

When measuring how long to make the string, do you make it 4″ shorter than total bow length? How much does a string made out of B50 stretch and how much do you account for that?

Thanks,

Jans

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