Alrighty what the scoop on bow strings. Been using the one my bow came with and it finally took a dump on me


And right when I was managing to get semi decent groups at 18yd


Anyhow what's the deal , make your own , buy , half and half ? Favorite material / style ?

Diane, my wife, makes bowstrings. She was an archery marshal for many years and a champion archer for many years, most recently in 2021 and 2022. She uses Dacron B50 from 3 Rivers Archery. She has a continuous loop jig, but prefers Flemish loop strings. Unlike most people, she twists the whole way and uses a bowyer's knot on the end, because she thinks it look prettier.

It takes her under an hour to make a good bowstring.

Keith

This sounds like a good bow string. The only other thing is to check with 3 rivers.

Fast flight has often been said to be bad for trad bows, but it actually matches the stretch of linen better than dacron. The trick is that if the bow is not designed for fast flight, the loops have to have added strands to “pad” them since the issue with FF is not the lack of stretch, but the thin diameter of the string that “cuts” into the bow knocks. I used some linen and loved it, but it does not last like modern fibers, so I went to padded FF and I much prefer the crisp shot feel and the slight increased velocity does not hurt either.
I also made a good many strings of fox squirrel hide. Very stretchy and “soft” shot feel, and sunny weather only for animal fiber strings, but they work fine and are tough when made correctly. Natural fiber strings are whole nuther ball of wax, and are the most difficult part of a fully “primitive” archery kit. Very very few primitive archers actually shoot natural fiber strings.

So looked do to it more and man y'all where right. Whole lotta stuff to learn wned UK getting some bees wax b55 in two colors and a few other odds and end. Think I'll do a Flemish twist and try to do it the way Keith's wife does

Gonna get some b50 and some Other stuff next to try.

If you have any questions on doing the Flemish twist, please post them and I'll ask Diane for you. I think she started making bow strings and arrows back in 1986. She has taught a lot of archers.

Keith

Check out the seller stilldub on the big auction site