Flemish strings

[ed]

Just made my first string after busting the one on the woomera 100#@32. Two color green and black and looks ok though maybe not as good a string as some of the old hands can make.

Question is, of you guys that make flemish strings, how many of you make double loop strings versus single looped and tied the other end? Double looped does seem to be a pain in the butt, and with a tied end you can adjust for different bow lengths easier. I notice in the Traditional Bowyers Bible II the writer can't see the point of double looped strings.

I also served the loops which isn't too hard. Just wanted them to stand up to the beast.

[Kimall]

I allways make mine double loop as I just do the 2nd loop the same as the first so I cant see how it is a pain in the but.I like the way the brace hight stays the same with them if you use a string keeper.It keeps it all simple.
Cheers KIM

[ed]

well from the method I read, you are meant to untwist the bundles prior to doing the second loop and then it is a bit of a guess as to how many times to untwist it in comparison to how many times it will twist up when doing the loop.

With an open ended string you just twist up the whole string so no guessing.

Pardon my ignorance but I don't follow the string keeper and brace height bit...

[Kimall]

OK Ed I will give it a shot but I have a few drinks on board so who knows......
When you have a loop on both ends and you take the string off one end of the bow when you unstring it you can use a string keeper which is a little hood you put on the end of the bow you took the string off and it has a string on it that you tye the string to the bow with so it does not untwist so when you put the string back on next time it will still be the right brace height.When you tye a new knot each time how do you know what lenght to tye the knot at?????.I dont like the habit of sliding the string down the limb when unstringing as it as it stretches the loops out of shape.
I dont untwist strings or count anything and my strings end up as good as any other I have seen so I am not sure what people are talking about when they speak of this.It sounds like you are making it harder than it needs to be.If this still does not make sence I can take a pic or two to help you.
Cheers KIM

[ed]

thanks Kim, now I am with ya. I do slide the loop down the bow limb and so only use a bit of leather to hold the string up - so it doesn't sag and snag on things.

I got the bit about untwisting the strings from Joe Vardon of Bag End Bows. He does have quite a good reputation in Adelaide, but if it works just as well without then why bother. I think his design ends up with straight strands between the end-loops until you twist it up to get the brace height you want.

From what I can gather the people that tie their strings then leave that end attached and unstring their bows at the looped end only. brace height then stays the same.

[Kimall]

No probs ed if you have any dramas let me know and I will make you a string and you can see how you go.........
Cheers KIM :wink:

[ed]

cheers Kim. I went and read your thread on Ozbow and saw your strings - look real nice. Without serving on the loops I can see why you don't want to slip the loops down the bow arm.

The string I made seems ok, and I will make another for yet another bow. Not overly hard to make and wonder why people go to such extreme efforts to make a jig/board. Joe Vardon's pamphlet is just two pegs at half the string length apart.

Will continue with two loops as I want to serve the loops aswell and damn hard to tie a served section of string.