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Question about Flemish string twist ratio issue. Go less or more?

HuumanCreed

HuumanCreed

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So I have a concern, not an issue I think but I don't know enough to answer my own question. I try asking this on the Leatherwall but like a lot of topics it derailed. So figured a smaller audience would help better.

My 62" ILF recurve bow has a very forward and high grip. Manufacturer recommend 8.5-9.25 brace height which is understandable. I ordered strings for a 62 recurve but I also got a 64 from the same maker for another recurve bow.

Put the 62" amo string on and the brace height was at 9. So I saw no issue with it and continue setting it up. It shoot great and after 100ish arrows I figured the string should start to settle. But then I realized that the strings are not as twisted as some of my other bows. After a quick comparison most of my other bows have 2-4 twists per inch. This string only does a complete twist every 1.75 inch. Just eyeball common sense wise, it concerns me. For sure I don't want to untwist it anymore but twisting it would get me way too much brace height which from what I understand is inefficient. So I try putting the 64" AMO string on it. Got an initial 7" brace height (so string maker is consistence at least), so I twisted it to get the 8."5 brace height. Most answer I got were as long as it got some twist, its ok. Too much twists is bad. But I think mine is on the more extreme side of untwist.

I'm open to ordering 63" AMO string to get that middle ground, also open to going with shorter then manufacturer's brace height, like 8" too using the 64" string. So what do you guys think? Any suggestions or advices? @JSEXTON23 What do you think?

-Stay with less twist string
-Go with more twist string?
-Order 63" string?
-experiment with shorter then manufacturer's recommended brace height? Is there benefit to going with less brace height? Less=more speed?

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Don’t overthink it.

As long as the less twisted string doesn’t unravel you will be good. How well are the loop areas twisted? I don’t like a string twisted as much as the one on the right but it will also work.

I would truly suggest considering making your own strings or at least learn how to make a Flemish string. It’s a rewarding hobby and comes in handy as a trad bowhunter.

As for brace height, i typically start very low and twist up the string until the bow quietness down and has less vibration. Manufacturer bh gets you close to tune.
 
I mostly agree with Whiteoaks. Brace height should be determined by how well your bow shoots and is quiet. As a rule of thumb the string should just lift from the end of the sting grooves on the limbs when strung.
 
HuumanCreed said:
So I have a concern, not an issue I think but I don't know enough to answer my own question. I try asking this on the Leatherwall but like a lot of topics it derailed. So figured a smaller audience would help better.

My 62" ILF recurve bow has a very forward and high grip. Manufacturer recommend 8.5-9.25 brace height which is understandable. I ordered strings for a 62 recurve but I also got a 64 from the same maker for another recurve bow.

Put the 62" amo string on and the brace height was at 9. So I saw no issue with it and continue setting it up. It shoot great and after 100ish arrows I figured the string should start to settle. But then I realized that the strings are not as twisted as some of my other bows. After a quick comparison most of my other bows have 2-4 twists per inch. This string only does a complete twist every 1.75 inch. Just eyeball common sense wise, it concerns me. For sure I don't want to untwist it anymore but twisting it would get me way too much brace height which from what I understand is inefficient. So I try putting the 64" AMO string on it. Got an initial 7" brace height (so string maker is consistence at least), so I twisted it to get the 8."5 brace height. Most answer I got were as long as it got some twist, its ok. Too much twists is bad. But I think mine is on the more extreme side of untwist.

I'm open to ordering 63" AMO string to get that middle ground, also open to going with shorter then manufacturer's brace height, like 8" too using the 64" string. So what do you guys think? Any suggestions or advices? @JSEXTON23 What do you think?

-Stay with less twist string
-Go with more twist string?
-Order 63" string?
-experiment with shorter then manufacturer's recommended brace height? Is there benefit to going with less brace height? Less=more speed?

View attachment 83281
Click to expand...

I’ll answer very direct. Put the 62” AMO string on the bow. Here is why:

As long as the string has at least 10 full twists, it will not come unraveled. Another reason to prefer the string with less twists is that it will be lighter and faster. By how much might be insignificant, but it’s physics. A string that was built too long and needs a bunch of twists to get the brace height up is simply using more string material in the first place. More string material equals more weight, more weight equals less speed. A string that needs minimal twists to get to brace height is using less string material overall. Again, maybe insignificant to the grand scheme, but that’s reality.

I aim to build my strings where they will be pretty close to ideal length with around 20-30 twists. This gets me a string in the middle of a nice range. Plenty of twists to take a few out and plenty of room to add twists if needed.
 
I've made a few Flemish twists and am very much a novice with them. One thing I read someplace in my research - I can't recall where - is that too many twists will result in a string that will stretch too much. As long as there are enough to prevent unraveling - @JSEXTON23 says 10 and I won't contradict him - the fewer twists, the better. If the string is just a touch too long, you can add a few dozen twists to shorten it, but there quickly comes a point where you're better off disassembling one end and re-twisting the nock. Several videos on YouTube on how to make these things; there is a learning curve and some technique involved, but it's well within the capabilities of anyone clever enough to search for and view a video on the interwubz.
 
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