VEC99 vs X99 BCY Strings

[VaBruiser]

Looking to buy new strings (Catfish Customs) this year. Can someone tell me the difference between the Bloodline VEC99 and the X99 BCY strings, and help me determine which one I should go with? Shooting a V3 if that matters. Thanks in advance.

 

[Camelcluch]

I would ask Mike he is super good at communicating. I had a set of his vec99 strings on a V3. They were very nice. No worries about trying them out.

 

[Halfstep]

The BCY X99 is an 80% dyneema 20% vectran. The Bloodline VEC99 is tight-lipped about their dyneema/vectran ratio but they claim it is between 70%/30% to a 50%/50% ratio. In theory, the higher vectran ratio of the Bloodline will be more stable but in practice, both BCY and Bloodline are going to be more than stable enough as to negate the difference. I personally use BCY Mercury which is a non-blended 100% dyneema material and it is very stable and has not moved any.

The blended materials of dyneema/vectran are used because the vectran adds better stability in high heat areas. The blending with vectran was more of a necessity of the older dyneema materials like BCY 8125. The older BCY 452X is a blended material of 66% 8125 and 34% vectran. The older BCY 8125 would sometimes move a little in the higher heat areas so they blended it with vectran. So, the blending of dyneema with vectran is still popular but not as necessary with today's better quality of dyneema. The older BCY 8125 is an SK75 dyneema while the newer BCY Mercury is a SK99 dyneema.

The BCY X99 is coated with wax and the Bloodline VEC99 is coated with a special coating. I haven't built with Bloodline yet, so I don't know how well their special coating performs over time.

Either material is going to be more than stable enough, so you won't have any problems with either.

 

[Zero One Actual]

The BCY X99 is an 80% dyneema 20% vectran. The Bloodline VEC99 is tight-lipped about their dyneema/vectran ratio but they claim it is between 70%/30% to a 50%/50% ratio. In theory, the higher vectran ratio of the Bloodline will be more stable but in practice, both BCY and Bloodline are going to be more than stable enough as to negate the difference. I personally use BCY Mercury which is a non-blended 100% dyneema material and it is very stable and has not moved any.

The blended materials of dyneema/vectran are used because the vectran adds better stability in high heat areas. The blending with vectran was more of a necessity of the older dyneema materials like BCY 8125. The older BCY 452X is a blended material of 66% 8125 and 34% vectran. The older BCY 8125 would sometimes move a little in the higher heat areas so they blended it with vectran. So, the blending of dyneema with vectran is still popular but not as necessary with today's better quality of dyneema. The older BCY 8125 is an SK75 dyneema while the newer BCY Mercury is a SK99 dyneema.

The BCY X99 is coated with wax and the Bloodline VEC99 is coated with a special coating. I haven't built with Bloodline yet, so I don't know how well their special coating performs over time.

Either material is going to be more than stable enough, so you won't have any problems with either.

The fact you wrote this dissertation at 4am is possibly more impressive than the information this post contains. Well done.

 

[raisins]

The bloodline strings are slick and require you to use a braided/higher traction serving to tie to the string (your peep mostly).

Those that do this step report no issues (archerytalk). However, I am not interested in bloodline because if you have to use a high traction serving to meet minimum requirements then that means (all else being equal) that any serving used will have better traction on a non-bloodline string.

Some folks on archerytalk quibbled with how I looked at that, but Mike from Catfish chimed in and said I was correct (I can't see how it could be otherwise when talking about surface friction....but I'm open to being wrong).

Since one of the worst things that could happen would be your peep sliding during a hunt (and you don't notice), I have mostly shot X99 but also have a 452(x?) on my backup bow.

I use scorpion venom string wax sparingly as needed, occasionally remove built up wax with the dental floss trick, and try not to beat the tar out of my strings. The strings last until I'm ready to replace anyways, no problem.

Also, the colors on the bloodline have been reported to bleed through the serving at times.

 

[Halfstep]

The bloodline strings are slick and require you to use a braided/higher traction serving to tie to the string (your peep mostly).

Those that do this step report no issues (archerytalk). However, I am not interested in bloodline because if you have to use a high traction serving to meet minimum requirements then that means (all else being equal) that any serving used will have better traction on a non-bloodline string.

Some folks on archerytalk quibbled with how I looked at that, but Mike from Catfish chimed in and said I was correct (I can't see how it could be otherwise when talking about surface friction....but I'm open to being wrong).

Since one of the worst things that could happen would be your peep sliding during a hunt (and you don't notice), I have mostly shot X99 but also have a 452(x?) on my backup bow.

I use scorpion venom string wax sparingly as needed, occasionally remove built up wax with the dental floss trick, and try not to beat the tar out of my strings. The strings last until I'm ready to replace anyways, no problem.

Also, the colors on the bloodline have been reported to bleed through the serving at times.

I haven't used Bloodline materials so I can't say how well the serving actually grips and holds on the string. I don't know if the Bloodline serving is made to grip the string better. If serving doesn't bite into the string material very well, then serving separation is going to be a problem, especially the center serving. One doesn't need the nocking point/loop to be moving. Also, serving slippage can lead to peep rotation problems.

Even on BCY materials, applying the serving to the string while under 300 pounds of tension and wrapping the serving tight as possible, serving separation can still occur in problem areas where cams have aggressive lobes and tight bends. Single cam bows have a sharp bending lobe that can causes serving separation. I use Angel Majesty serving in those areas and on center serving. I also use the Angel Majesty on crossbow center serving as it hold up very well where it rides the rail. The Angel Majesty serving is bonded and does not flatten out and keeps its shape so it actually bites into the string material very well. Plus it works hardens and is wear resistant. I have the Angel Majesty in several different diameters and a couple of colors. I have a big spool of Brownell Bullwhip serving I use on most everything else. It is white color but goes on clear when properly served and treated with a clarifier. Clear serving matches everything well.

 

[raisins]

I haven't used Bloodline materials so I can't say how well the serving actually grips and holds on the string. I don't know if the Bloodline serving is made to grip the string better. If serving doesn't bite into the string material very well, then serving separation is going to be a problem, especially the center serving. One doesn't need the nocking point/loop to be moving. Also, serving slippage can lead to peep rotation problems.

Even on BCY materials, applying the serving to the string while under 300 pounds of tension and wrapping the serving tight as possible, serving separation can still occur in problem areas where cams have aggressive lobes and tight bends. Single cam bows have a sharp bending lobe that can causes serving separation. I use Angel Majesty serving in those areas and on center serving. I also use the Angel Majesty on crossbow center serving as it hold up very well where it rides the rail. The Angel Majesty serving is bonded and does not flatten out and keeps its shape so it actually bites into the string material very well. Plus it works hardens and is wear resistant. I have the Angel Majesty in several different diameters and a couple of colors. I have a big spool of Brownell Bullwhip serving I use on most everything else. It is white color but goes on clear when properly served and treated with a clarifier. Clear serving matches everything well.

Sorry for the confusion. I don't think the serving on the string put there by the maker (Catfish) will move. It's the serving you use to tie the peep on with. That's what is slipping and causing people's peep to move unless they use certain thread.

I'm just not into that possibility. I use a clove hitch with half hitches (Hamskea/Gillingham/Specialty hybrid method) that holds like crazy with "normal strings" and I don't wanna have to use special stuff and modify my peep tying technique.

 

[Halfstep]

Sorry for the confusion. I don't think the serving on the string put there by the maker (Catfish) will move. It's the serving you use to tie the peep on with. That's what is slipping and causing people's peep to move unless they use certain thread.

I'm just not into that possibility. I use a clove hitch with half hitches (Hamskea/Gillingham/Specialty hybrid method) that holds like crazy with "normal strings" and I don't wanna have to use special stuff and modify my peep tying technique.

No confusion, I understood what you said. Peep serving/tying is small and doesn't have much surface area to hang on to the string material as well as longer serving does. I usually just set the peep in the string and let the string twist hold it in place until I have the bow set/tuned and sighted in and any final peep adjustments made. Then I take a 36" piece of serving and tie a constrictor knot around the peep locking it into place and then use the tag ends to serve above and below the peep for more security. Here is a video I found on YouTube on how I tie in a peep. (18) Peep tie in with constrictor knot..... - YouTube

If one has some slippage issues when tying in a peep because the string material is slick, then all serving can be problematic, so I was just rambling on about the possible serving issues when dealing with slick string material.

You can try to pretreat the string material under the serving with a little contact cement. This makes it tacky and stops slippage. If it is a long run of serving, a little contact cement under the beginning and ending of the serving is all that is needed.

 

[VaBruiser]

Man, yall are way smarter / more experienced than I am. I just had a "I'll take your word for it" moment. Super interesting though. I hope to know half as much about this stuff as you guys one day. I appreciate all the feedback and knowledge dropping.

 

[raisins]

No confusion, I understood what you said. Peep serving/tying is small and doesn't have much surface area to hang on to the string material as well as longer serving does. I usually just set the peep in the string and let the string twist hold it in place until I have the bow set/tuned and sighted in and any final peep adjustments made. Then I take a 36" piece of serving and tie a constrictor knot around the peep locking it into place and then use the tag ends to serve above and below the peep for more security. Here is a video I found on YouTube on how I tie in a peep. (18) Peep tie in with constrictor knot..... - YouTube

If one has some slippage issues when tying in a peep because the string material is slick, then all serving can be problematic, so I was just rambling on about the possible serving issues when dealing with slick string material.

You can try to pretreat the string material under the serving with a little contact cement. This makes it tacky and stops slippage. If it is a long run of serving, a little contact cement under the beginning and ending of the serving is all that is needed.

Thanks, but I prefer not to serve peeps.

Clove hitch or constrictor around the peep for me a strategy for locking in on the split string halves using many stacked half hitches up all 4 legs.

 

[Halfstep]

Thanks, but I prefer not to serve peeps.

Clove hitch or constrictor around the peep for me a strategy for locking in on the split string halves using many stacked half hitches up all 4 legs.

The problem with all those half hitches is you have to be very careful not to cut any strands when removing the peep. lol My eyes ain't as focused as they once were.

 

[raisins]

The problem with all those half hitches is you have to be very careful not to cut any strands when removing the peep. lol My eyes ain't as focused as they once were.

No problem at all. I have it all figured out.

You simply cut the serving around the peep first, so you are cutting disposable serving against the aluminum peep (I usually use an exacto or new razor blade to dig in the peep groove....it mars the peep finish but I don't mind that)

It all unravels easily from there.

I never put a blade anywhere near string or cable.

 

[Camelcluch]

I had no issues with my peep on the set I had. Just used super knots and kept it simple.