This is what your going to need to build a Flemish Twist String. Some string material, a Flemish Jig and some serving material. Start off by tying the string material with just a slip knot to the starting peg. Then wrap around the opposite peg down to the bottom peg back up to the dowel back to the other bottom peg and finally back up to the top pegs when you get to the top pegs use the next lowest peg. Seeing all my bows are FF compatable I use 450 Plus material and can use less strands in the strings. This sting will be a 10 strand 2 bundle string. So counting the wraps I have 5 full wraps. Next take a sharp knife (Dave this is the only time anything sharp should be near your string:D) and cut down the center. Now wax both ends about 10 inches from the ends. This will keep the strands together. Now do the next bundle as above. So with the 2 bundles done place them next to each other so the ends are equal. Measure up about 9 inches or so and I cheat a little here I use a spring clamp to hold the bundles together. Now holding the 2 bundles in your left hand between your index finger and thump, twist the first (Yellow) bundle away from you so it is tight. Then wrap the twisted bundle (Yellow) back towards you and over the top of the other (Green) bundle then twist the the bundle fathest from you (Green) and reppeat. Once you have about 2 1/2" twisted up. Fold the bundles over place the spring clamp so the twists wont come undone. Seperate the 2 bundles ( Green to Green, Yellow to Yellow) Then repeat as above always holding the material in your left hand and twisting with your right, Keep twisting untill all the ends are twisted into the main string body and clamp. Then do the same for the other end. Will be back later to do the serving.
This is great , definately something i am interested in trying myself ( just incase i have an accident ) . Did you buy the jig or make it Russ .
I brought the jig from 3rivers they are only about $20 plus the shipping. Joe. Banjo Boy said "INCASE" he has an accident:D
Russ, are you going to explain back twisting? It would help newbies with keeping the string round instead of having it come out in two separate twisted bundles. Also I would mention to ere just a little bit on the long side for string length when starting the loops. It's easier to twist the string up for the right brace height than to undo the whole string to make it longer because of misjudging where to start the loops and it coming out too short. After making a few string it all becomes very easy. It does take a few strings to get it just right though. When I started making flemish strings I went to the craft strore and bought some string about the same size as B-50 in two colors. I practiced with that cheap twine for a few strings before using the more expensive actual bowstring material. I would wax it and measure it just like I was going to make a real string.
VA. Ummmmmmmmmm no:p We both made a lot of mistakes in the begining so why take that fun away from the newbies:D
I'll whip up another string tomorrow and show the back twisting or the mess if you dont back twist, whatever comes first:p
Ok lets get this string finished. Well not the string we started to make as untill I get Dave's new riser done I don't have a 68" bow here. So back to the back twisting. If you don't back twist you will end up with a mess something like this. All back twisting is, is to take the twists out of the main body of the string the easiest way I have found to do this is to hold the string up off the floor and to run my fingers down the string slowly. Ok once the string is sorta made place it on one end of the bow and twist it. Using your stringer string the bow and check brace height, add or subtract twists till you get the required brace height. Keep in mind that the string will stretch some depending on material you use. Now it's time to serve the string. I like mine with mashed potato's and gravy with some corn on the side and maybe a light salad:D Anyway enough of that. I start the serving by hand, lay some serving on the string and then wrap back over it in the direction you want to go. Once you have a few wraps done pull the serving tight so the serving tool is hard up against the string then it's just a matter of flipping the serving tool over the string. Once you have the serving to the lenght you want it it's time to back serve. Start off with about 8 inches of serving material. Then start the back serve you want to do this in the opposite way as you served the string so when you do the back serve it unwinds from one end as you wrap it around the string. Make sure to put the end of the serving material along the string and over the serving you have already done. Once you have all the back serving wraps done pull the loose end but keep your finger in the loop so the serving does not jump on top of the other serving. Now pull tight. Cut off the excess. Find your nock position place nock and go shoot your bow with your own hand made flemish string.
Thats cool Russ , you make it look easy , but i'm thinking there may be a knack to this and a bit of trial and error . Think i'm gonna give it a go though , at some point ..... just not yet .... need to learn to shoot my Bows proper first .
Dave. If I remember I will bring the string making gear to Colorado next year and show you in person just how easy it is to make a string.
L2D Which loop are you talking about? If it is the main loops on the string you do both loops exactly the same as explained in the first series of pics.
K just wondering. i will have to try it to fully grasp. they make jugs that have the length indicators built in? so you know how much to use?
