[Ansteorra-archery] Bow String Material

[Sluggy!]

David Ruff wrote:

>If you are not trying to go complete period, use the
>modern archery string to make your strings. 
>
>  
>
I would agree. The Dacron is really easy to work with and it's quite a 
bit stronger by weight than the linen, which means you can make a 
lighter string and thus have a faster, flatter shooting bow with the 
same draw weight. In tan or white, it's tough to tell Dacron from linen 
without fraying it out and melting it.

>I have seen hemp and linen used as strings but i
>question how safe it is. Not to mention the weather
>plays HAVOC with it.
>
The Traditional Bowyers Bible leans towards linen as the ideal 
traditional bowstring material; it's strong, lightweight and enduring. 
The important thing weather-wise is to keep it well waxed, but not 
over-waxed.

The book shows several examples of cotton, gut, rawhide, hemp, linen and 
synthetic strings. Pound for pound, synthetics and linen seem to be 
favored. They steer you away from nylon, sisal, jute, silk and other 
such fibers primarily due to the amount of stretch they experience

>Not sure if you have ever seen a bow string break but
>its usually a shocking experiance and not one i wanna
>be next to. 
>
I had a 70# compound bowstring break at full draw. That'll give you 
religion. Note to all: Keep that string WELL waxed....

Sluggy!

-- 

Never attribute to malice that which can 
be adequately explained by ignorance.
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The real art of conversation is not only
to say the right thing at the right time,
but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing
at the tempting moment.
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Sooner or later, when your big chances come,
You'll look for the catches; there'll be none.
Remember before you grab the money and run
That someone is watching you...
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Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.