Finding brace height on old Bear recurves.

[Rich_S]

If you can waite a week or two I'll build you a string. I'm out of town the next two weeks halibut fishing. Just pm me your address and the length of the bow unstrung. Will be a b50 Flemish twist. Can you serve the string where needed?

I can darn well learn how, you betcha! No rush at all. I can still shoot the Tamerlane with the old string. I'm spending more time pulling on a Green elastic band trying to get my shooting muscles in shape, than I am shooting. Plus I need to build myself a couple of targets, etc.

Good luck with the flatfish! My son is really into that sort of thing. He's on his boat a couple of times a week. 

[RadSav]

Just put some twists in the new string until you get to roughy 7 " you can adjust up and down from there as needed.

I tried that after letting it sit a week under tension. Twisting the string 10 turns increased the brace height from 5-1/4" to 5-1/2".  So. I figured 10 turns = 1/4". Then I added 30 more turns. Again, that only increased the brace height by 1/4" to 5-3/4". After sitting a few hours, the BH was back to 5-3/8". Obviously, twisting was never going to get me up to 7" or a bit more (my idea for a "close enough" BH at that time). 

That sure seems like an awful lot of creep for such light weight bows.  Might be some kind of issue with those strings.  Are they Flemish or endless strings?

[RadSav]

When I was trying to measure the strings I have, the thought came to me, "How do I get an accurate measurement of this puppy?" "Do I try to stretch it out or just pinch the end loops?" "Do I measure to the outside of the string at the loop or the inside?" I ended up pinch the loops using the TLAR method (That Looks About Right) and measuring to the center of the string. Didn't figure 1/16" or 1/8" of string length made much difference when we're talking 3-5" lacking in BH.

Technically measurement is suppose to be made under tension from the outside of a 1/4" dowel to the outside of a 1/4" dowel on the other end +/- 1/16".  But I would say you are correct - 1/16 to 1/8" should not make any difference in a traditional bow string.

It would probably be a cheaper adventure to purchase endless strings while you find the right length for these bows.  Once you have the length nailed down then work on either making your own Flemish string or have someone make a set.

I do have some old B-50 brown laying around here somewhere.  I'm sure it is past it's shelf life, but it has been sealed in an Amber bag.  I will test it this evening and see if it will make a safe string.  If so, I can make you some endless string both to AMO 66" standards and then to what I personally think an old Bill Stewart designed bow would be.  Might at least get you set on what string length to order or build next time

[Rich_S]

PM sent.

[Rich_S]

If you can waite a week or two I'll build you a string. I'm out of town the next two weeks halibut fishing. Just pm me your address and the length of the bow unstrung. Will be a b50 Flemish twist. Can you serve the string where needed?

I took my bows and their strings up to the fellow who runs the archery range at the Gig Harbor Sportsman's Club. He took a look and said the strings could easily be made to fit. He added a bunch more twists to the strings and the brace height went right up to where it should be. I guess I was a little too shy on adding that many twists.

He told me to leave them strung and take note of any decrease in BH. If it comes down, unstring them and add more twists until they stabilize. He said to check the BH each time and make sure it is correct. So, I guess I won't be needing any more strings than I have. Appreciate the offer, though. I'm in business now!