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Timber hitch of FF on war bow?

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Frodolf:
Well, Del, I see now the importance of tension in the string when serving it! Especially fast flight since the serving thread I used tended to slip very easily on it. It took some fiddling to get started on each serving.

The result? The string ended up 2" too short and with a pretty ugly serving job.

Can't figure out why it ended up so much shorter. I braced the bow with my tillering string and measured that string's length from loop to loop. I made the continuous loop string half an inch longer thinking the serving would maybe eat up a little string length. But where did 2 inches go? Is there some secret length formula here that I don't know about, or does it sound more like I, despite my best effort, simply screwed up the measurements?

Del the cat:
I have a pretty fool proof way of getting it right... with NO MEASUREMENTS!
I have a very long string sting with big loops that I use for tillering. I have an aluminium ring that I thread the string through several times to effectively shorten it, fine length adjustment is then by twisting. When I need to make the proper sting, I adjust my string jig so that the tillering string just goes over the hooks and then I make up the continuous loop for the string. The adjusters can then be slackened off to pull one side of the skein out the way with an S shaped piece of wire (bent nail/coathanger etc) hooked into one of the holes in the jig. The tension is then wound back on and the serving for the first loop done.
The pic shows one end of the jig (the adjustable end) it's basically two lentgths of Dexion angle. They can be adjusted to approx the right distance and bolted together the adjustable hook on each end (made from a fence wire tensioning eye, with end opened out) gives fine adjustment.
Look at this video (at 3mins40 secs) for the long string, shortening toggle explanation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8OjC7HV4Bk
If you want I'll do a video of the whole string making process next time I make one.
Del
(I've added more pics (don't look at the "welding" it's tricky to weld to the holes :(  :laugh:   ... )

Frodolf:
Thanks for the pics, Del! I understand your setup and it looks good. It's interesting how different bowyers find different solutions to common problems! A question though: do you compensate any for string stretch? I mean, your tillering string is bound to be less stretchy than your freshly made continuous loop string. In other words, if you make the string the exact same length as your tillering string, won't you end up with a string that stretches when you brace the bow, making it a tad too long?

Anyway, lacking any sort of stringing jig (or materials to make one) I went ahead and tried another possible solution, to make a 2-ply flemish twist string and then braid a second loop in the other end instead of a timber hitch (as shown in Twisted Stave's video linked below, I tip my hat in his direction for the vid!). And it actually works really well! I like it already because of three reasons: 1) you don't need any sort of jig, 2) it's adjustable – if you make a too long or too short a string you can simply unbraid it and adjust the length appropriately, takes about 20 minutes. This means you have the possibility to adjust the string to fit another bow if the need arises. And 3) you don't need to serve the string a bunch (something I find quite boring to do :) ).

Considering that Fast Flight is substantially more slippery that B-50, I braided the string about 8-10" to be safe. That means you probably end up with a slightly heavier string than a continuous loop string, so that's a drawback, but a minor one IMO.

I haven't yet had time to put this braided string to the test with a lot of shooting, but from what I can tell the braid seems solid and very durable. One could probably serve the braid if one wishes to beef it up further.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfyPOikbBvA

Del the cat:
Good questions!
I set the jig so I can just get the tillering string on and off it. The continuous loop is wound on with light tension (so the strands are even and not flopping about getting tangled). By the time it is made and twisted it should be a whisker short... but that just compensates for the little bit of stretch you get with a new string. :) I also apply plenty of tension when I twist it and serve the end serving together at each end to make the actual loop.
Del

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