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4 posters

    Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

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    benjaminh123
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by benjaminh123 Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:43 pm

    I have heard that using steel aircraft cable for crossbow strings is not a good idea; why?
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    Hermit
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by Hermit Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:12 pm

    Because it will chew up the tiller or stock in very short order....................
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    benjaminh123
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by benjaminh123 Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:23 pm

    What about if it was "served" with dacron or something of that nature? Of if the stock had metal tracks?

    I'm just wondering if there is something inherently dangerous with the use of aircraft cable;
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by Gnome Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:24 am

    Yes, it is inherently dangerous to use steel cable for a crossbow string. Such cables are designed to accommodate a particular kind of stress and would be subjected to to different stresses if used this way. Not to say that nobody has ever done it, I've seen home builts and commercially manufactured bows with steel cables. Sooner or later they will fail and when they do it's not something you want anywhere near your face. Believe me, I've seen it happen.
    Safety aside, there's another very good reason to stay away from steel cable- it isn't very efficient, a lot of your bow's potential energy would be sucked up trying to move that heavy cable around.
    Gnome
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by benjaminh123 Tue Mar 03, 2015 8:02 am

    What would you guys recommend for using for a string, where the string will have to be travelling around pulleys? A flemish string?
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by Hermit Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:36 am

    Make your own using Dacron B50.Readily available from archery supply stores,along with serving thread,loads of info. on you tube how to do it.
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    Aircraft cable as crossbow string? Empty Re: Aircraft cable as crossbow string?

    Post by Geezer Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:10 pm

    As noted above: steel cable makes a lousy bowstring. It's much too heavy for its weight, its rather inflexible, and stretches over time, so will eventually fly off the prod on release... unless it breaks, leaving sharp wire ends flying about.  Yes, we've all seen it used for bowstrings, but about the only virtue it has is strength.  Resist the urge to use cable.  Geezer.

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