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Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

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» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
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    STRINGS, How to?

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    Post by savatreatabvr Sun May 31, 2015 10:32 pm

    First topic message reminder :

    I'm in the middle of modifying a Barnett Commando, you may have seen my other threads on this forum. The prod I made is going to require a custom string and I've read some other members post about what material to use but haven't read anything about actually "making a string". Can someone point my in the right direction?
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    Post by c sitas Mon Jun 29, 2015 6:54 am

    Thank you Drawknife; I'll try to chase this article down. I think I've seen this done on some regular archery strings, only not so extent.
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    Post by Hermit Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:51 am

    For homemade crossbow strings,go to you tube and type in" homemade crossbow string".Look for tutorial on"replacement 80lb pistol crossbow strings" in a collection of videos under "the art of weapons" heading.The video is made by a boy in his early teens,but all his methodology is sound.He uses some different materials for his strings which seems to work.The usual material used by members of this forum,which is considered to be the best,is called Dacron B,and is available thru' the usual channels,e bay,etc
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    Post by Hermit Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:58 am

    I should add that as Dacron B is rated at 50lbs per strand,the number of strands in the string should equal at least 4 times the draw weight of the bow.
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    Post by c sitas Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:16 pm

    This thread is older but I would like to add to it. Dacron is mentioned a lot and I would like to try to tell why. They have modern string making fiber much stronger than dacron, but not better for this job. Dacron has a built in ability that other fibers do not have. That is a limited amount of stretch. The stretch will help you keep from blowing your bow up ,should you dry fire. The other modern materails  will not . They are more akin to metal . No stretch at all, so to speak. The stretch will make for a small safety cushion, sometimes that might be enough for  ONE more chance. Also when in doubt---add a few more turns of thread, if it does slow your bow down ,you'll never know it,--without a chrony.The reason damage is mentioned a lot  at first is because , newer shooters can do this without even thinking. I was one once and that is what prommted me to try to write this.It's easy done.
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    Post by Onager Lovac Thu Nov 05, 2015 5:14 pm

    In "The book of the Crossbow by Sir Ralph Payne Gallwey" he says that for bows the string should stand 4 to 6 times the draw weight and for Crossbows 20 times the draw weight.
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    Post by c sitas Thu Nov 05, 2015 8:51 pm

    Mr. Lovac, Well observed. I do think at the time this was offered they didn't have access to the better material we enjoy now.But I still use it. On average ,for a 200#bow, I would use a 26 strand string. That figures right in with what you offered.
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    Post by twedzel Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:44 am

    Does anyone know why Sir Ralph Payne Gallwey recommended string for crossbows to be 20 times the draw weight? Is this for strings without serving that are exposed to friction? What comes to mind is under his advice a modern Excalibur with a 270lbs draw weight would need a dacron string that is 108 strands. That seems like overkill whereas 20-26 would seem much more in line with what is actually on the bows.
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    Post by Geezer Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:28 pm

    Yes, it seems like overkill to me too, but of course he was talking about flax twine, not modern materials.  Also, as knowledgeable as PG was, I've always suspected he was a bit of a duffer in the shop.  If you read his text carefully, it looks like he came out to the shop occasionally to putter around while his professional workmen actually did the hard stuff... particularly the stuff on catapults reads this way.  This isn't to rob him of the credit he deserves from all of us for Showing The Way, still he was an Edwardian aristocrat, rather than a real professional craftsman. We can grant him the right to an occasional over-statement at times.  Geezer.
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    Post by c sitas Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:56 pm

    I like Mr. Gallwey's method. He swayed toward overkill also,and has stood the test of time.Never hurts to err on the side of safer. The Lord only gave us two eyes and two hands,and they don't grow back.
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    Post by twedzel Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:09 am

    High quality linen (flax) strings made from excellent long fibers is roughly equivalent in strength for weight to Dacron B-50 (I am not sure about either materials abrasion resistance). This quality of flax fiber is rare now but would have been the norm for bow string makers before the days of artificial fibers. The only real difference is that the linen will be much more vulnerable to rotting over time.
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