SECTION 1 - EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED

You will need the following materials to make bow strings:

1/4 pound spool of Dacron B-50 bow string
one spool of nylon serving
string wax
nocking points
nock pliers
bow square
string jig (see section 2)
serving jig (see section 3)

SECTION 2 - MAKING THE STRING JIG

You will need the following materials to make the jig. All of the materials and tools are readily available at most hardware stores.

3.5 ft. of 3/4 inch electrical conduit
3 ft. of 5/8 inch hardwood dowel
2 ft. of ½ inch x 1/4 inch aluminum or steel bar stock
2.25 inch x 1.5 inch 20 TPI bolts
2.25-20 threaded wing nuts
4.25-20 x 4 inch stove bolts (these should have only about 1 inch of thread)
9.25-20 hex nuts
4.25 inch flat washers
2.25 inch lock washers
2 one-inch U-bolts
2 one-inch Worm clamps (hose clamps)
2 pieces of wool about 6 inches x 3 inches x 3/4 inch
metal cutting saw (saber saw or hack saw)
drill
1/4 inch drill bit
wrenches to fit the hex nuts

To make the jig, first cut the hardwood dowel into two pieces 18 inches long. Next cut two pieces of the conduit 1.5 inches long. Place one of the short pieces of conduit on the end of one dowel and the second piece on one end of the other dowel. Drill through the center of the conduit and wood with the 1/4 inch drill bit, being careful to keep it centered. If the dowel fits too snugly, carefully sand it until it just fits.

Cut the aluminum bar into two pieces 9 inches long. Mark the center of each bar. Mark the point exactly 4 inches towards each end of the bar from the center. Carefully drill three holes at the marked position on both bars with the 1/4 inch drill. Put the 1.5 inch bolt through the center holes of the bars and put a hex nut on the bolt. Put two flat washers on the bolt and put this assembly through the hole drilled in the conduit and dowel. Place another flat washer on the bolt and put on the wing nut. Cut the heads off of the 4 inch bolts and sand or file the ends smooth. Put a hex nut on each bolt. Put one bolt through each of the remaining holes in the aluminum bars and install a nut to keep them in place. The end of the bolt should be just flush with the bottom of the hex nut. Tighten the nuts with the wrenches.

Next, take the remaining conduit and make two cuts in each end. Using a file or sandpaper de-burr the edges of the conduit. Place a worm clamp on each end of the conduit. Test fit the dowels into each end of the conduit. It should slide freely into and out of the conduit but not be sloppy. If it is too tight, sand the dowel until it fits properly.

Take the two pieces of wood and cut a vee in the center of one edge. Drill 2.25 inch holes through the edge that fit the U-bolts. Cut a mortise in the bottom large enough to fit the bar that comes with the U-bolts.

Place the conduit assembly into the vee's on both blocks and put the U-bolt over the conduit and through the blocks. Bolt the U-bolts into place. Adjust the sloping dowels to the proper length for the string you want to make and tighten the worm clamps.

Your jig is now ready to use. It is a good idea to make marks on the aluminum bars 1.5 inches from the center. These marks are the reference points for making the string eyes. You can also mark the dowels at different intervals for different string lengths.

SECTION 3 - MAKING THE SERVING JIG

Serving jigs may be purchased from the same suppliers from whom you get the other materials for bow strings. In many ways, commercial jigs are superior to the homemade ones; they are not very expensive and are easy to use. If you really want to make your own, here's how you do it.

You will need the following materials and tools to make the serving jig:

one 1.75 inch 1/4-20 bolt
six 1/4 inch flat washers
one 1/4 inch wing nut
one piece 3/4 inch x 6 inch 20 gauge steel or stainless steel
drill
file
sandpaper
1/4 inch drill bit
1/16 inch drill bit

First drill a 1/16 inch hole in the exact center of the piece of steel. Then drill one 1/4 inch hole exactly ½ inch from each end of the steel. Smooth all the drilled holes. Using the edge of a table or work bench bend the piece of steel in the exact cent (over the 1/16 inch hole) to approximately 90 degrees. At about 1/8 inch from this bend on each side of it, bend the piece back until it is flat, leaving a recessed vee in the center. Using a spool of serving as a guide, bend the ends of the piece straight down making sure the small hole is in the exact center. This will give you a piece of metal in the shape of an upside-down U. Place two of the washers on the bolt and insert this into one of the holes in the jig. Place one more washer on the bolt and then the spool of serving. Place one more washer on the bolt and push the bolt back out through the other side of the jig. Install the last two washers and the wing nut on the bolt. Thread the end of the serving thread through the small hole in the jig and you are ready to serve your string. Tighten or loosen the wing nut to adjust the tension on the serving.

SECTION 4 - MAKING A STRING

This is it. Now that you have all the tools and materials you are ready to make your first string. It is best if you have the old string from the bow to use and a size guide.

Loosen the wing nuts on the end of the string jig and make sure the ends are pointing straight out. Tighten the wing nuts and loosen the worm clamps. Hook the old string on one of the upright rods at the very end of the jig. Adjust the length of the jig until the other eye of the string just fits over the other end. Center both arms of the jig and make sure they pull the old string tight, and tighten the worm clamps. Make marks on the dowels at both ends where they come out of the conduit and label these marks for the string length you are making (this should be marked on your bow).

Remove the old string and rotate the ends of the jig until they are perpendicular to the rest of the jig. Sitting at the side of the jig, take the end of the Dacron B-50 and tie it to the rear post on your left. Going counter clockwise, wrap the string around the posts 7 complete times for a 14 strand string, 6 times for a 12 strand string (bows 35 pounds and under) tying it off on the front post on the left side (yes, the two ends overlap).

Move to the end of the jig where the string is tied off. Starting at the mark 1.5 inches left of the center start wrapping the serving to the right, going over the loose end of the serving. After about ½ inch, pull the loose end until the wrappings are tight. Cut off the loose end. Continue wrapping until you are approximately 1/4 inch from the mark right of center. Cut the tied ends of the B-50 being careful not to cut the rest of the strands. Loosen the wing nut and rotate the bar until it is in line with the dowel and tighten the wing nut. The end of the serving where you stopped should be about 1/4 inch from where you started.

Continue wrapping, going over both sets of strands and the last 1/4 inch of serving on the other side. Serve for at least 4 more inches (this should be where the other mark on the bar is). Cut a piece of B-50 from the spool about 2 feet long. Fold this around the upright that should be sticking up out of the middle of the string. Pull the loose end back along the string towards the end. Loosen the tension on the server slightly and continue serving for at least ½ inch.

Holding the serving against the string cut the thread loose from the spool leaving at least a three inch tail. Take the loop of B-50 off the post and pass the end of the serving through this loop. Pull the loose ends of the B-50 until the serving is held in place under the wraps. Pull the loose ends of the B-50 with both hands until the tail of the serving pulls out from under the windings. Cut the rest of the tail off flush with the windings.

Do the same with the other end of the string except it will not be tied to the posts. This will make both eyes in the string. Remove the string from the jig and put it on the bow. Allow the string to stretch for 10 minutes. If you don't have the bow, leave the string on the jig.

Using the bow square find the center of the string (if it is not on the bow, measure it to find the center). Make two marks on the string; one 5 inches from the center towards the bottom of the string, the other 4 inches from the center towards the top of the string. Using the same method as for the string eyes, start at one mark and serve straight to the other mark. Finish off the end under the windings just like on the eyes.

Now all that is left is to wax the string thoroughly and put on a nock point. Good shooting!

This article has been copied by permission of the Author for use in The Middle Kingdom Archery Handbook. All rights reside with the Author.

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