Traditional bowstring

[willmc349]

Hi guys, I was thinking of getting a new bowstring. I was thinking of getting a more traditional hemp bowstring. I'd like to make this one, the only problem is I don't know where i can get some of the fibers, I guess you could say? So does anyone have any suggestions? Some place to get some quality material? Any suggestion would be very helpful.

[Jonathan B.]

I make my bow strings out of linen cord that I buy at either Walmart or Michael's depending on where I happen to be. I have never used hemp but I have seen it at both places.

[Manveruon]

Yeah, I think I've heard of hemp being used, but I've never seen it. I've know there are people who have used linen, but again, I've never seen it in person. I'd like to try one of those myself sometime. I've used a cotton string before, and had no issues with it, other than the fact that it stretched like the dickens. I wonder if hemp or linen would stretch less.

[Daerir]

I watched a video on how to make a rawhide bowstring but I don't know if I'm brave enough to try it without some better knowledge of it.

[Udwin]

I don't mess around with petrofibers anymore, so it's natural materials all the way. I've tried nettle, yucca, and basswood strings. Only the basswood didn't snap after a few shots, but it still stretched a lot.
Now I use linen (8-10 strands, which only stretches a little at first stringing) and deer sinew exclusively. Both work great; the linen does wear down eventually where the nocks rub, but sinew is pretty indestructible. If a bowstring didn't require so much material, I'd try making one out of my 8lb hemp cord.

[RikJohnson]

In a larger city like Tucson, we have the 'hippie' section where the head shops and poster stores and steampunk places and food co-op stores congregate. There is always a clothing store that sells hemp clothing and you can easily get hemp string there.

last chance is Amazon<g> dot com.