How to serve a bow string

Here, we'll take a look at how to serve a bowstring and install an adjustable nock (on the cheap). I always use monofilament fishing line as serving, which is very durable, cheap, and easy to find.

[@ncsaddlehunter77]

I just had to say thank you. My serving failed and I watched this video and an hour later I have a brand new serving and knocking point for free. Thank you so much.

[@steelcardoza5361]

Amazing tutorial, I could tell from the thumbnail you know what's up. Little hard to follow the knots sometimes but I've tied plenty of fishing knots so I could keep up. That knock technique of yours is brilliant

[@Glader08]

Ya know it's silly, but I've never just "twirled" that serving string...huh genius! I owe you another one, Clay. Thank you

[@OffGridMadMan]

I'm a noob, found you last week, your videos are superb and this one is genius 👌

[@tylerburgett7724]

Because of you I finally made my first string and served it! Now I just have to make my own bow sometime!

[@larrypullan8866]

There a lot of stuff out there, but I have tried everything you have showed. Tying the nock is really a time saver, and makes tuning my bows so easy. I've written a couple of hunting songs, and some other tracks. U should be getting soon. Thanks for your vids.

[@clayhayeshunter]

+larry pullan thanks Larry

[@johnkelly7187]

great micro photo, great audio, great demo...

[@arthurl.330]

Thanks from Holland! Clear explanation how to do a serving, super!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robertbrunston5406]

Ok super! First time I have seen an adjustable nock! Thanks a ton.

[@embe9146]

You are the man, this serving deal worked like a charm. Thanks clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

No problem

[@lonnie6361]

I just finished my first serving! It worked great! Thanks for a great video!

[@clayhayeshunter]

You're welcome Lonnie

[@notapplicable531]

At the start you wrap the monofilament tag end along and around the string. If you wrap with the twists of the string's strands and not across them, the eventual over-wrapping will press the tag's line down into the strands. This strengthens the line to stay in place and also eliminates any bulge on the serving.

[@BennyCFD]

Terrific......Simple, practical, and effective. Thanks.

[@stuartbennion]

Great video, Just started making my own strings and your videos are really really helpful, thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge

[@clayhayeshunter]

You're welcome!

[@lonnie6361]

Great video. Easy to understand and follow! Keep up the great work!

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Lonnie Hamil thanks

[@clintstevens6831]

Thanks. I've been using brass nocks and think this will be a much better idea. Looking forward to trying it out.

[@MrHunt4em]

awesome video! thanks for taking the time to show this!

[@clayhayeshunter]

you're welcome

[@mattsmith2051]

Would 30pnd be to heavy?

[@bookerT_502]

Thanks a lot for video, serving came out well. I used 25lb monofilament.

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Booker T awesome!

[@beepot2764]

That's so neat! Great video

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Hannah Brower Thanks Hannah

[@wjstewdog]

Great video

[@stevencunningham4680]

Thanks for the tip of using fishing line for a serving. What pound test line do you suggest to use ?

[@WallaceLivingFree]

Love your video mate, no bullshit, just genuine info cheers

[@Soviless99]

Thank you so much for this

[@MrTimmmers]

Fishing line, great idea. Cheers :)

[@jonoedwards4195]

Unreal Idea! Definitely giving it a try. Beauty CH.

[@clayhayeshunter]

it works great!

[@duanelarson6005]

Very Nice !!!!!

[@radleykutek2969]

Thanks as helpful as your Flemish twist string video

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@michaelwalling8281]

Brilliant!!!

[@sedulousdabbler5468]

Brilliant.

[@frankl1955]

Great video , thanks.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Frank L Thanks Frank.

[@FuckYouYouFuck]

Cheers mate, very helpful.

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Very good info thanks so much.

[@redwanwan2909]

Clay Hayes the handy man!!!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Redwan Wan Ha

[@MexArcher]

Clay, thank´s a lot for continue publishing your videos, very, very helpful. Monofilament could be a good option because the traditional nylon serving is not very durable.(Cheap is a magic word on this sport...HAHA.) So I´ll try it and let´s see what happen. Salutes from Mexico. (here we have a lot of traditional archers and archery clubes). I hope you can come to visit us some time.

[@clayhayeshunter]

+MexArcher I might just do that. Thanks

[@elijahturner3291]

Clay how long does it last ?

[@ABikeandACamera]

Clay, is there a specific diameter monofilament you would recommend for nocks for carbon arrows?

[@clayhayeshunter]

i think this was 20#

[@whosaidthat5236]

I watched another video on serving, I was just wondering if the way he did it will work with fishing line? When you get near the end he took another string made a loop served over it about a half inch then pulled it back threw the serving to lock it down. Just wondering if the fishing line is to slippery for that way to hold . Ty for these amazing videos

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Murray Keays That would probably work as well but I've never tried it.

[@tompanetti75]

Mighty fine Clay. Watch out for them chickies. Some will pick you clean. Later

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Tom Panetti Thanks Tom

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

Will this also work for the end loops? And how does it compare to regular serving thread as far as durability and reliability goes? What about braided fishing line?

[@tomwarrick4945]

Like them chickens

[@brettleinmiller7186]

Hello. Great idea. Is this still your choice of serving? Has there ever been a concern of it being reflective while hunting? Thank you for the great videos.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve been using halo recently but mono is still a great choice. Reflection is negligible.

[@calvinmartin3711]

Hi Clay. I'm assuming those jigs only accept a specific width of spool to work correctly. did the mono come on a spool that just happened to fit? thanks.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I just found a spool that would fit then wound mono around it.

[@tonycaruso4295]

Hi Clay, Could you please tell me in which hand I’m supposed to hold my bow? I know it sounds a little silly! I am right handed and I hold my bow with the right hand and pull the string with the left hand, but it seems like all of the right handers hold the bow with the left hand and pull the string with the right hand. I tried it that way and I just cannot. I know the best answer is; “use whatever hand works best for me” I know that, But I would really like to know which is the most common way. I would really appreciate your answer. Thanks you.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Tony caruso Right handed shooters hold the bow with the left hand. With that said, which hand you hold the bow with should be determined by eye dominance. If you are right eye dominant, hold the bow with your left hand. This is very important in aiming.

[@leoruffeil7692]

Really nice!! :)

[@mthompson]

+Clay Hayes, do you load that spool of mono yourself or is there a source for monofilament "thread"?

[@uncletello]

Do you still use/prefer using monofilament or over time have you developed another thread preference? What pound weight mono are you using here? Does monofilament wear out after a certain number of uses/shots? Great video...

[@clayhayeshunter]

Mono works great and I’ve never had it wear out. But, for convenience, I’ve been using Halo for a few years now.

[@uncletello]

@@clayhayeshunter Thanks for the reply!

[@shadowcastre]

Clay.. Excellent how-to video! I never thought of using monofiliment fishing line as serving. How well/long does it hold up? I gave up on mono in the fishing department and went to braided line, because it would rot out before the season was over. I can see where maybe this application may last longer as it's under different stress and weather exposure. Thanks for the video.. Shad

[@clayhayeshunter]

shadowcastre Mine lasts for years so long as it's not nicked.

[@shadowcastre]

I'll have to give it a try.. thanks

[@lisabadger3399]

I'm a mounted archer and I tend to thrash the service on all my strings pretty quickly. Blind nocking quickly on the fly, sliding the nock up the service to the nock-set, fast-fast-fast!. Wondering if monofiliment would last longer. Also, does it really matter how the string is wound depending upon which side you release from? I'm right handed and use a thumb draw.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Lisa Badger I don't think it would matter which way it was wrapped. Mono is tough stuff but your thumb ring is hard on the serving as well as the other things you mentioned. Give it a try.

[@maricrisdiones8107]

fuck you-FY-what the fuck-WTF

[@TheWaggaBloke]

Great Info Clay Just wondering what poundage was the fishing line or don't it matter?

[@clayhayeshunter]

TheWaggaBloke It does matter because the higher weight line is thicker. I think this was around 30#.

[@TheWaggaBloke]

Thank's Mate! God Bless Regards: Rod

[@tcat3315]

TheWaggaBloke poundage doesn't really matter in today's fishing line. The diameter is what you really need. One brand of 30# might be the same diameter as another brands 20#. Just a thought, that being said what diameter of fishing line is it 😁 I'd love to try this with that Cajun red line lol.

[@Woodenarrows]

I've never tried it but... I assume that superglue nock point will only work with Monofilament serving. I'm old school and use #4 nylon, have for years. I can't see how a superglued nock point would not stick to the nylon serving as well......

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’ll work. You just have to bios base with the thread before putting any superglue on. Just make sure the base is thick enough so the glue doesn’t soak into the serving.

[@Woodenarrows]

@@clayhayeshunter sorry, hate to be a pita but... "bios base with the thread"? I did Google it, could not find anything relating to bow strings. Maybe making sure to wax the serving before building the nock point would work? I do use tie on nocks and that's always been a problem for me, trying to get good nock position without having to remove it and re-tie another.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Doh! BUILD a base, not bios. As in make a few wraps with your nock thread before applying glue.

[@Woodenarrows]

@@clayhayeshunter Thanks, that I understand :-)

[@whosaidthat5236]

So for a 50# bow do I need a certain amount of strands ? I used your method and it works great! I did make a 20 strand for a tillering string and I did make a 18 strand just for practice .

[@clayhayeshunter]

+Murray Keays I typically make 14 strand strings for any bows I make. Big strings just slow things down. small strings are a little more prone to breaking.

[@whosaidthat5236]

+Clay Hayes thank you for the prompt answers clay , your videos are great . I do have another question its about using a western red cedar for a bow! I was wondering if you knew what part of the tree I should use the outer rings with the sapwood or the inner rings more the heartwood? If you have any ideas on it or if anyone else on here does please let me know! I don't feel like spending around $150-200 for an ash or yew or Osage stave. Cheers and keep on shooting

[@clayhayeshunter]

Murray, I think you'd be less than thrilled with a bow made from western red cedar. It's a soft wood with little strength in either tension or compression. If you're in an area with WRC, you might also have vine maple which is a good wood. Chokecherry will make a good bow as well. Look around and I'm sure you can find some local wood to harvest yourself.

[@whosaidthat5236]

+Clay Hayes , thanks for the reply . I did find a wood store near my place that sells all the good bow woods "In board form" so I am going to try and make a laminated long bow with hickory back and ash or Osage maybe epay ? Doubt that's how it's spelled lol or all 3 if it's not to pricey. Cheers

[@22GlocksRus22]

Hey thanks bud...those chicks were the kicker to the video. ..lol

[@clayhayeshunter]

22GlocksRus22 Yea, it's hard to keep them out of the shop. If I'm not careful about keeping the door shut, they'll walk right in an crap all over the floor. Doh.

[@22GlocksRus22]

Clay Hayes LoL...i kno, I had chickens b4...but ducks are worst, they r constantly dropping wet poop.

[@JourneyOnLife]

Dito

[@brucebuckler2591]

I saw where you snipped off the mono tag line at the beginning. Is there a way you secure it? Or does it matter?

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s wrapped under the serving.

[@tinyeung3468]

The chickens are racing!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Haha. Crazy birds

[@Scion4600]

Handy vid, thanks! How do you know which direction to wrap the serving on a Flemish twist? Same direction or opposite of the string itself?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Braden Wilson I don't think it really matters but I tend to go in the same direction as the twist.

[@robertcrowther6134]

@@clayhayeshunter would it matter if you are left handed archer,better to serve so it tightens as you draw

[@mikeyheltonjr]

Hey Clay, can I use b55 as serving string? Asking for a friend lol.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I think it would be bad to fray.

[@mikeyheltonjr]

@clayhayeshunter thanks buddy! I was just wondering I am trying to get into building bows. I have serving, I was just wondering. I built my son a bow. It's a little 36 inch flat bow, he loves it. He likes to shoot balloons lol. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge over the years. It was one of your videos that gave me the idea to build arrows when I was on Alone. The moss in Saskatchewan was thick, it just ate arrows. So if I didn't make more I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did. Thanks again my friend. If it's not too much of a problem, would you put out an up to date video of using a bow string jig?

[@SchraderBoyzTV]

What size monofilament are you using?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I think this was 20 lb test.

[@FizzyMcSnap]

Thank you for excellent videos Clay. You're a real inspiration. I was just wondering if you are making a video on how you tune your bow? Would love to see that. Thanks and best wishes from Norway.

[@clayhayeshunter]

FizzyMcSnap That is in the plans and I've started on it. It'll most likely be a series as there's a lot to it. Hopefully this next summer I can get something posted.

[@FizzyMcSnap]

Great! Thanks.

[@HonestDoubter]

What weight monofilliment, sir?

[@zjmorris1]

Will this work with any serving or does it have to be monofilament?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This will work with Halo or anything else.

[@Stunseed]

what size line are you using? doubt its like .25 line lol so what is it? line looks pretty thin tbh..

[@clayhayeshunter]

+TheCrazyBadGamer I think it's 20lb mono.

[@davidabighanem588]

What kind of rope should I use to the bow?

[@BriarJumper]

Will this work on compound bow strings?

[@MexArcher]

I have some chikens and roosters too! Some of them are fighting cock but I never fight them....honestly, I believe that it´s so stupid. They are my daugther pets.

[@tonyhernandez2163]

What pound of fishing line do you use

[@bobrosenbalm5104]

Anybody know what is the best poundage of monofilament to use for a serving?

[@clayhayeshunter]

If I recall, this was about 15.

[@bobrosenbalm5104]

Clay Hayes thanks Clay

[@geralddill7677]

is it 2 or 4 lb test?

[@IanSebryk]

is that chalk on your string?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ian Sebryk no chalk. I'm not sure what you're seeing.

[@IanSebryk]

the white material right by your thumbs at the top of the serving...looks like chalk. no big, just curious.

[@toxy1948]

Nylon? Thats in the past!!

[@clayhayeshunter]

toxy1948 So is the bow... The past isn't such a bad place to be.

[@beepot2764]

That's so neat! Great video