Maybe 6 years back I snagged a nice A-rt 420 from Invader Dust - Dustin here on the YYE.
With that throw, he included a handful of the best thread strings I had played up to that point.
I used to get Gator floss, Gstrings, bulk this and that, but the whipping and slack with a nylon as well as the slight springiness and slippery not burn your finger sliding down the string was something to behold. It also seemed to help minimize my ghost binds I was plagued with.
This set me onto a string making journey of my own.
Dustin was gracious enough to share the basics of his string recipe.
Oh course everyone interprets the path differently.
So it goes I set off on my way to string town.
On my way I tried poly, cotton, nylon and the others till I was able to make some useable strings. Almost but never quite as good as the Heartstrings as they were called. Still very good IMO.
I’ve sent a few to others and included them with some BST deals. Everyone has had nothing but praise. I was flattered when Ernie (the General) wanted me to provide some for his next release. Unfortunately I did not have the time to spend on this as I have been in the middle of 1 or 2 or 3 house projects as well as working for the past 6 years give or take.
Fast forward to almost having some time to spend, I dug out my setup. I found my little S hooks, and my box full of threads, my 2 elcheapo cordless dremels- with one rewired to run backwards.
Well wouldn’t ya know I couldn’t find my notes anywhere. So I had to learn all over again. This time it took way less time.
For me IMO my favorite string is thinner than most and Ive made some that dont bind as easily as I like so I go back and add a thread or two to the thickness.
There are plenty of tutorials out there, but I made my ‘jig’ just by hooking an attachment on my desk and using some tape to mark the loop and wind up lengths. I had access to a 2x4 that I was able to make my folding hook that was a bit adjustable when needed. (I could slide it) Using it up against the cabinet for starting lengths. I found I had to move it slightly depending on how tightly I wound it up the first time.
I also found if I used multiple threads - say 3 at a time I would only need to make 4 full length passes and that sped up the initial setup process, Or 4 strings/ 3 times, but some threads need 14 lengths. so there’s that.
With my cardboard box I was able to fabricate a thread dispenser that helps immensely to pull the threads when stringing up the jig.
With 2 dremels and the J hooks it is breeze to tension, fold and set the final wind.
Some pictures for you to get ideas of your own.
