For players focused on speed, making gold bracelets is the best method, offering significantly faster Crafting XP per hour. However, for those wanting to earn money while training or needing a low-effort, AFK activity, spinning bow strings is the proven choice. The best method depends entirely on your goals: speed and cost vs. profit and convenience.
Hello there, fellow adventurer! Welcome to the workshop. I’m Salman Arfeen, and today we’re going to tackle one of the most common questions for aspiring crafters in Old School RuneScape: Should I make gold bracelets or spin bow strings? It’s a classic crossroads. One path seems fast, the other profitable. It can feel confusing, but don’t worry.
Choosing the right method can save you millions of GP and countless hours. Getting it wrong can drain your bank or slow your progress to a crawl. But I’m here to help you make the perfect choice for your goals. We’ll break down everything you need to know, from XP rates to click intensity, in a simple, step-by-step guide. Let’s find the best path for you!
Understanding the Basics: What Are We Comparing?
Before we dive into the numbers, let’s get familiar with our two contenders. Both are popular ways to train the Crafting skill, but they work in very different ways. Think of it like choosing between a sprint and a marathon—both get you to the finish line, but they require different resources and pacing.
Crafting Gold Bracelets
Making gold bracelets is a straightforward and very fast way to gain Crafting experience. The process involves taking a gold bar to a furnace while you have a bracelet mould in your inventory. It’s a simple, repetitive action that awards a nice chunk of XP for every bracelet you create.
- Requirements: Level 7 Crafting
- Items Needed: Gold bars and a bracelet mould.
- Process: Use a gold bar on a furnace.
- Experience Gain: 25 XP per bracelet.
The main appeal here is speed. Because the action is quick and the XP is decent, you can level up your Crafting skill much faster than with many other methods. However, this speed comes at a price. Gold bars almost always cost more than the finished gold bracelets you sell, meaning you will lose money on every inventory. This method is for players who value their time more than their gold pieces.
Spinning Flax into Bow Strings
Spinning bow strings is the polar opposite of making bracelets. This method involves taking flax, a fibrous plant material, to a spinning wheel. The process is much slower, but it’s incredibly simple and requires very little attention. Best of all, it turns a cheap material (flax) into a valuable one (bow string), generating a consistent profit.
- Requirements: Level 1 Crafting (Level 10 is needed for the quest to remove the “spin” chat dialogue, making it much easier).
- Items Needed: Flax.
- Process: Click on a spinning wheel with flax in your inventory.
- Experience Gain: 15 XP per bow string.
This is the go-to method for players who want to train Crafting without losing money. In fact, you’ll make a tidy profit! It’s also famous for being one of the best “AFK” (Away From Keyboard) activities in the game. Once you click the spinning wheel, your character will automatically spin the entire inventory of flax, which can take over a minute. This gives you time to do homework, watch a video, or focus on another task.
The Head-to-Head Comparison: Bracelets vs. Bow Strings
Now that you know the basics, let’s put these two methods side-by-side. We’ll look at the most important factors for any skilling method: experience, cost, and how much effort is required. This will give you a clear picture of which one aligns with your playstyle and goals.
Factor 1: Experience (XP) Per Hour
Experience per hour is the ultimate measure of speed. If your only goal is to reach level 99 Crafting as fast as humanly possible, this is the number that matters most.
Gold Bracelets: This is where bracelets shine. With an efficient setup (a close bank and furnace), you can expect to gain between 60,000 and 80,000 Crafting XP per hour. This is because you can process an entire inventory of 27 gold bars in under a minute, including the time it takes to run back and forth from the bank.
Bow Strings: Bow strings offer a much more relaxed pace. The XP rates are significantly lower, typically landing between 12,000 and 15,000 Crafting XP per hour. The process of spinning is slow, and even with efficient banking, you can’t speed it up. This is a trade-off you make for the method’s other benefits.
Factor 2: Cost vs. Profit (GP Per Hour)
Your in-game bank balance is a huge factor. Do you want to spend money to train a skill, or do you want a skill that pays you to train it?
Gold Bracelets: This method is a “money sink.” You will lose GP. The exact amount depends on the fluctuating prices in the Grand Exchange, but you can expect to lose money on each gold bar you use. This can add up to hundreds of thousands or even millions of GP over many levels. It’s an investment in saving time.
Bow Strings: This is a reliable money-maker. Flax is very cheap, and bow strings are always in demand by players training Fletching. You will make a profit on every single bow string you create. Depending on market prices, you can expect to earn between 60,000 and 100,000 GP per hour while training. It’s a fantastic way for new players to build their first cash stack.
Factor 3: Click Intensity & AFK-Ability
How much do you want to pay attention to the game? Some people like active, engaging gameplay, while others prefer to relax and multi-task.
Gold Bracelets: This is a high-intensity method. You are constantly running, clicking the furnace, running back, and banking. There is very little downtime. This is not an AFK activity; it requires your full attention to be efficient.
Bow Strings: This is one of the most famous AFK methods in OSRS. After clicking the spinning wheel, you have about 70-80 seconds where your character works automatically. This is more than enough time to look at another screen, read a paragraph in a book, or take a sip of your drink. It requires minimal attention.
Comparison Table: At a Glance
To make it even clearer, here is a simple table summarizing everything we’ve just discussed.
| Factor | Gold Bracelets | Bow Strings |
|---|---|---|
| XP Per Hour | ~70,000 (Very Fast) | ~13,000 (Slow) |
| GP Per Hour | Negative (Loss) | ~80,000 (Profit) |
| Click Intensity | High (Active) | Very Low (AFK) |
| Primary Goal | Speed | Profit & Relaxation |
| Membership Required? | No (F2P Friendly) | Yes (Members Only) |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Started
Ready to start crafting? Here are simple, step-by-step instructions for both methods, designed to get you training efficiently right away.
Training with Gold Bracelets (The Fast Method)
This method is all about minimizing the time spent running between the bank and the furnace.
What You’ll Need:
- A bracelet mould (buy from a crafting store or the Grand Exchange)
- A large stack of gold bars
- Stamina potions (optional, but highly recommended to keep your run energy up)
- Weight-reducing gear like the Graceful outfit (optional, but helpful)
The Best Location:
The Al Kharid furnace is the most popular choice for Free-to-Play players because the bank is very close. For members, the furnace in Edgeville is excellent, as the bank is just a few steps away.
The Process:
- Start at your chosen bank. Keep your bracelet mould in your inventory at all times.
- Withdraw as many gold bars as you can carry (usually 27).
- Run to the nearby furnace. If you have one, sip a dose of Stamina potion.
- Click on the furnace to open the smelting interface.
- Select the gold bracelet icon. Your character will begin making them automatically.
- Once your inventory is full of bracelets, run back to the bank.
- Deposit the bracelets and withdraw another inventory of gold bars.
- Repeat this process!
Training with Bow Strings (The Profitable & AFK Method)
This method is about setting up in a comfortable spot and settling in for a long, relaxing session.
What You’ll Need:
- A large stack of flax
The Best Location:
The most iconic and convenient location is the Lumbridge Castle, top floor. There is a spinning wheel right next to a bank. For higher-level players, the spinning wheel in Seers’ Village is also very close to a bank, especially after completing the Kandarin Hard Diary.
The Process:
- Start at the bank in Lumbridge Castle or Seers’ Village.
- Withdraw a full inventory of flax (28 items).
- Walk over to the spinning wheel.
- Left-click the spinning wheel. An interface will pop up.
- Select “Bowstring” and choose the “Make X” option. Enter “99” to make all of them.
- Your character will now spin all 28 flax into bow strings without any further clicks. This is your AFK time!
- Once the inventory is done, walk back to the bank.
- Deposit your bow strings and withdraw more flax.
- Repeat for as long as you’d like!
Which Method is Right for You? Making the Decision
By now, you should have a good idea of the pros and cons of each method. The final decision comes down to your personal situation and what you want to achieve in the game. Let’s make it simple.
Choose Gold Bracelets If…
- Your main priority is leveling up your Crafting skill as quickly as possible.
- You have a good amount of money (GP) saved up and don’t mind spending it to save time.
- You are actively playing the game and want an engaging, click-intensive method.
- You are a Free-to-Play player, as this is one of the best F2P crafting methods available.
Choose Bow Strings If…
- You want to make a profit while you train your Crafting skill.
- You are a new player who needs to build up your bank balance.
- You need a very low-effort, AFK activity to do while you are busy with work, school, or other real-life tasks.
- You enjoy relaxed, “chill” skilling sessions over high-intensity ones.
- You are a member, as spinning flax is a members-only activity.
Pro Tips for Maximum Efficiency
Once you’ve chosen your path, a few extra tips can help you get the most out of every hour.
- Check Live Prices: The economy of OSRS is always changing. Before you buy thousands of gold bars or flax, use a reliable resource like the Official Old School RuneScape Wiki to check the real-time prices. This will help you accurately calculate your expected profit or loss.
- For Bracelets, Manage Your Energy: If you’re making bracelets, run energy is your biggest bottleneck. Wearing the full Graceful outfit reduces your weight and helps energy restore faster. Using Stamina potions will allow you to run for much longer, dramatically increasing your XP per hour.
- For Bow Strings, Optimize Your Clicks: Even in an AFK method, you can save a few seconds. Position your camera so the bank booth and the spinning wheel are close together on your screen. This minimizes mouse movement, making the process feel even smoother.
- Consider a Hybrid Approach: You don’t have to stick to just one method! Many players spin bow strings when they need to be AFK and switch to a faster method like making bracelets or cutting gems when they are actively playing. Mixing and matching is a great way to balance speed and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What level do I need to make gold bracelets?
You only need Level 7 Crafting to start making gold bracelets, making it a very accessible method for players early in their journey.
Is spinning bow strings good money for a beginner?
Absolutely! It’s one of the most stable and reliable money-makers for new members. It requires no combat skills and has very low starting costs, allowing you to turn a small investment in flax into a healthy profit.
Where is the best place to spin flax?
For convenience, the top floor of Lumbridge Castle is the best place. It has a spinning wheel right next to a bank, requiring minimal walking. The Seers’ Village spinning wheel is another excellent option for those who have access to it.
Are bracelets always faster XP than bow strings?
Yes, by a very large margin. Even with inefficient banking, making gold bracelets will always provide significantly more Crafting XP per hour than spinning bow strings. The trade-off is purely speed vs. profit.
Can I do these methods on a Free-to-Play (F2P) world?
You can make gold bracelets in F2P, and it is one of the best training methods available. However, spinning flax into bow strings is a members-only activity. Flax exists in F2P, but you cannot use a spinning wheel.
How much XP do I get per bow string or bracelet?
You receive 25 Crafting XP for each gold bracelet you successfully make. You get 15 Crafting XP for each bow string you spin from flax.
Is there a faster way to bank when making bracelets?
Using Rings of Dueling to teleport to Castle Wars for a close bank or Amulets of Glory to teleport to Edgeville can speed up your banking time, especially if you are using a furnace that is far from a bank, like the one in Falador.
Your Crafting Journey Awaits
And there you have it—a complete guide to the age-old debate of bracelets versus bow strings. As you can see, there isn’t one “best” answer that fits everyone. The true best method is the one that aligns with your personal goals, your budget, and the way you enjoy playing the game.
If you’re racing to the finish line and have the funds to fuel your journey, the path of gold bracelets will get you there in record time. If you prefer a scenic route that fills your pockets along the way, the steady rhythm of the spinning wheel is your perfect companion. Both are valid, and both will lead you to higher Crafting levels.
Now you have the knowledge to make an informed choice. So, stock up on your materials, head to the furnace or the spinning wheel, and start gaining those levels. Happy crafting, and I’ll see you in Gielinor!