I just finished tuning my silencers using the following steps.
1. Adjust the brace height to the most quiet place (8 1/2 inches. maximum manufacture recommendation. Not sure If I should go higher)
2.Tie on beaver balls with floss. slide to different spots to see where it is most quiet. Ended up being 7 inches from string contact points.
3. Put on silencers permanently by spreading string and wrapping. I ended up tying them on in the LONG cylinder shaped configuration rather than balled up tight.
My observation is that when I wrapped the beaver balls in the long cylindrical way, it made a much quieter shot than when I was testing in the Bunched up puffy ball way.
Has anyone else noticed that beaver balls work better to quiet the bow when installed spread long rather than bunched up?
That's how I put them on. Never tried any other way.
x2
Exact opposite experience for me. Beaver balls and muskrat fur look awesome but simply didn't have the silencing properties of yarn balls.
I agree with Cook ...the fur looks like a dead rat When Wet and they don't work as good as wool puff silencers for me.
after trying several different materials I ended up developing Bow Hush and Hush Puppies from the finest New Zealand wool ....place them at 1 3rd on some recurves 1/4 on longbows and other recurves.
I don't have to worry about sliding them around they just work at those positions as proven before by ocilation tests.
Years ago I tried tanned beaver fur strips too - they look great... BUT:
I woke up one morning in the bush to find that a mouse had chewed one fur silencer off and in the process had cut a few strands of my bowstring!
I've been using them for years with no problems what so ever. And they will out live any bow string .
I use wool ane the placement described initially is about right. Between the nodes - 7" to 8" from the tips and adjust as needed.
But then, we raise sheep and LOTS of wool is available.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/DSCN0869B_zpsd66dc08b.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/DSCN1261_zps8e908a76.jpg)
Same can be said for Wool Puff silencers...if you purchased the right brand they will also outlive the bowstring.... no big deal ....
.non factor......mute point