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Topic Archives => How To - Resources => Topic started by: Apex Predator on July 02, 2008, 05:06:00 AM

Title: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Apex Predator on July 02, 2008, 05:06:00 AM

Here is a simple, quick tutorial on how to use wool yarn to silence a bow string.

Here is a view of my materials.  Note the fancy jigs I built, and the yarn purchased from Michaels Arts and Crafts.

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-1.jpg)

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-2.jpg)

First thing is clamping your jigs to the bench to apply slight tension to your string.  

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-3.jpg)

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-4.jpg)

Next step is to separate the bundles for inserting your puff balls.  Your hands will be full in a moment, so do it now.  I use an antler tine for this and anything else handle for the opposite side after the bundles are split.  Sharp objects are not good here!

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-5.jpg)

Take a few turns around your fingers, or I've heard a credit card works quite well.  Insert in your string, and pull your spreaders out.  I like to trim around 3/4" on each side.

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-6.jpg)

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-7.jpg)

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-8.jpg)

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Apex Predator on July 02, 2008, 05:15:00 AM

Now for the contact area on recurves.  This is my favorite part.  Seperate with your antler tine, and wrap with slight tension.  You don't want it served on too tight or it will be less effective.

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-9-1.jpg)

When you get to the loop just run it through and start wrapping back to where you started in the opposite direction.  At the end I run it through from the opposite side and trim to about 1/4" on each side.

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-10.jpg)

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-11.jpg)

After stringing your bow just pluck the string a few times and it will take shape.  These work awesome!

 (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Apex-Predator/Silentstring-12.jpg)

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Nakohe on July 02, 2008, 06:26:00 AM

Hey, great how to do it example. Thanks.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Glenn Carl on July 02, 2008, 07:09:00 AM

Very nice. Thanks for sharing

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Jedimaster on July 02, 2008, 09:21:00 AM

AHA!  Much easier seeing than reading alone.  Thanks for taking the time for the how-to.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: snag on July 02, 2008, 09:36:00 AM

I have gone to this as well Apex. Good pics. Yes it does work well!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: BMN on July 02, 2008, 09:41:00 AM

Nicely done!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Dustin Waters on July 02, 2008, 10:09:00 AM

what happens when you unstring your bow?  I am assuming that once you have shot the bow a few times the yarn is basically fused into the string through a bunch of tangles and what not?

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: tukudu on July 02, 2008, 10:20:00 AM

Nice presentation. Now if someone can do one which shows how to get the cat whisker style done in a tight round ball we will have this silencing act down. Someone out there has to have that process down!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Bjorn on July 02, 2008, 10:22:00 AM

Good job-Thanks!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Apex Predator on July 02, 2008, 10:23:00 AM

I unstring them, and even store them in plastic bags without any trouble.  I handle them a little more gently though with the custom touches.  I guess some serving would make them a little more durable off the bow, but I have never needed to.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: JoeM on July 02, 2008, 10:31:00 AM

Thanks for sharing I have a new bow coming this week, think I'll give this a try.  Joe

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: beaver#1 on July 02, 2008, 03:45:00 PM

thanks for sharing , i thinki will try it out on my recurve when i get home

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Holm-Made on July 02, 2008, 11:49:00 PM

Nicely done.  Thanks,  Chad

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: upatree on July 02, 2008, 11:58:00 PM

2 new strings on order right now and will be giving your tutorial a try.  THANKS, Corey

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: StickBowManMI on July 03, 2008, 03:00:00 PM

Great tutorial! I think that I will give this a try.
Thanks

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: JEFF B on July 03, 2008, 03:12:00 PM

what with me living in the land of sheep i got heaps of wool for that sort of thing. i have been using that since adam was a boy. LOL!!! good stuff man.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: crookedwoody on July 04, 2008, 07:54:00 AM

otter fur silencers work very good on longbows.just start them below your loop and wrap them down and tuck it back in.and use the wool puffs as above.you wont have any noise.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: ozy clint on July 04, 2008, 07:21:00 PM

cool. how does it perform when it's wet? do you have much trouble with grass seeds etc?

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: crookedwoody on July 05, 2008, 02:22:00 PM

they hold up better than other fur.even the wool puffs hold up really good.in the fall the little deggers lice [burrs] stick in them.but they stick to everything.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Hot Hap on August 09, 2008, 04:35:00 PM

ttt

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Bowferd on August 09, 2008, 11:21:00 PM

Great tutorial.
I've had 2 and still own one of your previous bows and wondered how you made the strings so smooth.
Now i'm just waiting for one of your custom made bows!!!!!!!!!!!! 52# @28

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Widowbender on August 09, 2008, 11:49:00 PM

:thumbsup:  Great tutorial, AP...I'm gonna have to give that one a try..
Thanks,

David

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: SoNevada Archer on August 10, 2008, 01:30:00 AM

Very cool! Thanks so much!!!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Bowferd on August 10, 2008, 06:02:00 PM

Got it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you install the string whisperers on this one?

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Apex Predator on August 11, 2008, 07:16:00 AM

That's standard for my strings Fred!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: david_lewis93 on August 11, 2008, 11:12:00 AM

Been using that little trick on my bows for a few years  even on them cabled up kind too!!!  :archer:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: cdworks on August 11, 2008, 11:15:00 AM

used his way for my strings and it worked great!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: david janssen on August 11, 2008, 08:15:00 PM

Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Tom Anderson on August 09, 2010, 11:59:00 AM

ttt

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: mrpenguin on August 09, 2010, 01:00:00 PM

I've been thinking about getting some qiviut and making silencers like the ones I've bought from "C"-land...  This trick may actually be a better option with a a qiviut blend...

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Mudd on August 09, 2010, 01:19:00 PM

Sweet! Thanks for sharing!
God bless,Mudd

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: limbow on August 09, 2010, 01:20:00 PM

Thanks for sharing!!! Very helpful and informative  :)

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: joevan125 on August 09, 2010, 01:20:00 PM

I use Terry's Bow Hush system and i apply it just like have showed and it works better than anything i have tried.

Plus it looks really cool and very trad.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: cacciatore on August 09, 2010, 05:16:00 PM

Good tutorial,thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: owlbait on August 09, 2010, 05:36:00 PM

Nice pics and well explained. I have used my flemish string jig to hold my string much like your clamps and jigs. Thanks AP  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: 1bjd on August 09, 2010, 06:16:00 PM

Great system VERY quiet bows every time.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: mscampbell75 on August 09, 2010, 06:59:00 PM

I wish I had seen this before the first time I did it.  Makes it seem almost effortless with the pics and the explinations.

This would be a good thread in the tutorials!!!(If not one already.)

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: rick7 on August 09, 2010, 08:23:00 PM

i make my own also and they realy quiet down my bows

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: pitbull on August 10, 2010, 11:41:00 AM

I just tried it on an unruly longbow of mine and it worked like a charm. Thanks Marty  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Apex Predator on August 10, 2010, 11:53:00 AM

It's hard to believe this thread is still going strong!  I'm glad some folks have found this useful.  I have had great results with bow hush and hush puppies as well, but some folks just like to do it themselves.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: BigStriper on August 10, 2010, 12:01:00 PM

I don't remember if it was you Apex or someone else on this Site but I have been doing this to any and All of my Bows since I started shooting Recurves and Longbows about 2 years ago and it works Great,Thanks,

Kurt

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: snag on August 10, 2010, 06:39:00 PM

For those who don't want to make their own I would recommend visiting Centaur's site. Jim sells a string silencer called the "Navajo". These are sheep wool silencers that have a lot of the natural linolen still in the wool. They work great!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Elkchaser on August 10, 2010, 11:26:00 PM

Great information and presentation. Thank you.
I'll give it a try I think.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: TxAg on August 11, 2010, 11:14:00 PM

Good stuff

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: bucksdown on August 12, 2010, 07:15:00 AM

apex that was great "how to" pictures for a hillbilly like me. i was thinking about ordering some of the other wool silencers but i assume the woolyarn will work just as well, and be a lot cheaper. looks like that roll would do lots of bows or one as many times as needed in a season if they got burrs or worn down. thanks

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: bornagainbowhunter on August 12, 2010, 07:22:00 AM

i really like the idea about the contact area of the string.  I don't have a recurve right now, but have in the past, I used to put felt under the string where it contacted the limb.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Eugene Slagle on August 12, 2010, 08:18:00 AM

I had to copy this to a word document for myself, this is good info that I'm definitly going to try.

Apex Predator; I'll email you a copy so you can approve me using your info.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Wannabe1 on August 25, 2010, 11:17:00 PM

Marty, I went down today and got me a roll of that Wool-Ease ya got there and made a set of silencers, following your directions, for my Zipper. Man, let me tell you, they sure quieted it down more than the rubber silencers that was on the string!

I won't be buying string silencers anymore!   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: EL Mejor on March 03, 2011, 10:59:00 PM

cool thanks for sharing...

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Dave Bowers on March 03, 2011, 11:14:00 PM

I know what I'll be doing this rainy weekend...thanks AP   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Slinging 24/7 on March 04, 2011, 12:07:00 AM

Very cool. Never done that kinda serving near the contact area for sure gonna do it soon.

Thanks for the pics

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Gen273 on March 04, 2011, 12:13:00 AM

Good Job, thanks for posting the info!!!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Night Wing on March 04, 2011, 09:28:00 AM

Since I dropped 126 grains in arrow weight by switching from a 2117 to a 2212 aluminum arrow out of my 42# bow, the 2212 was very loud upon arrow release. By making my own wool puffs using AP's method, the bow is whisper quiet now.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Covey on March 04, 2011, 11:37:00 AM

I looked this up a long while back, been doing it since. Work's great and very cheap! Hard telling how many a fella could get out of a bundle of yarn.  Thank's AP, you've saved me alot of money! Jason

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: legends1 on March 04, 2011, 12:15:00 PM

Awesome job,thanks.I would guess this would work on both longbows and recurves.Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: LoweBow on March 04, 2011, 12:21:00 PM

Thank you!!  I'll deff. be doing this on my Black Widow.  That bow seems to be my toughest bow to quiet down....

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Blackstick on March 04, 2011, 12:26:00 PM

This is one of my favorite how-to threads. I’m glad to see it brought back up.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: gobblegrunter on March 04, 2011, 04:22:00 PM

I missed this one the first time around and am very glad it was brought back up. Gonna try it out this weekend! Thanks Apex!

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Shakes.602 on March 04, 2011, 04:40:00 PM

Been away for awhile, Family Issues(UGH), so this is My First Read!!  :rolleyes:   Awsome How-To!!  :readit:   Thank You for taking the Initiative to Add it to the  Tutorials  on the  "Finest Site"  for Tute's on the Web!!   :clapper:    :clapper:   I may be just a Tad Biased too.....  :goldtooth:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: maineac on March 04, 2011, 05:20:00 PM

Nice turorial

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Night Wing on March 04, 2011, 07:58:00 PM

Just finished doing my 37# recurve. Just have to shoot it tomorrow, if it doesn't rain, to fluff out the puffs.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: JimL on March 05, 2011, 09:24:00 AM

Great, thanks for the info

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: uglyjake on March 05, 2011, 11:19:00 AM

Very nice.  Thank you.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: ti-guy on March 05, 2011, 11:46:00 AM

I'll try it for sure,thanks

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: boznarras on March 05, 2011, 12:48:00 PM

One thing not discussed was exactly where to put the silencers; how far from the ends of the string.
I have just been doing what 'looks right' which is about 10-12 inches from the loop. I have moved them around and can't judge a difference very well. Takes too long between trials for me to recall exactly how loud the previous position was...very subjective. Seems like it would be different for each bow, too.
Might be a good experiment for someone with the right instruments; maybe something to measure sound, and a chronograph? Is there an audio engineer in the house?

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Thunderhorn25 on March 06, 2011, 02:30:00 PM

Very cool, thanks for sharing

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Thumper Dunker on March 06, 2011, 02:56:00 PM

Great job.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: BoonRoto on March 19, 2011, 03:26:00 AM

Thanks for the great play by play.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Roots on March 19, 2011, 08:51:00 AM

Very informative thread, when is the video coming out.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: 59Alaskan on March 19, 2011, 09:44:00 PM

Happened to be trying to quiet down a stubborn blue stripe Super Kodiak when I read this thread.

I tried this tonight and it works great.  Thank you for sharing this.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: 30pointbuck on March 19, 2011, 10:54:00 PM

Works well.   :thumbsup:   Thanks.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Stump73 on March 19, 2011, 11:18:00 PM

On my way to get some yarn! Thanks Mike

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: swifty99 on March 19, 2011, 11:27:00 PM

Great How To, thanks.

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Kapellmeister on March 19, 2011, 11:33:00 PM

Thank you, Marty!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How I silence a bow string.
Post by: Shedrock on March 20, 2011, 03:26:00 PM

Nice, thanks!