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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Over&Under on December 30, 2007, 10:46:00 AM

Title: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Over&Under on December 30, 2007, 10:46:00 AM
My wife was doing some knittin' the other day, so I got to thinking the yarn looked a little like "camo"  so I stole a little, (I asked first), looped it around my hand a few times, cut the two ends of the loop, put it though the string and here are the results.  What ya think?

 (http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/36151/2371690180100712269S600x600Q85.jpg)   (http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/37542/2795808940100712269S600x600Q85.jpg)   (http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/37782/2612747160100712269S600x600Q85.jpg)   (http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/38894/2797268440100712269S600x600Q85.jpg)
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: redfish on December 30, 2007, 10:47:00 AM
Looks good
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Dirty Bill on December 30, 2007, 11:03:00 AM
I made these kind many years ago.The trouble is they pick up too many hitch hikers,and they get wet in the rain or damp conditions.
The extra weight will slow down your bow a little. I've been using fur,often called beaver balls,for a great long time,and like them much better.    :campfire:
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Al Dean on December 30, 2007, 11:08:00 AM
I think if you use 100% wool yarn the wet or damp conditions are not an issue.  
100% wool = fur.  I do make my own.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Quill Flinger on December 30, 2007, 11:30:00 AM
I've used these before, in damp-wet weather, just give 'em a lil spray of pledge (while they're still dry like) & they'll shed the water some.

I've tried scotch-guard before, but doesn't seem to work as well. I'm guessing a silicon based spray might work as well.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Over&Under on December 30, 2007, 11:35:00 AM
Ohhh  never thought of them getting wet.  Good ideas, I will try some pledge.  I have always used beaver balls too and they seemed to pick up hitchhikers also just as Bill said, these will most likely grab even more.  

I will give them a try and see what happens.

My kabakona was very quiet before but now I have to check to make sure I am actually shooting  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on December 30, 2007, 12:08:00 PM
I was introduced to these type of silencers this fall myself by Jonesy....The difference is incredible vs the beaver balls i had on there..I'm talking dead silent here!.The wool yarn IS much more weather resistant too..... I sprayed mine down with some "Camp Dry" to help repell the water one time.  :scared:      :scared:   ...i wouldn't recomend it.....Seriously sticky balls resulted....  :knothead:      :banghead:  

I had to do another stalk on mama's yarn basket after that boo-boo....

The stuff works good on feathers though!        :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Guru on December 30, 2007, 01:56:00 PM
Acrylic or wool yard will hold way less water than fur silencers.....and hitchhikers will shoot right out of the yearn.    Been using this type of silencers for many years.......

Best of the best is the Bow Hush product, "Hush Puppies". The Green(Terry's daughters) girls will hook ya up with them.......
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: tradtusker on December 30, 2007, 02:04:00 PM
look real good! what bow is that?  :thumbsup:    :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: ChristopherO on December 30, 2007, 02:09:00 PM
O&U,
When you said you pulled it through the string do you mean that you seperated the string strands, slid the yarn through them and then retightened the string back together?  I am wondering how you attached them.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Guru on December 30, 2007, 02:13:00 PM
Chris.....not sure how O&U does it, but yes,that's how it's done....
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Abram on December 30, 2007, 02:15:00 PM
ChristopherO,

Seperating the strands in the bow string and inserting the wool is the best way to install them. They stay where you put them. The only draw back of doing it this way is that is makes it difficult to fine tune the placement of the silencers.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: TSP on December 30, 2007, 02:57:00 PM
I've always wondered whether inserting bunches of yarn or similar material between the string strands (especially on skinny strings) decreases the overall strength/ integrity/ life of the string.  I've tried many different materials and approaches on many different bows and have my own opinions on what works best, but if there's anyone who has actually 'tested' the results of tie-ons vs. the insert-in-string type with regard to both silencing results AND string life, I'd be interested in hearing the findings.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Over&Under on December 30, 2007, 07:28:00 PM
tradtusker -  Thanks alot, the bow is a Kabakona River from Jason Kendall - 58" 52@28


ChristopherO - Yes I just separated the strands in equal parts, slid the yarn through and twisted it back up, works real well.  I had to do some trimming after a few shots, cause I made them too large and the frayed out too much.

KirkII - Thanks for the tip, I have been thinking about what to use for waterproofing, I will definatly stay away from the Camp Dry.

Thanks for the comments

Jake
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: deadpool on December 30, 2007, 07:52:00 PM
been usin them and lovin them for a few years now!

very cheap and very effective!
just the way i like it!!
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Billy on December 30, 2007, 08:22:00 PM
I got the Hush Puppies and BowHush on my 'curve.
Got a bunch of the large hitchhikers stuck and 5-6 shots later they were gone.
Pledge,huh?
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on December 30, 2007, 08:48:00 PM
I have been using old work boot laces
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Kip on December 30, 2007, 08:55:00 PM
I tried some camo yarn and some fluffy kind that looks like your pic.Camo yarn works good the fluffy  kind keeps falling apart wool would work better and bow hush last much longer in my .02.Kip
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on December 30, 2007, 10:01:00 PM
Hey there TSP,

Those hush puppies, or yarn balls are inserted side by side between the separated bunches of your string...i couldn't imagine how that could possibly effect the life of the string...but the silencing effect is unbelievable....
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: ChristopherO on December 31, 2007, 09:25:00 AM
Thanks for filling me in on the details of how you fasten them on the string.  Until now I've only tied rubber bands on the string but what you have looks to work better.
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: snag on December 31, 2007, 09:32:00 AM
Llama hair makes really good silencer material. Lots of natural oils and it is light weight and resilent. With siccors in hand..."here llama, llama....
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: 30coupe on December 31, 2007, 09:37:00 AM
I love the way they silence a bow, but I gave up on them this year, which could be called the year of the stick-tight. They do NOT shoot out. Rather the yarn puffs turn into little balls of burrs. I went back to rubber cat whiskers for my hunting bows...not as quiet, but water and burr proof.

BTW: Jason isn't builing the Kabakona River bows anymore. He builds and sells his own bow, the Kanati. I just got mine a couple weeks ago and I love it!
Title: Re: Home-Made Sting Silencers
Post by: Over&Under on December 31, 2007, 10:19:00 AM
Correct - Jason no longer makes the Kriver, but will have to do until I order my new Kanati!!!

I might have to switch back, we have quite a few burs around here too...

Jake