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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: NY Yankee on January 25, 2023, 03:33:58 PM

Title: String Silencers?
Post by: NY Yankee on January 25, 2023, 03:33:58 PM
Im wondering how many hunt without string silencers on their bow? What are your thoughts about this?
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: NY Yankee on January 26, 2023, 10:32:07 AM
It's looking like very few, if any.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: McDave on January 26, 2023, 03:48:05 PM
I think the Native Americans hunted without string silencers.  They did pretty well for themselves.  Robin Hood too, I would imagine.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Wudstix on January 26, 2023, 04:21:40 PM
Personally, I like as light a puff as I can get.  Less weight less speed reduction.  I'm currently using paracord sheath material, 4x2" at @12-13 grams.  One top and one bottom.  Do a search I've posted it before.
 :campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: mnbwhtr on January 26, 2023, 04:59:48 PM
Never found them necessary on my ASL's. Recurves yes I 've used several  kinds.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Wannabe1 on January 26, 2023, 05:36:10 PM
I had a Hill Redman 70" bow that was so quiet, I never put string silencers on it. Sure wish I had that baby still! :knothead:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: mgf on January 27, 2023, 05:06:38 AM
I think the Native Americans hunted without string silencers.  They did pretty well for themselves.  Robin Hood too, I would imagine.

They got by without a lot of things that we find useful.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Buggs on January 27, 2023, 08:44:21 AM
Don't use them. I do use a heavy string, which does absorb some vibration. They should not be necessary unless your string is slapping the limbs. I always like the idea of a fast bow, with skinny string and a couple of heavy wind socks to deaden the sound :knothead:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Pat B on January 27, 2023, 10:28:52 AM
I usually use string silencers on most of my bows, not necessarily to dampen string noise, although that too but because I think they look cool. Not only on my wood bows but also on my Treadway R/D longbow and my Jeffrey's T/D recurve and a few other glass bows I have. 
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Smguinnip on January 27, 2023, 11:59:11 AM
I like to use silencers for bare shaft tuning, if i am showing a slightly weak or slightly stiff shaft, i can move them closer to the center of the string to stiffen the shaft or away from the center to weaken the shaft. [that's if you get that particular when tuning]. using lighter or heavier silencers can stiffen/weaken a shaft also.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on January 27, 2023, 05:43:44 PM
I agree with Pat. I use 1/4" strips of rabbit fur wound just under the splice of  a Flemish string. Jawge
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Honest Jon on January 27, 2023, 07:36:43 PM
Muskrat, beaver, mink, otter and my favorite, belly hide from a wolf. I don’t know if they make much difference at all- I just like the way they look on selfbows!
Honest Jon [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Pat B on January 27, 2023, 11:01:45 PM
Nice bows, Jon.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 28, 2023, 05:17:47 AM
Very nice Jon.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: katman on January 28, 2023, 08:02:01 AM
All of my bows wear them, the few fps loss is not a big deal for me. I want my setup as quiet as possible for the hunt.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Honest Jon on January 28, 2023, 09:06:37 AM
This guy and others like him, never mentioned anything about lose of fps :archer2: [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Tim Reese on January 28, 2023, 10:31:09 AM
To me it’s a risk reward situation. To me they offer more than they hurt so why not. I make my own and try to make them as small as I can. My longbows are so quite and to me that’s all I care about. Plus I dig the look of them. Lol.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: RIVERWOLF on January 28, 2023, 12:01:45 PM
Agree Tim ;)
My Longbows are VERY quiet properly tuned without any silencers , but....no bow is natually dead quiet without some string silencer of some sort eating that little bit of unused energy .I've never owned nor shot a bow that didn't advance in quietness with the usage of some type of silencer.   

I agree with "seeing no reason "not" to use them". I have used wool-wool blends-catwhiskers-all types of fur-leather-and many other materials over the years.  I prefer fur like muskrat-beaver , but it really doesn't matter in the Big picture.The bow and setup will tell you when you hit the sweet spot .... :campfire:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: RIVERWOLF on January 28, 2023, 12:13:56 PM
...My brown Montana Longbow "Rose" was sporting neon green kitty whiskers this year . Dead quiet Worked just fine.....  :campfire:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: RIVERWOLF on January 28, 2023, 12:18:39 PM
What ta....Who's  that "Old Man" in me pictures ??? :biglaugh:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: kennym on January 28, 2023, 06:07:08 PM
What ta....Who's  that "Old Man" in me pictures ??? :biglaugh:

Looks like an experienced bowhunter to me... 

Rock on bro!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Maclean on January 29, 2023, 09:11:23 AM
Ever see a whitetail jump a string?  I have. And that's with a properly silenced string.

After spending countless hours every year scouting elk and planning my hunt, the last thing I want to do is bring a noisy bow into the mountains with me. I might only get one shot. I don't want to blow it because of a noisy string.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Walt Francis on January 29, 2023, 02:07:43 PM
My selfbows are probably quiet enough without string silencers….when I get a good release.  I do not always have a good release, therefore I use string silencers.

The fur silencers look cool and function well… until they pick up every sticker or burr along the trail.  I use the rubber cat whiskers because they do not pick up the stickers and burrs.

Technically, I use the rubber legs for tying fly’s for fly fishing, not Cat Whiskers, they come numerous colors, diameters, and are about 1/10th the cost of buying “Cat Whiskers”.  Thank Uncle Barry for the tip, he gave it to me about 30 years ago.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: galadriel on February 06, 2023, 12:11:16 AM
I use scraps of felted wool that is 1/4th in thick. Works better than anything else I’ve ever tried. 
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Tim Reese on February 06, 2023, 11:42:47 AM
Just made these yesterday from wool yarn. They look way bigger in pic. There really not though.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on February 06, 2023, 11:51:33 AM
I have used the beaver balls but I switched to wool puff because I got the beaver balls wet and they dried and started to rattle when I shot. 
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Terry Green on February 15, 2023, 10:59:56 AM
Walt, I have what you are talking about, loads of it, they are what spinnerbait skirts are made off most times.  Good stuff.  :campfire:
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Kirkll on February 15, 2023, 09:57:22 PM
My selfbows are probably quiet enough without string silencers….when I get a good release.  I do not always have a good release, therefore I use string silencers.

The fur silencers look cool and function well… until they pick up every sticker or burr along the trail.  I use the rubber cat whiskers because they do not pick up the stickers and burrs.

Technically, I use the rubber legs for tying fly’s for fly fishing, not Cat Whiskers, they come numerous colors, diameters, and are about 1/10th the cost of buying “Cat Whiskers”.  Thank Uncle Barry for the tip, he gave it to me about 30 years ago.

Yup.... the fishing lure skirt material is excellent.  This is what i buy.

https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/366200
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Mike Malvaini on February 16, 2023, 09:41:38 AM
I like the wool best, the good wool and not the wally world crap that flies apart.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: acolobowhunter on February 24, 2023, 05:46:03 PM
If you get a chance, RMSG in Denver handles Navajo string puffs.  They have a natural lanoline in the wool, which work good in rain.  You can feel the lanoline on your fingers.  Also they are easy to install and can be removed and used again on another string.
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: Walt Francis on February 24, 2023, 11:29:16 PM
Nice bows, Jon.  :thumbsup:

2X
Title: Re: String Silencers?
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 25, 2023, 08:43:25 AM
I just made myself a 43# 1 inch wide, red oak board bow that shoots really quietly. I am considering not using silencers. Jawge