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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Covey on September 02, 2009, 04:48:00 PM

Title: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Covey on September 02, 2009, 04:48:00 PM
I came home today to find my wife had thrown my new silencers away "on accident of course" so I was thinking of makeing me some out of yarn! any ideas? Thanks in advance, Jason
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: TomMcDonald on September 02, 2009, 04:49:00 PM
Yeah.
Wrap the yarn around your first 3 fingers 20 times. Tie in the middle with string.
Put between the strings where you want them.
Cut the loops and shoot the bow.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Bill Turner on September 02, 2009, 05:00:00 PM
Can't say that I do, but I would highly recommend hush puppies and bow hush. Do a search here on TradGang.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Keefer on September 02, 2009, 05:03:00 PM
Jason, I make mine pretty much like Tom does and that is the the simplest way...I go to craft stores to look for different shades of wool and mix ...Somewhere was a how to video where a guy shows you how to make a simple tool from a plastic cloths hanger and you file a groove into the V section you cut out and just wrap 20 or so times around it and tie as Tom stated,put  it through string and trim to size...I make mine that way...You will never buy another set once you make your own...God Bless& good luck! Keefer's <")))><
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: freefeet on September 02, 2009, 05:03:00 PM
I took my bows down to the wool shop and got them colour matched.  :-D

I use pure wool double knit.

Instead of fingers i use two nails on my flemish string board, 2 inches apart, 12 strands.  4 puffs per string on the 1/4 and 1/3 points.  Works great.

I also double the wool up and wrap it around the ends of the string where it contacts the bow limbs (i shoot recurves).  The doubled up wool i spiral down the string from the loop and then spiral back up over itself to give a good padding.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: BobW on September 02, 2009, 05:11:00 PM
'nother vote for buying Hush Puppies..
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: WESTBROOK on September 02, 2009, 05:19:00 PM
I've made them out of wool yarn from Wal-mart, they work good on my bows. I also have hush puppies on some bows that required a little more effort.

Eric
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Kevin L. on September 02, 2009, 05:24:00 PM
I make mine the same as Tom and Keefer, but I made a board w/ finishing nails to wrap it on. One other thing, get some Merino camouflage wool from a fabric shop. It changes color every 5-6", from brown to tan to green to olive. Makes a fine looking silencer, IMO.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: doctari on September 02, 2009, 05:48:00 PM
My wife gave me her mothers old mink fur hat. I cut out strips and than tie them into the string.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Bill Carlsen on September 02, 2009, 05:56:00 PM
Soiunds like Freefeet and I are on the same page.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Covey on September 02, 2009, 06:23:00 PM
Very cool stuff! I kinda had the idea about the yarn but had'nt came up with how I was going to do it! Thanks for the suggestions, Jason
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: George D. Stout on September 02, 2009, 06:32:00 PM
I've been using B50 dacron bowstring material, and it works great.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: nightowl1 on September 02, 2009, 06:34:00 PM
way too easy to make your own... i do the same as Tom but only 12-14 wraps
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: carpenter on September 03, 2009, 04:26:00 AM
George,do you make silencers out of B50,or use B50 strings or both?
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Apex Predator on September 03, 2009, 05:02:00 AM
There are some really good products for sale, such as Bow Hush, or Hush Puppies.  I'm a poor do-it-yourself-er though, and do it like this.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=061924#000000
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Killdeer on September 03, 2009, 05:39:00 AM
I've been using wool yarn wrapped around my debit card a few times. Take it off, tie it in the middle. Stick it in the string strands and use the tag ends of the central tie to tie it on the string. Trim to the size you like and shoot.

Killdeer   :)
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: craftwelder on September 03, 2009, 06:44:00 AM
I use 1/4" wide x 6" long strips of fox or coyote fur/hide....work great and look cool too.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Stone Knife on September 03, 2009, 06:49:00 AM
I like either cat whiskers or my homemade silencers I make with raw wool that is full of natural oils, if you want some PM me your address and I'll send you some. The stuff kinda stinks a little but it works good doesn't spook deer, and is real weather resistant if not weather proof.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Stone Knife on September 03, 2009, 06:51:00 AM
This is what it looks like on my sons bow, not pretty but you can trim it up to look good, I like it long.

  (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/420W/IM000192.jpg)
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Don Stokes on September 03, 2009, 08:39:00 AM
Another thing I learned from Dan Quillian: an old FF string cut into 4-5" lengths and inserted into the string works very well. Unravel the string after it's installed. The more you shoot, the more it fuzzes up, getting better all the time. It's so light that it doesn't affect performance like heavy rubber spiders and the like. I used 21 strands on the one I made this week.

I've used yarn, but in my area there are too many weed "hitchhikers", like beggar's lice, that get in the yarn. I've had them hit me in the face when I shot and they popped out of the silencer. They don't stick to FF.

In emergencies, (another Quillian thing) you can loop a big rubber band onto the string, and pull it back over the bow tip so that it bridges the gap between the string and the bow. It works very well, but tends to hang in the brush.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: del on September 03, 2009, 08:46:00 AM
When I cut the bridle path on my horses, i keep the mane  hair and wrap it around my fingers several times, tie it off and put them on.  They work great and are waterproof.  They look very cool.  :thumbsup:    <>< del
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: metsastaja on September 03, 2009, 09:05:00 AM
Merino camouflage wool from a fabric shop done on my string jig.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii45/heilakka/Pete%20Bow/cb6c5189.jpg)

off the jig they look like this
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii45/heilakka/Pete%20Bow/852d1ed1.jpg)

After 15-20 shots they look like this
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii45/heilakka/Pete%20Bow/b3a4e55f.jpg)
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Talondale on September 03, 2009, 09:12:00 AM
For those who want to make their own cat whiskers; I read on here a while back about taking an old bungee cord and cutting it open.  It's made up of lots of rubber strands.  Those can be cut to length and tied to your string. I've never tried it myself though.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Jack Skinner on September 03, 2009, 09:14:00 AM
Another yarn vote. Bought some black yarn probably 10 yrs ago. Been making string silencers from it ever sense. Wrap around fingers stick through string, cut ends, shoot bow that easy.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: trapperDave on September 03, 2009, 09:20:00 AM
I use camo yarn bought at walmart. got a lifetime supply for about 2 bucks. 15 wraps around three fingers

(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/trapperDave/archery/bows/DSCF6066.jpg)
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Montauks on September 03, 2009, 09:46:00 AM
I just happen to catch this on    YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrAN8gFuHkU)   awhile back.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: J. Cook on September 03, 2009, 09:51:00 AM
I use Apex Predator's method...works great and literally takes about 10 minutes max to do it all.  Really hushes the string slap and twang.
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Covey on September 03, 2009, 04:39:00 PM
I could'nt go anywhere else and get this kind of info! you guy's are alot of help and I really appreciate it!!  :thumbsup:  Jason
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: Jake Fr on September 03, 2009, 05:42:00 PM
use a plastic coat hanger and cut it where the strap holders are then wrap your yarn in a fig eight pattern tie it cut loops and your in bussnes there is a how too on youtube on this method
Title: Re: Anybody make thier own string silencers?
Post by: drags on September 03, 2009, 09:21:00 PM
I do the same as Apex Predator. Follow the thread he attached. It's pretty simple and it works great.