Hey guys, been trying out some different string silencers for my newest Holcomb 59 bow, and I've been shooting 3 under making this bow rather noisey. I've ordered some heavier , 14 and 15 strands, strings from Steve smith of West Virginia, but have also played with finding the "ultimate" string silencer! Well, having tried lambs/sheep wool, beaver fur, otter,and mink, (I like the mink ALOT!!), I truthfully believe those rubber ,"spider leg" ,tie on the string silencers are as good as anything out there. I originally dismissed them as ancient technology, but Steve Smith said to give them a go as he liked them as much as anything. We'll , he was right...dirt cheap and dampened my string right down to a whisper. Not as pretty as the mink, but downright effective...Guess the K.I.S.S. principal still applies....give em' a try....john
fur silencers do have a very high cool factor, but I use rubber whiskers because they work
I really like the Wooly Whispers. Got tired of looking at the cat whiskers after years and years of using them. They are effective but so are my Wooly Whispers.
I test different silencers with each bow as well, really trying to stay with fur also for the looks. Sometimes adjusting the brace height a little and some moleskin on the string grooves of the limbs helps.
Bow Hush all the way. Haven't found anything I like better.
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Bowhush is the best i"ve seen
Both work, but I don't like the weight of the rubber silencers.
They also don't come anywhere close to fur for looks on a trad bow.
On the other side, I've never had to dig cockleburrs out of rubber silencers!
I did not try the bowhush yet, but I like the principle. Should do well on controlling string slap. It also does well on the "cool factor" meter!! Guess that needs to be tried yet...shooting ash shafts helps as well.Lots of good feedback guys......thanx
I just got a set of hush puppies last week and they work better than any silencer i've ever used.
saw those in 3 rivers catalog. they say the same thing....quietest out there. probably the best on a true hunting bow....want to try the bow hush first....
I have found the super string leaches quiet bows best I've found yet. However, I have never tried the BowHush silencers as referred to in this forum. Who sells them and/or where is the best place to buy them??
see the ad at the top of the forums...
www.bowhush.com (http://www.bowhush.com)
I like the "cat whisker" type the best. 1 package will do two or three bows. I use hush puppies on a couple of bows that I shoot indoors or in the backyard on a nice day (love the look of them), but on my hunting bow I like like not having to deal with burrs and rain etc.
"They don't create any slapping noise as the rubber whiskers do..."
If you are getting slap from them, they are way too long. I plan to weigh mine against a set of beaver balls when I get back home (should be within a few weeks), but I don't think a small set of cat whiskers weighs any more than a standard set of fur silencers.
Again, proper placement can make a big difference. In the right spot, a little goes a long way. Even in the worst case scenario, you loose what--2-3 fps? When I start worrying about 2-3 fps, it's time for me to start looking for a different hobby.
Have to give bow hush a :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Just installed them on new longbow and they are great.
I have 3 bows with different silencers on all 3. They all work well I guess. I like the cat whiskers too, but I never can get the darn things on my string straight and balanced. They always look like crap and I get aggravated and yank them off.
I made a jig with some screws and wooden slats to make yarn balls and found they work really well. I was darn proud of myself.
I am thinking of trying some rubber whiskers again on my longbow, but this time I am going to get a new string so I don't have to take the Muskrat fur off cause I'd never get it back on as neat as it is now.
Another tip someone passed on to me is that you can go to a fly fishing or fishing lure supply and buy the rubber strap material that is used to make jig and spinnerbait skirts with. One package would do you for about 10 years or so.. ;)
One other thing that caused me problems in the past with the rubber silencers is that I could never get them tied on very well, you practically have to have 3 hands. Well I seen a new knot that I think will work GREAT, it's called a CONSTRICTOR KNOT. It should be perfect for attaching silencers to your string.
Nalajr
Only use Cat whiskers. Rubber isn't affected by moisture.
Everything is effected by moisture if its raining.
String itself is gathering water...as are the following.... fletching, arrow shaft, broadhead, arrow rest, and bow limbs. ALL are going to get weighted down by water to some degree, not just the silencers folks.
So, be aware that water on ALL your equipment is going to shave a little performance off no matter what silencers you choose to use.
I have tried quite afew types of silencers and I have to go with the Bow Hush or Wooly Whispers. I too have noticed that when using the rubber whiskers I get a whisking sound after the shot and the string does kind of an oscillating effect.
I make my own out of genuine wool yarn. I trim them down somewhat to make them lighter in weight. They really quieten a bow down.
(http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh472/ishoot4thrills/PredatorCustomClassic007.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Everything is effected by moisture if its raining.
String itself is gathering water...as are the following.... fletching, arrow shaft, broadhead, arrow rest, and bow limbs. ALL are going to get weighted down by water to some degree, not just the silencers folks.
So, be aware that water on ALL your equipment is going to shave a little performance off no matter what silencers you choose to use.
Yes. Folks seem to not consider the rest of their equipment and precipitation. It effects way more than just the silencers.
I make my own as well. I have a spool of fishermans wool that woorks very well. On a skinny string the wool balls are only 3/4" in diameter, dead silent on my longbow.
I think I may like the bow hush the best. It pulls double duty..also quells string slap.