I have a bow that really likes catwhiskers for silencers. The problem is that they start breaking off after only a day or two of shooing.
I have been tying 3 strips, each cut to about 1 1/2" for each bundle. I wrap them vertically around the string, and tie the off with dacron (I tie them pretty tight).
Any suggestions out there?
try using a zip tie,dacron might be pinching and cutting the strands
I don't use them anymore, but when I did, I would split the string and slide them through, then tie them in with serving. Never had a problem with them sliding or coming out.
If I understand your question correctly, perhaps you're tying them too tight and the dacron is cutting through them ? I use two methods. I either take about 5" and tie an overhand knot with them, or using your method, use a small nylon tie wrap to cinch them.
Thanks guys, maybe I'm tying them too tight.
Fritz, i tried your methot of putting the through the string. It seems to work, until you unstring the bow. They slip right out then.
I also bought some small tie wraps, but the ones I bought won't hol under the pressure.
I'll try another set this evening, and not crank down so hard on the Dacron.
Had a few bows that didn't like anything but rubber whiskers. I used tiny black tie wraps, laid the whiskers next to the string and cinched them up. Easier to slide up and down the string for "fine" tuning that way.
try using serving material to tie them off, or some other thread that is a larger diameter than you are using. I like mine tied on tight (so they make a ball)--I don't have any problems with them getting cut, as long as I don't use a tiny thread to tie them off.
You might also try wraping the thread around at least twice before tying them off.
Chad
I use waxed serving thread and pull them as tight as I can, using several overhand knots to secure. I burn off the serving thread when I'm finished I never have a problem with them coming loose or failing. I can still slide them up and down the string, but not without some effort.
Dave
I like the whiskers. Like others, I split the string, put the whiskers in, and then use serving thread to tie across the whiskers, top to bottom. I tie a surgeons knot first, then overhand times 5 and finish with another surgeons knot. I melt the ends of the serving. Works great.
Forgot to point out -- I tie the know before restringing the bow.This allows the knot constrict the amount of whisker in the knot.
I tie my on as well.I never had any problems.As mentioned,a fatter thread should work.I use 80# braided fishing line.
Allen,
After you slip them through the string, get someone to stretch the whiskers as you tie them in. I never had a problem with coming out even when my bows were unstrung.
When I used them I also put them through the string, if I was not going to keep the bow strung I would tie dental floss on both sides of my whiskers while the bow was strung and that kept them from falling out. Also I did not just split my string I wove the whiskers around several strands...
Frit is right. Wax your string first and burnish. Open the strands and insert the cat whiskers. Tie them in. Shoot a few times, trim, shoot some more and leave your bow strung for a day or so. They will not come out.
Billy
The recent article in TB said that the cat whiskers slow the bow down considerably. They make a great silencer, but I had the same problem as A.S.. They either disinigrated after about a month of shooting or fell out piece by piece. I did not install them my bowyer did. I now use wool poof balls from bow hush.
I've never had a problem with them properly installed, tied on around (not through) the string. The reason for this is so you can adjust them and fine-tune--one of the main reasons I prefer rubber whiskers over most other types that are not adjustable once installed.
Never had any fly apart either--they have always lasted as long as the string for me.
As for the TB article...can't believe everything you read. The length, weight, and positioning of ANY silencer will make a difference in how it works, and how it affects performance. Comparing apples to apples, there will be no greater performance loss with whiskers vs. any other, and they work better than most for me.
Chad
Allen tie them in with dental floss or dental tape.
Dacron is a bad choice for tying them in, it stretches with shooting. Use a small diameter serving or Fireline or such if you want to make the balls or just tie them on if the looks don't matter so much.
I just granny knot them onto the string. Works.
Ditto - I just tie them directly onto the string with an overhand knot and trim as necessary. The small electrical ties work well too....
Shoot straight, Shinken
I tie two servings, kinda like a nock point with 1/16 space between them and lay the wiskers over the servings and then tie a serving in the middle of the two servings to flare the wiskers out away from the string.They last longer and work great.I think it's because they dont make constant contact with the string after release.
Thanks for all the input guys!!
I will try tying them with serving material, or BCY's nock point thread tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll try placing it through the string again, and tying it in better.
BTW,I have done a lot of testing lately comparing speed loss with different silencer materials. LBR is right, it all depends on HOW MUCH you put on your string.
I like to tune my arrows by adjusting the amount of silencer on the string. I see very little difference in speed with rubber whiskers compared to wool yarn when I have them tuned to the same arrow.....and the whiskers make this particular bow much quieter. I really like using wool yarn, but just not on this bow.
I've owned a few longbows that shot ok (quiet)with something other than catwhiskers, but most of my recurves are quieter with catwhiskers, and I usually have to move them around on the string to find where it works best on that particular bow. I like them in a small ball, tied on, instead of tying then in an overhand knot, then trimming....either way works.
I guess I've been lucky, never had one come apart or break so far.
I do what Fritz said to do. I use a piece about 4", fold it in half, put it through the string and then serve above and below. After it is served into the string I cut the loop where I had folded it over with a scissor. The serving helps keep it place and prevents it from falling out of the string when the bow is unstrung. The one in the picture is over a year old and I shoot every day. There are pictures of the cat whiskers unstrung and strung.
GIL
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Marty015.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Marty016.jpg)
Mike, that is exactally how I like mine to end up. I'm going to try the nock tying thread today.
That's the way mine look (I don't know how to post pics).
The big advantage to tying them on around the string rather than between the strands is you can adjust them this way. I've tuned bows where moving the silencers just an inch or so up or down the string made a huge difference in noise reduction.
Chad
I am going to try the string slugs on my next string.
I do as LBR does.I like a ball shape and I like the strands short so you dont get a whiplash sound.Some times I use 2 small sets on a string if necessary and it adds very little weight.
Wanted to quiet down my bow the other day and didn't have any cat whiskers, but had some bad bicycle tire tubes laying around. I cut two strips 3-1/2" X 1/2" and tied them on with an overhand knot. Really quited down the bow, are easily adjusted, and can make enough to last a lifetime.
So do you guys just tie an overhand knot with the cat whisker? Stretch the excess and cut with a scissors?
George
I just ordered them from 3R and noticed they have a install video. They don't look like the perfect ball at the end of the video though.
just a simple overhand knot for me. Not as pretty as some of the served ones, but I never had a problem with them coming off. If you are going to experimet check into some fishing lure supply sites like jannsnetcraft.com. They sell it for making Jig skirting. Its cheap ($1.19 for about 5.5ft) and comes in lots of colors.
The "trick" to getting a ball is to tie them tight and keep them fairly short. If you wrap the line around them more than once, be sure the wraps are on top of each other, not spread apart.
I use dental floss , never had that problem of them breaking off. One trick also to the getting it to look like a ball, is to pull the cat whisker out away from the string, really stretch them while you cut them with scissors
QuoteOriginally posted by fedora:
So do you guys just tie an overhand knot with the cat whisker? Stretch the excess and cut with a scissors?
George
That is what I do. I start about 5" and trim a hair to even them. I use 1/2 a strip or 2/3 strip for each one. I don't find I need a full strip. Longer does tangle some, but seems to be quieter to my ears. I have started to get it from the fishing departments. I get a load of color options and it is only $1.49 for 2'. They have it in medium and fine. I find the medium to be about the same as the cat whiskers.
The tip about fishing skirt is awesome, thanks. Sure beats paying 5 bucks plus shipping for a set.
I use the zip tie method where the tie goes around half the strands in the string and around the bundle of whiskers. I thought it was kinda hokey the first time I saw it, but it works like a charm!!
I've tried three methods: tie an overhand knot -- worked but I didn't like the bulk of it. zip tie-pretty good if I use a small zip. Serving thread tie-in as above. I think the zip and tied are equal in terms of ease and durability. I probably feel a bit more "crafty" when I tie them on though. I also like the fishing skirt idea -- I didn't even know you could buy the skirts without the jigs--now I have another reason to go back to Bass Pro! By the way, I've put a couple of Sims leaches in one of my bows, very easy and neat. It seems to work just as well as the whiskers?
Bowwild, check out Jan's Netcraft on the net
You can buy it in bulk, and they have lots of colors to choose from.
Jann's sells them by the pound and you can mix colors. :thumbsup:
Wow you can get it for $1.08 an oz. if you get 4 oz's, and with that 4 colors at 5.5' per oz. That is a lot of bow string silencers. I have to get some of that. Really beats my deal. and I want to start mixing to match my string color combo.
I use wiskers. I break the bundle into two pieces, tie them in a knot around the string and pull tight. Not pretty but they stay put and do not break.