I am having an absolute bear of a time stringing up a bow. It is a 60" Bob Lee 60#. I have a stringer (think it's a selway) it has a pocket for one limb and a rubber pad that goes on top of the other. I think its for a longbow because the string is too long. The length i shortened by wrapping around a scrap of 2x6.
My problem is that try as i might i can't pull the bow up high enough to slide the loop down to the nock. I am not entering the world's strongest man contest but I don't think I'm a complete wuss. I don't have near as much trouble stringing my 55#, 54" bow.
I am hoping someone might have a technique for heavier weight bow stringing.
I am not opposed to buying a different stringer, but don't want to do so if it is only for a shorter string.
Same kind of stringer I use. Make sure that the rubber pad is as close to the nock end of the bow as you can get it, allowing for the string. In other words, slide the pad up to the loop in the string. Put both feet on the stringer, about shoulder width apart. I like the string length on the stringer to be such a lenght that the bow is just below my knees when I start too string.
Stand on the stringer with both feet and spread your feet far enough to take up some of the slack... or adjust it by untying and retying.
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c285/808grapplemonkey/Stringer00.jpg)
Lift with your legs, keep your back straighter, and make sure your loops are secure. If the pad slips lick on it.
Sometimes it's an issue with leverage.
I had a bow where I experienced a similar problem and solved it by putting the bow handle in the crook of my elbow and then standing up. The change in angle made it easy to get the bow up high enough to string it.
Guy
I was using the same stringer too for a bit. Good stringer....and its for recurves! the key is like everyone has touched on so far.....BOTH FEET! and SHOULDER WIDTH AT LEAST.....perhaps even more than that apart.....buys you more room and leverage to yank that 60# beast up to the point where you can get the loop into the grooves! Best to warm up with 3 sets of 7 reps pull-ups too. :smileystooges:
Yup, try spreading your feet out a little more than shoulder width. And make sure the rubber pad is as far up toward the top as possible. I use a Selway with 60" recurves and a 68" longbow with no problema.
spread the feet as mentioned and that should solve the problem. Maybe your over bowed. :biglaugh:
I think the directions say once everything is set up to pull up, it should start about or below knee height for a LB, don't know about a Recurve but it might be similar.
I have trouble stringing my 58" 62# Dye with the Selway stringer. But since the new Eagle Wing longbow from Sixby came, I've been using the stringer he sent on the Dye and it's a snap. It has pockets for both limb tips, instead of a pocket and the rubber part. Getting leverage on the tips of the limbs makes all the difference. Not all recurves will have small enough, or sharp enough, tips to fit that stringer, but the Dyes fit it.
I hate the rubber pad stringers, had one to slip and scared the S#%t out of me.
I now use a stringer with a pocket on both ends.
Jack
Check out Hummingbird web site Ben has a different stringer where you step through the bow. It works, it attaches to your ankle.LCH
I shoot pretty heavy bows, 85# - 100#. Using a regular stringer is a nightmare.
Leo Markert turned me on to Webster Stringers. Run, don't walk to get one. I can string my 72" 100# at 28" English War Bow with ease using a Webster.
Matt
Although I have never needed a stringer for a longbow, for the occasional short recurve the ones with the cups on both ends have a leverage advantage over the ones designed for recurves.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jack Whitmire Jr:
I hate the rubber pad stringers, had one to slip and scared the S#%t out of me.
I now use a stringer with a pocket on both ends.
Jack
me too I wouldn't have one of those things
QuoteOriginally posted by Raging Water:
I shoot pretty heavy bows, 85# - 100#. Using a regular stringer is a nightmare.
Leo Markert turned me on to Webster Stringers. Run, don't walk to get one. I can string my 72" 100# at 28" English War Bow with ease using a Webster.
Matt
how does that webster work? I found pictures but no description of how its used.
When I had my shop open, all I sold were AMG Webster bowstringers. NO custom bow left my shop without one. It's the only stringer I personally use on my recurves and longbow. I sold many and haven't had any complaints from my customers.
QuoteOriginally posted by Raging Water:
I shoot pretty heavy bows, 85# - 100#. Using a regular stringer is a nightmare.
Leo Markert turned me on to Webster Stringers. Run, don't walk to get one. I can string my 72" 100# at 28" English War Bow with ease using a Webster.
Matt
Just got one from the nefarious **** auction site for $16.90 shipped. Thanks, Matt!! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by bobman:
QuoteOriginally posted by Raging Water:
I shoot pretty heavy bows, 85# - 100#. Using a regular stringer is a nightmare.
Leo Markert turned me on to Webster Stringers. Run, don't walk to get one. I can string my 72" 100# at 28" English War Bow with ease using a Webster.
Matt
how does that webster work? I found pictures but no description of how its used. [/b]
I will take a a few pictures tonight and post them using my webster.
Matt
I have the same stringer and I think it works fine. Some good advice on here about making sure the rubber thingy is close to the end as possible.
One bit of advice that will help is shorten the string on the stringer (tie a knot in it - whatever it takes) then use ONE foot in the middle vs. two feet spread out. Using one foot in the middle will give you more leverage (from the limbs as levers) and it will pull easier.
It is the same reason bow string tension reduces as you pull the string back.
Thanks for the replys everyone. I do slide the rubber all the way to the loop so I'm with you there.
Never thought of retying to shorten the string. seems a lot simpler than what I am doing. Think I'll try that and the one foot/leg lift technique after I get my daughter to bed. I was pulling with my shoulder instead of lifting with my legs.
I do feel like i just cant get the right leverage because of where the rubber pad is on the limb.
I am interested to see how the webster stringer works too.
I feel like I am close but there is a lot of tension going on and I just dont feel like i have control of it. If something were to pop or slip it could be really bad. I am all about trying to gain mechanical advantage/control over this situation.
ragingwater told me about the webster.i bought one from joe skip.it works great for all my bows.i have a black mountain sheepeater 58 pounder with static limb tips.it was a real pain to get the string on without twisting a limb.it is now easy and safer with the webster.thanks ragingwater and joe skipp.i'll never need another,steve
DO NOT TIE A KNOT IN THE STRINGER >
I had an old friend who was a saint of a man who took all us young bowhunters under his wing.
One of my bowhutning buddies borrowed his stringer and tied a knot in it to shorted it .
Ole Charlie fussed a little but forgot about it, until he was stringing his herters one day when were all at work ( he was retired ), he met me in my driveway that evening when I got in from work.
He said come over to the house , I walked over and he met me at the door. He said come upstairs.
When I entered his mancave there were bear metric magnums stuck in every wall in the place . The stringer had broke and the bear 6 arrow quiver came loose to sling arrows everwhere . I had to laugh until he showed me the stringer had broke in the knot !
Maybe we should also be talking about the two pegs mounted to a workbench to come into contact with the lower limb curve and the grip so that the upper limb can be bent easily by hand.
I think pulling on both tips evenly is the way to go. Those rubber things put more stress on one limb and could damage your bow,JMHO
James...................
I much prefer pulling evenly on the tips...even though I've used the Selway stringer for years. I had an 80# Martin Hunter that was almost impossible to string with the Selway...and I was 10 years younger then!
Hint with the standard recurve stringer. Place the foot off the center of the string toward the top end of the bow. Hold the crossover piece tof the stringer in place with your hand until you get even pressure on it where it will stay in place. The rest is a piece of cake.
Stringing the bow is the time to be extra careful. It is the time when most limbs get twisted or broken and where you can get hurt . I try to make sure that I am in a place where if anything slips I will not get hit.
God Bless you All, Steve
One other thing I learned was to always point the limbs away from me after I have strung the bow. I then check to make sure each string is properly seated on the limbtip.
I think I learned that in a TooShort video a long time ago..
My AMG Webster...shows 1 large web pocket for the lower limb and upper braided nylon with 2 pockets.
A smaller one for small limb tips, the other for larger limb tips.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/P9150002.jpg)
Thanks for the tips - my rubber thingy was a pain on heavy long bows. I have a Webster AMG on the way right now.
I will post some ACTION pictures tonight.
Matt
Here is a few pictures using the Webster.
Two major points to look at.
1) I strung the bow bare foot to show how comfortable it is. You can string bare footed or in your socks. The wide band doesn't hurt my feet or get stuck in my boot tread.
2) One picture shows me stringing the bow with only 1 1/2 fingers. That bow is 83# at 29". That's how easy a Webster is to use.
(http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/A%20Dual%20Shelf%20Robin%20Hood/CIMG6651.jpg) (http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/A%20Dual%20Shelf%20Robin%20Hood/CIMG6652.jpg) (http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/A%20Dual%20Shelf%20Robin%20Hood/CIMG6653.jpg) (http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/A%20Dual%20Shelf%20Robin%20Hood/CIMG6655.jpg)
By the way, you can wear shoes if you want to.
Matt
Sure with those gauntlets of power I don't even need shoes. :bigsmyl:
Kidding aside seems like the webster is the consensus of the way to go. I like that it is a flat webbing strap instead of a 550 cord. Also I think that pulling from the tips gives much better leverage. Besides thats where our bows are designed to be pulled from.
What is the little velcro section for? Is that to hold it all wrapped up nice and neat? If so cool.
Found out that a nearby shop I frequent "bowhunters superstore" carries this stringer. I'll be picking one of these up soon. Along with some inserts etc, etc.....
Thanks to all, especially those that took the time to post pictures.
We stock Websters as well, great stringers.
Nice photo demonstration Matt! :thumbsup:
Do they make it in bright Red or bright Orange, I hate black stringers......Changed the 550 cord on all my other stringers a few years ago as I was constantly "misplacing" the all black ones at the end of a hunt, at night, till I needed it the next morning 30 miles away......kinda hard to do the step through or push /pull on a 70# recurve when its about 10 degrees out.
I have a variety of stringers. A couple are the ones with the pads, one a rubber triangle and the other a leather pad. I can't stand em. I string recurves and because these don't fit out to the limb tips I loose leverage which makes the bow feel much harder (because it is) to bend.
I don't have one stringer for all my bows. Some stringers have pockets too shallow or too narrow. My favorite stringer at this time is a strap with pockets for each limb tip. It came with a new bow but I don't know which one?
I follow all the advice above: start below the knees, two feet spread just past knees, and be careful that the pockets are properly seated before I pull and throughout the stringing. Then, when strung I keep the bow horizontal and rotate it so I can look to the left and right to see if the string is properly seated. You can endanger an eye if you turn that limb tip up to look at it if it isn't firmly in place. Then I 1/4 pull the bow a couple times to make sure all is good.
A bunch of posts while I was typing -- so its called the Webster! I still don't know which bowyer sent it with his bow.
i have one of the websters in bright orange. i think mine came from Alaska Bowhunting supply. i don't know if they still stock them.
QuoteOriginally posted by Pullonmylimb:
What is the little velcro section for? Is that to hold it all wrapped up nice and neat? If so cool.
Yes, the velcro strap is so you can bundle it up and keep it tidy.
Matt
Have looked several places on the net and can only find it in black....BUT....found a few places that sell nylon webbing in all colors/sizes so I think I will make a few of my own in bright colors(flo orange, flo lime)....I'll post updates as I get done.
I'll have to try one. I broke my Jack Howard stringer and no other bowstringer will work on my Jet. I remade a Howard stringer that I think improves on the original;D but a factory backup would be nice.