Anyone have experience with using beeswax on bowstrings? A buddy gave me a large hunk from his bee hives and I gave it a try. Had to soften it with heat and then it went on great with a nice coat. Seems like it will last better than the stuff they sell?
Thanks
Dave
Dave,
I think if you mix it with softer wax it may work better. I got a couple pounds last year and melted it with a wax toilet ring. I can't remember the ratio though. I'm sure someone will chime in - my memory says 60/40 bees wax/toilet ring.
Years ago I tried straight bees wax that someone was selling. I did not like it in was hard to work with and that on a recurve the string would stick to the limb enough to cause a noise when drawn. Loud enough to scare deer I felt. Never have tried the bees wax and toilet ring mix, but think it would be better that straight bees wax.
I've used straight beeswax on my strings for a long time and love it.
For building strings I use a mixture of beeswax, toilet ring, and rosin. It's softer and stickier than the straight beeswax.
Guy
Guy,
Do you heat it to apply to the string.
I like it alot so far but have not used it that long.
Dave
I melt it with a little mineral oil. Just enough to make it pliable but it must remain sticky.
I've used beeswax for several years and it works really well. I just make certain the bundles are covered good before I twist them up. After the string is made and stretched, I place it on the bow and burnish it in with a piece of neutral colored leather. Makes a very nice slick string. I don't cut (mix it) it with anything.
Danny
im new and not sure if this is how i should do it. but i read it somewhere and seem to work good. but it does stick to the limbs a bit.
i bought a block of beeswak its hard. i rub it on the string the take a piece of leather to rub it in it heats up and the wax smooths into the string. i tried using my fingers but it was to hot. so i read into it more and came up with the lil piece of leather.
like i said im new to all this but this seems to work pretty good.
As a couple others have noted, I rub the wax on the string and then use friction to melt it into the string. Most times I use my fingers because I don't have a piece of leather handy. But the leather is a whole lot more comfortable!
Guy
Doggone, Guy. You're a beast!!
As the last couple responders said I rub it on the string then melt it in with a piece of leather.
I know the sticking sound on the recurve though longbows are all I shoot now. I solved it with a strip of moleskin under the string Where it contacted the limb.
as powduck said moleskin or they have this stuff out that says 25,000 rub tested super pad i think. im getting ready to order it and a few other things next month to do my bearcats string grooves to stop the tackyness of the wax. and the riser of the fiberglass camp bow. i keep my lil piece of leather in a zip lock with the beeswax that way its there when i need it. ive been waxing my string every other time i shoot it.
I made up over a hundred cakes using some Mcdonald ketchup containers that were given to me by an older lady loading the dispensor and it sprang the cups all over the floor...I said I'll clean them up if you're throwing them away and she said no she would clean them up and handed me about 150 containers with lids....Now I had two 1 # blocks of pure bee's wax that was strained to get the junk out and 2 maybe 3 Johny rings without the black a.b.s plastic horn that is on many johny rings...Look for the flat plain ones for about .99 cents each...I used to buy bulk box's since I was a plumber....Now get your wifes best Non stick 4 to 5 quart pot...If you want to sleep indoors you had better find an old pot or go buy one at your next yard sale that will be yours forever...Some folks use rosin as well but I just went with what I had....Take it out in the shop and heat the pot with a propane torch or whatever method you prefer but watch it closely and don't over cook it just liguidfy it so you can pure it...Every once in a while take a spoon and dip a little and add more wax to taste... :eek: No then you will talk like me so don't do that...Anyway when you are ready to pour it out I won't tell you exactly how I did it but I never did burn my tonque and had to use those big drinking straws believe it or not..I suggest you get a turky baster and suck it up in there or one of them baby snot sucker outers and suck it up in the thing then put some in those containers and let them set up for a few hours...You will find you'll never get rid of all that wax...I give cakes to just about everyone I know or trade with....Lesson learned don't try to pour this into the cups cause it dribbles all down the pot and gets all over the workbench (kind of like aiming at the toilet in the dark and listening to the wife screaming the next morning ) but does make a watertight finish that soaks into the wood deep....God Bless, Keefer's <")))><