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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ericmerg on March 02, 2012, 03:29:00 PM

Title: waxing bowstring
Post by: ericmerg on March 02, 2012, 03:29:00 PM
how often do y'all wax your bow string? can you over wax a string? i seem to do it every 400 shots so every 3 days or so
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: JRY309 on March 02, 2012, 03:43:00 PM
I wax mine when it looks and feels alittle dry.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: smokin joe on March 02, 2012, 03:48:00 PM
Often. The string needs to look like it is all one thing stuck together by wax. If it starts to look a little fuzzy, or if it separates into strands easily, it is past-due for new wax. Wax is a cheap way to extend the life of your strings, and to avoid broken strings.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: ericmerg on March 02, 2012, 03:49:00 PM
not sure if it matters but i use a flemish string made of b50
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: eflanders on March 02, 2012, 03:53:00 PM
I tend to wax my string lightly after every lengthy shooting session or after I my bow has been outside in very warm and/or dusty conditions.  Can you overwax?  Yes.  When the string has too much wax in it the string will have build-up and can collect more dirt than normal.  After you apply your wax, rub the wax into the string thoroughly with a small piece of leather.  Rotate the leather often as it will collect the dirt from your string into it. You want to rub the wax in good so that you feel a little heat.  This very small amount of heat helps the wax flow into all of the fibers of the string. If you use the leather patch as I described, it is pretty unlikely you will have left too much wax on the string.  However, some folks will also take a short piece of floss or serving material, make one loop around the string and then slide this up and down the entire non-served and loop portions of the bowstring after the wax was rubbed into it.  This removes any excess wax and build-up. Personally, I haven't needed to do this when I use the leather patch.
CAUTION: DO NOT BE LAZY AND USE A HAIRDRYER TO MELT THE WAX INTO YOUR STRING!  The heat produced by them could damage the string without you even knowing it.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Hummer3T on March 02, 2012, 05:55:00 PM
Eric, thanks I just learnt a few things.  I always use two fingers together to rub, but end up almost burning them from the friction. Leather is a great idea/option.  I almost wax every time I shoot, never really figured you could do it to much or have to much wax, but I can see the dirt issue.

Always learning from this site.

Tim
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: JamesKerr on March 02, 2012, 05:59:00 PM
I wax mine whenever I see any small fuzz appearing on the string.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Night Wing on March 02, 2012, 06:04:00 PM
I like to wax my strings after about a 3 hour informal target (backyard) shooting session.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Shakes.602 on March 02, 2012, 06:07:00 PM
I tend to Wax Mine whenever I think of it!  :thumbsup:    Like Now!!   :thumbsup:   No Such thing as Waxing them Too Often! They do Dry Out Fast, and usually I Wax Before I do  ANY  Shooting from said Bowstring! Good Thread!!  :clapper:
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: mickeys4 on March 02, 2012, 06:22:00 PM
Most wax the string but forget the loops.Wax the loops also as this is where a lot of wear begins.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: champ38 on March 02, 2012, 08:51:00 PM
Good point Mr mickey4...dont guess Ive ever waxed the loops.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Ben Tiller on March 02, 2012, 08:57:00 PM
Once a year. Never had a string break on me...
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Tradtical Commando on March 02, 2012, 09:06:00 PM
Wow... i am glad this thread was started... I seldom wax my string... not any more
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: karrow on March 02, 2012, 10:04:00 PM
i wax mine pretty often. i dont think you can wax it to much any excess wax will fly off the first shot
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: eflanders on March 02, 2012, 10:12:00 PM
The decision to wax string loops should be based on the type of string used in my opinion.  Here are my thoughts as to why I make this statement:

I personally wax all of my Flemish Twist strings from end to end EXCEPT any served areas.  The wax is quite helpful in maintaining the bond between all of the twists and fibers. I know some folks that will wax the center serving where the nock slides on the string to help minimize wear here. But I know many who say even this small amount of wax on the serving is a big "no-no" and here is why...

Wax on any served area tends to hold dirt in the serving and it will ultimately work it's way under the serving itself and into the underlying fibers.  The act of waxing the servings generally will not clean the dirt out from under the serving, it only cleans up the dirt trapped in the serving itself. So based on this, I don't usually wax any served portions of my string on purpose.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: robtattoo on March 02, 2012, 10:34:00 PM
I don't think I've waxed any of mine in the past 3 years.

I've never had a string failure either.

Not saying this is a good idea, but I've just never seen the advantage of putting anything on the string that dirt & grit will stick to.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: Benjy on March 03, 2012, 07:01:00 AM
I only wax mine when they start looking fuzzy, I have never had a string break on me. I did wax the loops one time, after that the the string would "pop" when I reached full draw because the string would stick to the limbs at the loops. (I shoot recurves this would probably not happen with a long bow).
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: riverrat 2 on March 03, 2012, 08:22:00 AM
When they look fuzzy,I wax enough to get rid of it,2 finger friction method. Then clean off excess wax from string. Never touch the loops,or served areas. All my bows string grooves have no abrupt turns,so never see wear there.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: ChuckC on March 03, 2012, 07:30:00 PM
Wax the string as often as you want, but be careful to apply wax only from the outside towards the middle. The other way is not good.
ChuckC
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: robtattoo on March 03, 2012, 07:54:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
Wax the string as often as you want, but be careful to apply wax only from the outside towards the middle. The other way is not good.
ChuckC
Any particular reason, or just something someone once told you?
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: ChuckC on March 03, 2012, 08:22:00 PM
:biglaugh:  

Sorry   couldn't help myself.  Its the weekend.
ChuckC
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: The Whittler on March 03, 2012, 08:49:00 PM
I wax my string maybe 3 or 4 times a year and I have never waxed the loops. No problem with my strings.

Wax from the outside towards the middle, what if your bow is upside down backwards lol.
Title: Re: waxing bowstring
Post by: robtattoo on March 04, 2012, 02:27:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
 :biglaugh:  

Sorry   couldn't help myself.  Its the weekend.
ChuckC
*facepalm*

LOL!