Is it harmful to leave your bow strung up for long periods of time? Providing it is not in a spot where it might get too much heat etc.
If it's a glass backed bow, it can be left strung.
I rarely unstring mine.
Word of caution is watch you Bh when leaving it strung for long periods it will move! Unstring it for a half or hour and it will be shorter!!!
If it is a fiberglass bow it can be left strung for a long time.
Never in a hot car.
If shooting weekly it could do more harm stringing and unstringing.
I never leave a bow strung, but those who do seem just as happy with their gear as I am with mine.
I try to shoot a couple shots daily. I keep mid strung but do regularly check the BH fuse it does change left strung.
It is said that modern glues can handle it. Years back, we compared my old super k to one that had been left strung, both bows unstrung. The super k that had been strung, did have some set in it. When my daughter was pregnant, she left her Hill longbow strung. It took a set for a period of time, most of it has come back to normal, I could see a bit remained, however.
I aways untring my bows when i'm not shooting...
fiberglass backed bows can handle it. i leave them strung when not in hot cars etc. still, it's best to unstring each time. your call. :) Todd
Any material under stress is going to fatigue faster than if it's not under stress. Most folks probably won't notice the difference. Regardless, I always unstring my bows.
I always unstring my bows. With the exception of three or four I leave strung across a chair in my family room which I shoot. Then rotate them out with 3 or 4 more.
QuoteOriginally posted by Orion:
Any material under stress is going to fatigue faster than if it's not under stress. Most folks probably won't notice the difference. Regardless, I always unstring my bows.
Same here.
This is why I am never happy owning recurves hahaha..I'm a bit 'grab and go' so I prefer longbows because if I'm out and about or don't feel like using a stringer I can push-pull them and string and unstring in about 2 seconds. I am always careful and never have my face in line with the limb.
I personally feel if you know you're not going to use your bow for a couple days or a week you should unstring it, give the material a break ya know? LoL.
Black Widow says that if you're shooting regularly, don't unstring, because stringing and unstringing are where most bows get damaged. But they recommend their longbows not be left strung if they are not being shot regularly.
I tend to unstring mine. Sometimes I leave one or two that I'm shooting a lot strung for a week or two. I'll unstring my selfbow if I'm taking a break.
My regular shooters only get unstrung for maintenance. Some have been strung for years and unstrung briefly for a new string. To each their own. :archer:
When I got my bob lee recurve it pulled 54 lbs at 28. I always left it stung because I would shoot often. Bob lee's recommendation is the same as black widows. stringing and stringing too often can do more damage than leaving it strung.
My bow now pulls 47 lbs. I'm not sure if it's from leaving it strung or if trad bows just loose their oomph over time.
I now shoot a longbow and unstring after shooting. Limb twist is almost non existent with long bows. As with recurves it the no.1 malady .
I never worried about unstringing a bow for long periods of time. I would leave them strung for years. Then I noticed a Howatt recurve I have was not shooting right. The arrows seemed to be spined to heavy. I weighed the bow. It had lost about 5 pounds. I always unstring now unless I am going to shoot again within a day or two.
I shoot mine most every day. I have probably only unstrung it a handful of times since I got it, like to dry it out after it got wet. It has lost a pound or so over time.
I always unstring my bows after shooting.
Modern-no, classic-yes
Just for info; I talked to Dave Wallace who builds longbows and he said they all change once they come out of the form. He said he can see were they start to follow the string and if you let them sit unstrung for a time they do parcelly recover. He said they are the fastest as soon as they are made and age slowly. We all get older just like our bows. If you shoot a self bow you really have to enjoy your short time with it. On the other hand I have talked to allot of bowyers that say they have some glass bows over 50 years old. I honestly don't think they were shot that much. I like the idea that bows wear out so I can always have a couple new ones on order.
When im done shooting, it gets unstrung and stays that way until im shoot it again.
I unstring my All Wood Bows, but hardly ever my Fiberglass. Usually because they are in use daily. :archer2:
I had given a bow to a kid who left it strung leaning in a corner (after instructed not to).
The limbs are twisted badly and I am trying to get them straight again.
If left strung, store them correctly and you should be alright assuming they are glass backed bows.
I leave all 3 of my hunting bows strung from Sept to Jan.
If I expect to shoot the next day or two, I'll leave it strung. If not, I'll unstring it. But I would not hesitate to purchase a bow that the owner said "it's been left strung for the past few years".
Why not un-string your glass bow? I always do...no cost in that. It won't hurt it to keep it strung, true...but why do it when any trad bow is so easy to unstring...reduces the uncertainty in my mind.
I don't indefinitely hold 10 lb. weights horizontally with my arms either.
Always un-string a selfbow when not actively shooting or hunting.
Kris