What is your criteria for replacing a bowstring? Age? Appearance?

I always take a spare when I hunt and have never needed it. I usually make two strings at a time for a single bow.

Flemish twist strings.

I usually replace both dacron and D97 strings based on appearance.

A little too "frayed" = more wax > continued fraying = replacement.

QuoteOriginally posted by Lost Arra:
What is your criteria for replacing a bowstring? Age? Appearance?

I always take a spare when I hunt and have never needed it. I usually make two strings at a time for a single bow.

Flemish twist strings.

I usually replace both dacron and D97 strings based on appearance.

A little too "frayed" = more wax > continued fraying = replacement.

That's exactly what I do too. I've only had one string actually break, and I don't care for a repeat performance. The bow and I were both fine, but I didn't like the feeling. It wasn't a string I had made and the bow had a metal nock point, which I have also quit using.

Like you, I make my own, so it is cheap and easy to just twist up a string or two. Just good insurance IMHO.

I change mine when "Ric O'Shay" tells me to. He is my bud and string maker and has an eye for such things. All kidding aside, you should look for wear in the nock area(metal knocks can be a real problem); in the string groove or loop area(stress, sand or dirt cause problems here); and in or around the serving. Any fraying is a sign of possible problems. When in doubt or if you see signs of wear replace the string. Strings are cheap compared to bows or personal injuries.

QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Turner:
When in doubt or if you see signs of wear replace the string. Strings are cheap compared to bows or personal injuries.

Good advice right there.  

Lol I think I need to replace one of my strings!

Cheap insurance.  Likely better performance.  You can keep the old one for an emergency in the field.

I replace mine when I see that it is fraying to bad to just have more wax rubbed on it.