Selway longbow stringers - what... the... heck...

GingivitisKahn · September 08, 2008, 06:05:00 PM

This is probably user error on my part but does anyone else use / have problems with these things? Today, I was stringing my NEW HH Halfbreed kind of a lot. I was changing strings, and getting the new one set up, so I had some twisting to do and adjusting and so forth.

Frequently when I string or unstring it, the lower pouch slips... just a little - a quarter inch or so. It freaks me out every time but so far, no harm / no foul.

Today, however it slipped *all the way off* when I had the bow almost but not quite strung. The bow boinged straight and I saw a chunk of something fly past my face.

:eek:

Of course, I inspected the bow very carefully and could see no damage whatsoever. Thirty or forty minutes later, I noticed that I had smacked the snot out of my thumb (my thumb on my drawing hand - coulda been worse, heh). Shortly after that, I realized that the chunk I had seen was a bit of my watch - again, coulda been much worse.

Anyway - what the heck? Anyone else have issues with these things or tips as to how to avoid destroying things when using them?

Killdeer · September 08, 2008, 06:53:00 PM

Are you seating the limb all the way into the pouch? I never had that problem. I use the recurve stringer for both recurves and longbows. Maybe you could find a way to make the cup longer, but I am still puzzled about how it could slip off under tension.

Only thing I gotta watch is that the string is tracking properly in the nocks and on the belly side of the skinny hybrid longbow limbs inside the cup, before I start stringing the bow.

Killdeer :confused:

GingivitisKahn · September 08, 2008, 06:55:00 PM

I am - since the first time I used the thing, I've been very careful to make sure the lower limb tip is as far into the pouch as I can get it.

Killdeer · September 08, 2008, 06:59:00 PM

Are you using the longbow or the recurve stringer? How deep is the pouch? (I am wondering if a short one got through QC somehow.) Are you using one or two feet on the stringer?

Killdeer

SouthMDShooter · September 08, 2008, 07:00:00 PM

I have this one and have never had any problems with it. And I use it alot on my longbow

GingivitisKahn · September 08, 2008, 07:03:00 PM

Killy - it's the longbow one - with the triangular pouch. The pouch is about 2" by 2" by 3", with about 2" of the limb tip fitting in (give or take).

I also have a recurve one (with the rectangular pouch) that really wouldn't work at all, I don't think.

I use two feet on the string - maybe that places a weird angle on that bottom pouch? Not sure - though I really do suspect user error. Heh - it wouldn't be the first time.

SouthMDShooter - yep. That's the one I have.

Killdeer · September 08, 2008, 07:06:00 PM

Does it look the the one on the 3Rivers page in the link that SouthMDShooter put up?

Yes, it is STILL Killdeer... :rolleyes:

Killdeer · September 08, 2008, 07:08:00 PM

OOpps. Just read your post. I have the other one.
Works great.

Killdeer

Daddy Bear · September 08, 2008, 07:12:00 PM

I'm unsure the material of your "pouch", but mine are all leather with the rough side in.

If you are pulling your bottom loop on and off to adjust for brace and you get any excess wax on the tip, this wax will coat the inside of the pouch which will cause the pouch to slip.

Wax on the string is good, but make sure the inside of the pouch and the tip itself is clean and dry. I have a mild solvent that is a touch stronger than alcohol that I use to clean mine on a regular basis. When dry, it bites hard without any slip.

Daddy Bear

Hungarian · September 09, 2008, 06:28:00 AM

Throw that selway away and get this one, its a better design, self tightening pouch wont slip.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/Product.asp?c=46&s=210&p=0&i=6818

Brad_Gentry · September 09, 2008, 09:18:00 AM

I've been shooting Hill bows for awhile now, and although I ALWAYS use a stringer to string a recurve, I just use the push-pull method for stringing the longbows. Works great, and it's one less thing to forget on a hunting trip!

Orion · September 09, 2008, 10:34:00 AM

Might there be some material stuck in the lower pouch that keeps the limb from seating deeply? You might have to lengthen the cord on the stringer a bit to get the rubber pad closer to the tip before you attempt to string the bow. May be putting too much bend in the bow now (to half or three-quarter draw, for example) causing the lower limb tip to slip out of the pocket. By the way, I usually modify this type of stringer by substituting another pouch in place of the rubber limb depresser on the upper limb tip end. Good luck.

GingivitisKahn · September 09, 2008, 10:15:00 PM

Daddy Bear - the pouch is a heavy duty canvas thingy. I don't *think* excess wax is the issue but I'll be on the lookout for it.

Hungarian - I like the looks of that stringer and may just pick one up.

Brad @ Work - it's funny. Every time I watch a HH video I see the guy effortlessly slip his strings on and off with the push-pull thing. Doesn't that grind the lower limb tip into the ground though? Looks rough on the bow (and on my head if I goof it up - heh) but I could be wrong.

Orion - There's nothing in the pouch but that was a good call.

Rethinking my use of the stringer, I think I may have been standing with my feet too far apart and that *may* have been pulling the bottom pouch down at too sharp an angle. That wider stance worked well with my recurve stringer, but I'm not so sure about the LB one.

Thanks for the great responses folks!

WildmanSC · September 09, 2008, 10:21:00 PM

In the past I used the recurve Selway stringer for all bows. Then last year in IL I had problems stringing and unstringing a longbow that has particularly flimsy limbs, no glass, just carbon, and had 3 or 4 near dry fire situations similar to the one described in the initial post. I switched to another longbow that was a glass laminated limb T/D bow and hand absolutely no problems, whatsoever.

I no longer use Selway type stringers. I bought a Skookum stringer from Alaska Bowhunting Suplly and it is the cat's meow!!

Bill

GingivitisKahn · September 09, 2008, 10:27:00 PM

WildmanSC - I'll have a look at it. Thanks much.

pdk25 · September 10, 2008, 01:32:00 AM

Agree with WildmanSC. Get the selway recurve stringer. It works fine on both longbows and recurves and is far safer.

Chris Surtees · September 10, 2008, 02:48:00 AM

You may also want to look into the Thunderhorn Stringer.

I have been using them for about 7 years now without any issues.

CS

Brad_Gentry · September 10, 2008, 09:30:00 AM

Jim,
Don't put the limb tip on the ground, put it on the instep of your boot. You're actually pulling into your foot, so the bow never touches the ground.

Brad

BMN · September 10, 2008, 09:45:00 AM

I think you make a good point about your wide two foot stance maybe contributing to the problem. Try one foot in the center of the stringer. You may also need to shorten it a little. I have both the selway recurve and longbow stringers and have always used two feet on the recurve model and one foot on the longbow version. Never had a problem with either.

Jason Jelinek · September 10, 2008, 10:28:00 AM

I prefer the push/pull method for longbows much more than a stringer. Primarily because I tend to lose things and want to be able to string/unstring whenever I want. I put the bottom tip against the arch of my foot and it never touches the ground. Just turn your head away from the bow and do it by feel. It takes a bit of practice but a handy skill.

Jason