serving tool??

[hydrasport205]

who do you think makes the best serving tool? I am just learning how to serve and want to know the easy and best to buy..  thanks  Rob

[JamesV]

I have 4 different ones and they all work fine. A pretty basic tool.

James...................

[lpcjon2]

I have a brass one and a red metal (3R) and they all work the same.

[Mike Vines]

I have the red one, and don't care to use it.  I think it was the worst $12 I ever spent.  I had the hread threaded right, but it just would never come off smoothly.  It was always tighter than a frog's a$$ in water.  I just ended up serving it right from the spool and keep the serving tool in the drawer.

[JRY309]

I have several a couple of Bohning's,Bjorn,Cavalier,Cajun,Bear Paw and they all work fine.I have several different sizes of servings and I don't half to swap different sizes with all my serving tools.One thing I did do was to modify them,I put in about a 1/2" longer bolt for the spool.Then went to the hardware store and picked up a small spring and put between the server body and wing nut.This helps you to be able to make a finer tension adjustment without the wingnut coming loose as you serve.It's simple but works great.

[portugeejn]

I learned to make strings before I learned to make arrows or self bows, and for my money the Cajun is the best one out there.  It uses similar tensioner as my leather stitcher, and I get smoother action with it than any other I have tried or owned.

It is also made in such a way that I can move the bow\\string in a circular fashion and get the serving tool to rotate around the string without me having to push it every turn.  Like this demo from Three Rivers.
  Three Rivers serving

I have not used the tool in this video, but would think the Cajun tool would give more consistent tension.  

I haven't used the other serving tool I own since finding this one.

RonP

[kbertsch]

I own 5 of them, bought one at the compton meet this summer I believe from kustom king, called a bear paw, very easy to adjust tension + it has the most even tension of the ones I own + you don't have to threat the string thru a little hole
Kasper

[Rob DiStefano]

they're ALL basically good, but some will feel and work better for *you* (and not me).  

how do you know which one is right for you?  ..... hah!!!

[LBR]

The Cajun is what I use--I have 30+ in use (different serving tool for each different size/type/color of serving), and I have 20 or more spares for folks that can't find them.

They are super durable (I am still using the first one I bought, some 10,000+ strings ago), and the tension is very adjustable.

I do modify mine a tad.  I get a longer bolt and add some fender washers for added weight. It works fine without them, but better with them (for me).

I've tried several others, and gave them away or trashed them.

Chad

[cedar]

I bought my Cajun from Chad.  I like it.

[Lee Robinson .]

I like the cavalier. I liked the Bjorn except it was plastic and over the years I broke it. There are some cheap metal ones that are junk and will cut the serving if you put it on tight. I have not used the Cajun, but I would trust LBR's recommendation of it.