An adequately maintained bow can provide years of fun shooting. However, disassembling a bow to clean and maintain it may be daunting. A professional’s lot of practice and advice can make bow maintenance a breeze and even therapeutic. At its heart, Archery is a sport that’s involved with equipment. It’s not like swimming, running, or martial arts in which you’re using your body and your body. Archery has tools, and you cannot master the sport without the right equipment.
Following are some bow maintenance tips to keep your bow in the best possible shape.
Wax Your Bowstring
Apply bowstring wax to the strings and cables. When the bow gets frequently used, the wax can be applied every week. If you don’t use the bow often, apply the wax once or twice each month.
Be careful not to rub your wax too hard and make sure that the wax is of an elongated, soft-textured nature. Be aware that excessive friction could create heat that could damage your entire cable.
Sight Maintenance
The second item to be maintained is your sight. It contains components that are susceptible to oxidizing and possibly be damaged. Again, a quick, frequent cleaning, mainly if shooting in extreme conditions, can help ensure that your sight is in excellent condition. The first component of a sight that is prone to become oxidized is the steel ball-bearing that presses against the bottom of the horizontal and vertical micro-adjusting knobs.
The cans of compressed air such as those utilized to wash computer components are excellent for clearing the dirt and water from the knobs. Blowing away the excess moisture will lessen and slow down the process of oxidation.
Check The Grip
Examine the grip to ensure it’s stable. Ensure that there aren’t any gaps or cracks in the grip and that it feels safe to use. Many grips are cut out of the riser itself, and others are attached. Attachments (glue or another adhesive) might loosen or wiggle with time.
Perform Mini-Inspection
It is crucial to set aside time to examine the bow and check for regular wear and damage. If you notice an unusual sound or vibration during inspection or shooting, it’s normal to investigate and discover why it happens.
The majority of time-related injuries result from minor annoyances; however, with the time when it’s not treated with the utmost care, the damage can turn into something grave. What you thought was just a whimper can turn into a broken leg.
Cams Synchronization
In the case of compound bow maintenance, correct synchronization is vital. Synchronization allows the limbs of the bow to function correctly. An essential task for care is to examine the synchronization and make adjustments when needed. It is possible to determine the sync of a bow by observing how the cams move while the bow is in full draw. The cams must move in tandem with one another and show similar rotations. If they are not, an adjustment may be required.
Store It in a Dry Place
The lifespan of bowstrings is determined by how you store and maintain them and how frequently you utilize them. The duration of its life depends on the humidity and weather as well. To ensure that your bowstring is in good condition, you must keep your bowstring in a cool, dry area.
How to store arrows?
- The first rule is to ensure that your arrows are dry.
- After that, the following step would be to put them somewhere dry.
- Place the arrows vertically on tubes or racks. You might want to consider using an arrow holder if you’re traveling.
Use A Bow Stringer
Of all the bow maintenance accessories, the bowstring is the one that requires the most regular maintenance since it’s the one most susceptible to wear and tear. Therefore, it is wise to use a bow stringer for recurve bow maintenance with it. They might take longer than just by using your legs. However, bow stringers are certainly the best way to keep the bow’s limbs from getting warped. They also prevent the tips from hurting you as you attempt to string the bow.
Limb Checks Abrasions to your limbs could affect their strength because moisture could penetrate the limbs or cause internal harm, particularly in the case of bamboo or wood core limbs. If you notice a significant mark on your tree, simply a quick touch-up using clear nail polish will accomplish the trick of sealing the area and stopping moisture from getting into the interior of the limb.
Tune Your Bow
One of the most highly-rated methods to ensure that your bow performs as it should is by paper bow tuning method to determine if the arrows are pointing in the right direction.
Here’s how you do this.
- Attach a piece of paper to the bow’s frame in a way which you can then fire it
- Eight feet away from the location of the article.
- Utilize a well-formed form and aim your arrow over the paper
- Watch the result
- Make sure to adjust the bow as needed and then carry it out once more
How To Clean A Bow?
Before you know how to keep your bow in good condition, it is essential to ensure that you are familiar with cleaning your bow.
Here’s the method you can use to clean your recurve bow.
- Use a clean cloth. Sprinkle a small amount of polishing compound for cars onto it.
- After that, scrub the bow thoroughly using the compound.
- It is possible to remove mildew and dried dirt this way. It will also aid in getting rid of the marks that your bow could be able to acquire from storage or being used for an extended period.
- Use a dry rag and wipe the polishing compound off.
Consult a Professional
Regular checks and preventive maintenance are a great way to keep your bow in shape. However, it is essential to conduct periodic inspections and maintenance, and this should be carried out by a qualified professional. Therefore, make sure you consult an expert for proper inspection and maintenance at least once per year.
