Do you know how to properly maintain your compound bow? Compound bow maintenance is essential to ensuring you’re able to shoot safely and enjoy your bow for many years.
Here we’ll cover some of the most common questions around maintaining your compound bow. And we’ll also discuss how to identify when to pay special attention to your limbs, strings and other components.
What Kind of Maintenance Does a Compound Bow Need?
A compound bow has many components – strings, cables, cams, arrow rest, riser and a host of other accessories like bow sights and quivers. Understanding these components and their required maintenance is fairly straightforward.
One thing that will save the most trouble is performing a quick inspection each time you shoot your compound bow. This short list is a good place to start:
Check your strings and cables for any fraying or wear – apply string wax as needed.
Pay close attention to your draw cycle and arrow flight. Any strange vibrations during your shot or strange arrow flight should be investigated further.
Give your bow and accessories a once-over to check for water or dust before storing your bow.
Always make sure you have an arrow knocked any time you draw your bow (even if you are only checking draw length or draw weight and don’t intend to fire). A dry fire can be dangerous and cause significant damage to your bow.
Performing these quick steps will save you trouble (and money) down the road.
How Often Should You Restring Your Bow?
The life of a bow string varies based on shooting/storing conditions, how often you wax your bowstring, and how often you shoot.
If you are a casual archer, you may be able to go 3-4 years before needing to replace your bow strings and cables. However, if you shoot more often, you may need to consider replacing your bow string every year or two to be safe.
To maximize the life of your bow strings and cables, make sure to apply wax as soon as your strings lose that tacky feeling. Simply apply wax to the strings, cables and serving, warm using the friction of your fingers against the strings, and rub in to distribute evenly.
Are Compound Bows Easy To Maintain?
Yes, compound bows are generally very easy to maintain. Regular compound bow maintenance can be performed at home with minimal tools required.
Major concerns should be addressed with an experienced bow tech, often meaning a trip down to your local pro shop. No need to get in over your head and risk damaging your bow.
Below are some things to consider when it comes to maintaining your compound bow.
Store Your Bow Properly
Proper storage of your compound bow can save a lot of headache. Keep your bow in a temperature controlled, dry location and avoid storing your bow if it is wet. This can lead to rust or build up on the components which may render the bow inoperable.
Storing your compound bow in a bow case will keep it free from dust and debris. Using a bow case can also help avoid damage during transport from your house to the range or your hunting location.
Take Care of the Bowstring
Taking care of your bow string is imperative, and they are one of the components on your bow that require frequent maintenance. Regularly waxing your strings, cables, and serving. This helps to slow the normal wear and tear and lengthen the life of your strings.
Signs of Wear on the Bow String
If you see any sort of cut or nick in your strings or cables, they should be replaced immediately. Bow strings are under significant tension and ignoring flaws is unsafe.
Signs of wear include any fraying. This will typically occur first on your D-loop and nocking point or on areas of the strings and cables that contact the cams.
Use Approved Bow Presses
If you delve into doing some of your own tinkering, you may spring for a bow press to use at home. A bow press allows you to press the bow from the bow’s limbs and remove the tension on the strings.
This let’s you do things like change your strings and cables, put twists in your strings/cables to tune your bow, or replace and adjust your peep sight.
If you are using a bow press, make sure your are using a bow press that fits your bow’s limbs. Placing your bow in a press without ensuring a proper fit can send your bow springs out of the press and, at best, flying across your garage.
Avoid Dry Firing
Ok, I know I’ve already touched on this, but taking care to not dry fire your compound bow is imperative. It happens to even the most experienced archers if you aren’t paying close attention.
If you do dry fire your bow, closely inspect the limbs for any visible damage like cracks or splinters. Even if you don’t see any damage, take your bow to your local pro shop so they can inspect it. The last thing you want to do is draw again and have your bow implode while you are holding it.