crossbow strings

[kennacl55]

How often should you change your x bow string. My string has never been changed and Im having accuracy problems for the first time since buying my tenpoint blazer hp. I talked to a guy who used to shoot for excaliber and he told me he changed strings every 50 shots. What are some of the best string lubes and string waxes to use to protect the string?

[ghost5]

Every 50 shots would get expensive quick. I keep an eye on mine for wear. But about every couple of years I would change it out or more often if you see wear. Keep it waxed that helps.

[goinssr]

Every 50 shots is very excessive and a waste. I agree with ghost5, keep an eye out for premature wear and act accordingly. Other than that every couple of years sounds about right.

[sw]

I record virtually every shot. My Strykeforce string was changed at 2486 shots. Still in good shape. My Strykezone 380 string was reserved at appx 1500 shots. If the rail is kept lubbed and string waxed, serving wear is almost always the reason for string replacement or serving replacement. My SZ380's serving was replaced. String was like new: 2 years, >1500 shots. The string needs waxed every outing and I believe every few shots. I lub the rail every 1-3 shots.
The reason for wear on the serving, if the rail is kept lubbed then the major wear is from the string holding claws. The string claws, catches, whatever, can often be smoothed then polished. This can make serving last much longer.
Holding pressure is directly proportional to serving wear, all else equal, if the rail is kept lubbed. If a recurve xbow has #260 of holding pressure and a compound xbow is #160 with 60% let-off then it's holding pressure is only #64. A string rolling off the holding prongs with #260 has a lot more wear than a string letting off with only #64 . Some recurve makers even don't recommend lubing the rail since the prong wear is so great that the lack of rail lubing is insignificant.
So to answer your question, a lot more needs to be known.

[sw]

A really hot Excalibur can go thru serving pretty fast. The 10-pt should last many times longer, especially if well waxed and lubed. Brands? I've tried the Scorpion stuff, and think its good but expensive. Rail Snot and any wax worked into the string with a small leather square is what I use. I shoot a lot!!
My regimen: wax string on hot xbows every 2-5 shots, lub rail very lightly, every 1-2 shots. Takes very little time, saves a lot. I polish all my string holding prongs.

[quillen52]

Rail lube and string wax is the answer. Also check cam areas for serving wear. My string usually make it at least 2 years and more often than not it is serving that has to be replaced!

[edge]

The shorter the bow the more extreme the string angle and stress on the center serving.
If you buy a new string, get a good one that has been tied under a lot of pressure.
On short bows check the serving after every shot and keep it tight or you risk damage to the underlying strands.
If you keep the center serving tight the string will last a long time as others have mentioned but losing a strand adds a huge amount of stress to the adjacent strands so constant maintenance will pay for itself.



edge. 

[sw]

Nov 29, 2013 16:34:13 GMT -5 edge said:

The shorter the bow the more extreme the string angle and stress on the center serving.
If you buy a new string, get a good one that has been tied under a lot of pressure.
On short bows check the serving after every shot and keep it tight or you risk damage to the underlying strands.
If you keep the center serving tight the string will last a long time as others have mentioned but losing a strand adds a huge amount of stress to the adjacent strands so constant maintenance will pay for itself.



edge. 

With xbows becoming narrower, shorter, lighter, and recurve xbows making inroads on the compound dominance, and faster(Middleton has a SS recurve with >400'/sec, Excaliber with Matrix380 and >400 expected in Jan,2014), the serving stress will get greater. Angel Hair 24 and other finer servings are coming into greater usage. Many places that reserve strings are still using larger serving materials that have worked well in the past but won't take the stresses ov high performance xbows. A person who gets a super short recurve xbow might be well advised to serve his/her own strings . The original post referencing the Excalibur shooter likely reflects his experiences but doesn't translate to most compound xbows(my very high performance xbow -Strykeforce, 385'/sec 400g arrow- went almost 2500 shots, and was still good, when I replaced it with an aftermarket string).
As usual, pay attention to what edge writes.

[ronnie]

If you have an Excalibur try Boo Custom Strings. The wait is long but he makes the best ,serving life is unbelievable.

[mshm99]

Saw 'Edge's' goat pic and thought it was time we brought another one out for some air

[sw]

A few things I've picked up since moving to Excalibur: wax the string when finished with shooting so it can soak in, serving lub can help reduce string wear, regardless of manufacturer recommendation, lubing the rail doesn't hurt, polish the string holder prongs if needed(have always don this), polish moon or flat nock nocks edges to reduce wear (especially Al nocks), NEVER use nocks that have a slit in them(this doesn't refer to the newer 6-sided nocks)......