I'd like to know what type of string silencer you use and how do you install them. Rubber "spider" types wrapped around the entire string? Cloth or fur installed between the strands of the string? How far from the end of the loop serving do you put them?

Longbow versus recurve - what do you recommend for the string silencers?

Happy Holidays!!! and shoot 'em straight!!

Regards, WMM

http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/tf/lw/searchaction2.cfm

I have 'monkeyballs' on mine, made by monkeyball (craig).

I use most any kind of fur. Ask your question on youtube and you will be shown how to install any type you are thinking of using.

I use wool yarn puffs made Rick Barbee style. I use 20 wraps, and they weigh 13gns each. Work great, usually put 2 sets, 1st set 1/4 down the string from the top, and 1/3 up the string from the bottom. 2nd set between the 1st set and the ends of the bow. Most of my bows only need one set, but two make them super quiet, and I can’t tell the difference in my shots. Rick has a video on how to make the jig. I put them between the string strands and can be slid up or down as desired.

I make my own and just use wool or acrylic yarn.

Look up Rick Barbee's video on making yarn string silencers. It's so easy even I can do it... that's easy!

Due to rain while hunting I like to use rubber ball type silencers. I tie them in and then trim them to about an inch long. If they get wet snap the string a few times and they shed all water. If you wax the string well it should stay fairly dry, but the monsoon in NM makes sure everything gets soaked...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrAN8gFuHkU

Try different types yourself to see what works for you. Just because something works for one guy doesn't mean it will make you happy on your bow.

Had pretty good results using Rick's technique (Thanks Rick!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c4J9umoKfw

Yarn puffs

I make my own out of wool yarn and slide them around while tuning to get the bow as quiet as I can. It seems that most of mine are the best at about the fade on recurves after all the experimenting is over with. I tie them into the string with dental floss or serving string and a drop of super glue on the knot, Most of my longbows flat out don’t need them. Lance

Look up "Justsomedude". His placement of silencers is based on his knowledge of harmonics. I tried it, it works.

Myself, I use Black Widow spiders or rubber spiders. Where I hunt has burrs that like anything fuzzy.

Bow hush , beaver balls or churro!

I've used wool, cat whiskers and fur. Truth is they all work and it's really just a matter of personal preference. I prefer fur because it works just fine and I prefer its aesthetics. About a third of the way from the tips usually works well enough that I don't have to move them.

Yarn works great.

I find where they work best by moving them. Harmonics will change as you change brace or even material...or number of strands....or go from a glove to a tab, etc.

I make my own rubber strips out of a thin sheet of silicone rubber. I also use different types of fur.

I have used the BowHush products and they are excellent.

That said, I may never buy silencers from anyone, ever. I messed around this year with yarn, scraps of wool, small pieces of fur....they all work. My Northern Mist Ramer hunted all year with scraps from my Asbell Wool jacket as silencers. Dead quiet.

My opinion is tune the bow to perfection, have a heavy arrow, and you just don't need much in the way of silencing.

I only buy bows that are properly set up by folks with far more patience than I have. Once in a while I use polar fleece crossbow silencers.

DDave

I like yarn puffs. Any yarn will work and you can mix colors too. I now use 100% wool yarn. Don't know why, I just like to. I do 25-30 wraps around my hand, split the string, insert bundle about 1/3 up from limb tip, string the bow to put pressure on the yarn, trim both sides of the yarn about 1.25 inches from the string to get 2-2.5 inch puff. Probably not the "right" way to do it But I have done that for 30 years and been happy with it.

I like and use both Cat Whisker type rubber as well as yarn puff types. I probably prefer the puff type a little better but always used Cat Whiskers if in the rain. I do not hunt much in the rain anymore so I tend to shoot the puffs more often.

I use homemade "woolies".

Navajo wool silencers or Two Tracks string scallops are my favorite

Nothing on self bows, cat whiskers on long bows, and puffs on recurves.

Barebow: For tieing catwhiskers, do you recommend the fine, medium, or heavy rubber from that site? Thanks.

Here's the Carroll's with Craig's silencers on it. This is the low stretch string for when shooting my higher spined 23/64 cedars.

When I use the smaller diameter Microflite 8, I go to the B-50 string with these monkeyballs on it. I keep the bow tuned for both.

Thanks everyone!! You gave me lots to consider, and I will be viewing Mr. Barbee's YouTube video very soon.

Happy Holidays to all!! >>>------->

WMM

Thanks to Rick Barbee for his two YouTube videos about making the silencers and how to install them. Thank you very much for such great easy to follow tutorials.

I actually made a "loom" along the lines of Rick's, but used 4" x 1/4" carriage bolts through a 12" piece of 2x4, then sheathed the threads with 1/4" plastic tubing. I think it should work. Total cost to me was under $3 for the materials, and it's portable.

Thanks again Rick. All the best. Be well.

WMM

Beaverballs is my choice

I do whan John Schulz recommends, big fat, heavy string. No silencers needed.

Don't use any on my Hill style longbows. My silencer is a waxed 16 strand B-50.

I use fur strips wound just under the Flemish splice of my string. Jawge

Ricks video. Fun to make and feels good .I also watched Ricks video on adjustable string nocks. Best thing i ever learned on youtube. Thanks Rick Barbee for sharing your knowledge.

Trying the tall tine scallops soon

What the majority seems to have said...Rick Barbee video. Awesome resource, easy and fun.

Don't need them on selfbows, but always used cat whiskers on re- curve and longbows.

I wrap 12 wraps of thicker wool around the outermost grooves of the three fingers of my left hand. I form my fingers in a rough circle by overlapping.

If I want two colours I wrap two strands of different colour wool at once but use six wraps. For three colours four wraps with three different coloured strands.

I find doing this is quick and easy without a jig. It gives me a ball that 2.5" wide that I can then trim.

Cut the wool, lay the wrapped loops on a pre-cut length of serving or old bowstring and tie in the centre to form a figure-8.

Spilt the strands of the bow string, stick the wool wrap in following the 1/3 and 1/4 principle. String the bow, cut the wool loops and fire away.

Here's one colour. 12 wraps

Here is two colours...it takes 10 seconds to wrap the wool around the fingers and cut it from the yarn ball.

Wool puffs. Especially neat because they are from our own sheep. ;-)

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here