Failed bow string

by jds6 Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:34 pm

jds6: Workshop Savvy
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Age : 61
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Post n°1

Failed bow string

by jds6 Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:34 pm

Greetings all;

Just had a string fail (break) at the loop end while attached to the nock on the prod. Startled the mess of me, since this was the first time to experience such a thing.
I have read on the forum that I can file down the nock to make it more rounded and smooth,and maybe add some leather around the nock to protect the string against the metal prod. Giving this a try.

Leaving the bow string on the crossbow while not in use for periods at a time cause this to happen? Should I remove the strings from the prods ( 2 bows ) while not in use? Thanks in advance for any input.

jds6

P.S. One should always examine the bow for wear before shooting!!!!

by kenh Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:45 pm

kenh

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Post n°2

Re: Failed bow string

by kenh Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:45 pm

First question -- what kind of crossbow? Medieval replica? Modern Chinese bow from Ebay and such? Commercially made or home made?

Second question - what kind of prod? Homemade carspring? Commercial steel from a crossbow company like Alchem? Chinese fiberglass or metal?

How long have you owned/been shooting this bow?

Draw weight?

Strings will break. Perhaps you got sand in the fibers of the string when spanning/un-spanning the bow some time ago.

My personal opinion is that spanning/un-spanning a prod will do more to weaken a string then just leaving the prod spanned, but that's just my opinion, others will chime in I'm sure.

No reason you can't smooth the nock grooves, but "filing" might be a bit strong of a word. More like "light sanding", or "polishing". Thin leather can also be superglued around areas of potential wear.

by jds6 Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:28 pm

jds6

jds6: Workshop Savvy
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Post n°3

Re: Failed bow string

by jds6 Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:28 pm

kehn, to answer your questions, I have a homemade medieval replica with a commercially made 150# steel prod. I finished this project around Feb. of this year. Probably in the range of 150 shots from this bow.
Yes you are right about filing, perhaps sanding and polishing is the better term. Thanks for your insight on the spanning/un-spanning of the prod. Sounds good but like you said some one else might buzz in on the topic.

jds6

by **Geezer** Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:52 am

Geezer

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Post n°4

Re: Failed bow string

by Geezer Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:52 am

Failed bowstrings: In my experience, they're MUCH more likely with misfires. Over-long strings with too little brace-height also contribute. Pay attention to loose strands. Once a single strand fails, the rest isn't far behind.
And yes, In concur that removing strings between trips to the range are likely to do more damage than leaving the string in place... at least with metal bows. I've had good success with fiberglass prods as well... at leas with the chunky Barnett-type. Thinner laminates and laminated wood may warp or twist if left strung in the summer, or if stored in some hot place. Geezer.

by **Geezer** Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:53 am

Geezer

Geezer: Master Crossbowyer; Posts : 1194
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Post n°5

Re: Failed bow string

by Geezer Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:53 am

Huh, maybe I oughta do a spelling and grammar check next time... still I think the above basically made sense. Geezer.

by jds6 Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:13 am

jds6

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Post n°6

Re: Failed bow string

by jds6 Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:13 am

Thanks Geezer, if I do remember right the brace-height was a little to small. In that note I twisted the string enough to get the proper brace. Might have caused some damage but not to sure.I did have a few misfires with this bow (rookie mistakes). Thanks for the advice, I will be more observant of the condition of the bowstring from now on. Thanks again!!!

jds6

by **Geezer** Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:18 am

Geezer

Geezer: Master Crossbowyer; Posts : 1194
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Post n°7

Re: Failed bow string

by Geezer Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:18 am

Yeah, misfires do a disproportionate amount of damage to bowstrings. If you have a complete misfire, (in which essentially no energy gets invested in the bolt) you load the ends of the string to something like four or five- times the draw-weight. So a 100 lb. bow suddenly hits the string-loops with a 400-500 lb. shock-load. A few of those can break one or more strings inside, but leave the shooter none-the wiser. Then eventually another string goes, and another, then rippp! the whole thing goes in a heartbeat. So if you see one strand getting loose beware! Geezer.

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