A plane has several parts that work together to keep it airborne. However, without wings or engines, a plane cannot fly. Bowstrings and limbs are to a compound bow what wings and engines are to a plane. Just like a plane requires regular maintenance, so does a compound bow.
Otherwise, the bow soon malfunctions and becomes useless. The bowstring must be kept in excellent shape for the compound bow to perform optimally.
Here’s a guide on how to wax a compound bow string, the of wax you should use, and how regularly you should wax to help keep your bowstring in mint condition.
Table of Contents
What Kind Of Wax Should You Use For Your Compound Bow?
Before we get into how to wax compound bow, the choice of wax is crucial. While candle wax or beeswax may be suitable for the bowstrings of traditional longbows, don’t use it on a compound bow string. It contains some compounds that will eat at and disintegrate the bowstring.
Silicone-based wax is the recommended wax for most modern bowstrings, including compound bows. This wax has properties that allow it to penetrate the bowstring materials. Hence, it protects and lubricates the inside and outside of your compound bow’s strings.
5 Steps Guide of Waxing A Compound Bow String
Although compound bow waxing is an easy task, you risk destroying your bowstring if you do it wrong. To ensure you do it right every time, here’s how to wax your bow string, step by step.
Step 1: Prepare the bowstring
During use, a bowstring will inevitably collect dirt and dust. If you apply the wax without cleaning, the dirt particles may penetrate the bowstring and cause fraying. It’s wise to clean the string before waxing.
You can use a soft clean cloth to wipe and remove any dirt that may have accumulated on the string. Alternatively, use bowstring cleaning products. Simply apply the bowstring cleaner according to the instructions, wait for it to work, and then wipe it off.
Step 2: Apply wax
Open your wax tube and twist it so that the wax stick protrudes. Check that the wax stick protrudes enough to avoid rubbing the tube against the string. Rub the wax lengthwise and horizontally on the exposed part of the bowstring until it forms a thin layer.
Remember that applying wax to the bowstring servings may make them look shinier, but will also destroy them, so avoid it.
Step 3: Use your fingers to rub it in
After applying a thin coat of wax on the bowstring, use your fingers to rub it in. Apply pressure, so that the friction creates heat to melt the wax and seep between the individual strings.
Rub until the wax melts around all the strands and covers the bow string’s surface.
Step 4: Use a strip to rub it some more
Use a thick fabric cord, a folded piece of paper, or a leather strip for this step. Wrap the strip around the bowstring and work it up and down. This motion will spread the wax while pushing it deeper into the spaces between the strands.
However, do not exert too much pressure since that might cause overheating, damaging the string.
Step 5: Remove excess wax
Use a clean, soft fabric to remove the excess wax. Most of the extra wax will have collected near the bowstring servings, so be careful not to smear them. Once all the excess wax is removed, you’ve finished your compound bow waxing session.
How Often Should You Wax Bow Strings?
Compound bows come from the store with their bowstrings already lubricated. However, lubrication can only last for so long before a new wax job is required.
If your bow is relatively new, you may choose to wax it once every two weeks or so. However, if you’ve used the compound bow for a long time, waxing it much more regularly is better.
In dry areas, the wax loses its moisture causing more friction between individual strings, leading to fraying. Similarly, water penetrates the wax in high humidity or rainy weather, causing problems. Hence, if you live in a place with extreme weather, you should wax your compound bow string regularly.
Also, if you use your compound bow to shoot a lot, the bowstring is subjected to a lot of wear and tear. In this case, you should wax your bowstrings more regularly than if you used the bow fewer times.
Conclusion
Bowstring maintenance is an art that boils down to using the right wax, waxing regularly, and, most importantly, knowing how to wax compound bow string correctly.
Read Next:
Guide to Stringing A Compound Bow Properly
How To Properly Clean A Compound Bow
Guide To Properly Assembling A Compound Bow
Guide Properly Installing A Peep Sight On Compound Bow