How Can You Tell if a Bowstring Needs to be Waxed?

 

When you begin to see hairs or fuzz on your bowstring it's time to apply bowstring wax. Bowstrings are made of multi-stranded string cables. Fibers in these cables will dry out and separate after shooting which will give a fuzzy look to the bowstring. Applying wax will make these fuzzy areas of the cable appear like new.

 

What is Bowstring Wax?

 

Bowstring wax is usually a silicone-based wax and is available in gluestick-like tubes at many places that sell bows or hunting accessories. Some people make their own bowstring wax out of candles and beeswax. This is not recommended for two reasons. First, candles can contain petroleum which will eat at your bowstring. Secondly, the silicone ingredient in actual bowstring wax acts as a lubricate for the individual fibers of the bowstring and helps keep the strands of the cable from deteriorating each other through friction.

 

How Do You Apply Bowstring Wax Properly?

 

To apply bowstring wax you simply extend the wax from the tube and then lightly apply it to the bow string. It is very important to make sure to keep the wax away from cams and servings.

 

Servings are the areas of your string that are wrapped in fine string to protect the highly-stressed areas of bow strings. You can typically find servings around cams and around the area of string where you draw your bow from. It is also possible to split the fibers of a bowstring so that components like peepholes can also be "served" into the cable. In any case, you do not want to apply bowstring wax to servings.

 

Work the wax into the bowstring with your thumb and index finger up and down the cable until the fuzziness starts to disappear.

 

Many new archers don't realize that it is possible to apply too much bowstring wax. The bowstring should feel waxy but there should be no noticeable build-up of wax on the string. Built-up wax will attract dirt which will cause abrasions to your bowstring and servings.

 

 

Carefully scrape off any excess wax and you're finished.