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#How to break down crack to shoot full
If you do not find any damage after these tests, draw the bow to full draw length and have someone else visually inspect the bow while it is drawn. Shoot six arrows and recheck the bow for cracking and damage. You will want to begin to test its ability to shoot.Ĭheck the bow’s accuracy, ensure your arrow rest is firmly in place, and repeat the inspection for damage throughout shot testing. Now you know the bow can be pulled back to a full draw. Once you have completed this process, you can begin to take some test shots with the bow. Repeat the process of increasing the draw weight/distance, pulling 25 times, and checking for damage until you’ve hit the maximum for your bow and string. Increase the draw by 10 lbs or 6 inches for each interval. Repeat this pull 25 times while listening for sounds that indicate structural failure. Increase the draw by 10 lbs for a total of 20lbs or 6 inches for a total of 12 inches. Repeat this process 25 times and check again for cracking. Do not dry fire your bow dry firing can damage your archery equipment. Slowly release the bow back to its resting state. Immediately discontinue if you hear any cracking. If you do not have archery or hanging scales, draw the bow back about 6 inches.Īs you draw the bow back, listen carefully for any creaking or cracking sounds. Use an archery/hanging scale to apply precise draw weight.īegin by drawing the bow to 10lbs or 6-inch draw length. Then you will want to ramp up the amount of pressure slowly. It is crucial to start slow and apply light pressure. Now would be the time to put on safety glassesto protect your eyes in the event of bow failure.Ĭheck the minimum draw weight and bow length to make sure you do not exceed them during testing. With the string replaced, you can begin to test the bow progressively. Now that you have visually and physically inspected the bow, you can begin flex testing. These strings require extra reinforcement on the limb tips and are not suitable for traditional recurve bows, let alone a recurve with unknown integrity. Strings can fail quickly, even if you do not see any wear and tear on them.įor older bows, you will want to use a Dacron bow string.ĭo not use Fast Flight, D97, or other strings designed for modern bows. No matter what, you should replace the string. Replace the string and repeat the cotton ball or finger check.
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If you go too quickly, the splintered piece of wood will end up lodged in your finger! If you do not have a cotton ball, you can run your finger along with the recurve limb. Run a wet cotton ball over every surface of the limbs and look for cotton that gets caught on splinters. If you do not see any signs of stress, cracking, delamination, or other damage to the bow, you can check the limbs for microdamage using a wet cotton ball. You will want to take your bow into the shop to see if they can repair it to a useable condition. If you see any abnormalities, do not use the bow. The first step in testing an old bow is to clean and inspect all bow components for physical damage and wear. They do not have redundant parts, which means they will only be safe to use if every piece has optimal structural integrity. If you go right to a full draw on the bow and it fails, you and any bystanders will be at risk for serious injury.
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It is essential to start at the beginning of these steps as you want to test the bow’s integrity progressively. There are some sequential tests that you can do to check the bow for safety. If you cannot take your old recurve, bow to an expert for inspection and testing. However, not everyone has such a shop close by. If you have a shop that deals with traditional recurve bows, you should bring your bow in for examination. The safest option is to take it to the shop. It may be best to buy a new recurve bow for shooting. If any of these conditions are suboptimal, you should be extremely cautious about testing the bow. Hot or rapidly changing climates will also cause warping.įinally, moisture is readily absorbed by wooden bows causing them to warp. Hang the bow upside down, resting on the two tips of pegs Ī strung bow has subtle pressures that will warp the bow over extended periods.The following is how a bow should be stored long-term: When considering the safety of an old bow, consider the potential storage conditions you found it in. Bow storage and maintenance play a huge role in determining the lifespan of a bow.