You always hear that people compress their bows with a bow press. However, you’re wondering if you actually need one.
If yes, then how to compress a compound bow without a press, exactly?
Well, first comes the locating of the limbs. Manually, use your hand and foot to adjust it in a full draw position. Then, insert the new string. After checking if you’ve inserted it correctly, make the full draw position again. Take out the old string it had and make the bow go back to normal. That’s it.
Still confused? In this article, we’ll be explaining all these steps carefully. We’ll also tell you all you need to know regarding bow presses. So, read on!
Why Do You Need to Press Your Bow?
Often, you might face minor inconveniences with any parts of your compound bow. Pressing your bow can help fix these issues. Whether it’s restringing or fixing a bent peep sight, pressing your bow solves all problems.
If you don’t press your bow, you’ll need to manually slack the strings to fix the issues. Doing this doesn’t solve problems accurately, especially if you need to tune the string.
What Is A Bow Press Used For?
Many components of a compound bow kit get displaced after use. If they’re not adjusted, you can’t utilize the full potential of your bow. That’s why you need a bow press.
So, the components that you need to use a bow press for are-
String Silencer
A string silencer reduces the noise coming from a bowstring. But they only work for a fixed amount of time. So, by using a bow press, you can replace your old string silencer with a new one.
Peep Sight
The peep sight is what helps to determine your shooting accuracy. Usually, the peep sight is straight so you can see properly. But when you use your bow too often, they often become bent.
Pressing your bow would help to straighten it back again!
Cams
Using a bow press can help you fix the cam lean. The cam lean is the angle between the vertical plane of the bow and the plane of the cam. When you use your bow too much, the angle might change. A bow press will help you re-adjust the angle again.
How Do You Press A Bow at Home?
In case there are no archery shops close to you, you can press a bow yourself! Remember, the main intention of bow pressing is to slack the bowstrings. Then, you can take out and re-adjust certain parts.
To start off, place your bow press on a table. Then, take out your bow. Identify the limb bolts, which are at the top and bottom of the two ends. If you see two spaces to insert the Allen Wrench, those are the bolts!
Twist your Allen Wrench after inserting it in an anti-clockwise direction two times. This will reduce the pressure on each limb when you’re pressing the bow.
To press your bow, slide the bow inside the bow press. After that, start rotating the wheel of the bow press in a clockwise direction.
While rotating, place your index finger right below the bowstring. Try to push the bowstring upwards. As the bow starts pressing, you’ll see that the string slowly slacks.
After it fully slacks, your pressing is complete. Now, you can remove different parts of your bow and fix them.
What Is A Bow Master?
A bow master is a brand of portable bow presses. It’s small in size and can be easily carried in belts. Yet, it has all the features that a general bow press has.
Not only that, but a bow master also allows you to fix the components of the bow more easily. Hence, it simplifies all your tasks.
How Do You Use A Portable Bow Press?
For a portable bow press, a bow holder can ease your task a lot. So, first, place your bow on the holder. Then, fit the two brackets of the press in each cam.
Then, take out the portable bow press. The bow press will have two separate cables. Pull each of the cables and take them to each bracket. Fit the cables inside the bracket.
Thus your bow is connected by two cables with the controller in the middle. Your bow press is now ready for pressing!
Start rotating the controller in the middle with the help of its handle. Follow the same procedure used by a regular bow press until the bowstrings are slacked. There you go!
Should I Buy A Bow Press?
Actually, compound bows were invented before bow presses. However, archers used to have a hard time before bow presses were invented as the methods were dangerous.
But now, bow presses save archers from such danger. As an archer, you should definitely buy a bow press if you don’t have one! These are the recommended brands of bow press that you can go for-
So, get your own bow press today!
How Do You Restring A Bow Without A Bow Press?
Alright, now you might think a bow press is unnecessary and expensive. In that case, let’s see the step of restringing a bow without a press.
Below we’ve told you how to set up the workspace and the items required.
Equipment and Workspace
If you make any mistake in any step, your bow will not be compressed properly. So, having an organized workspace is very important.
Make sure there is an empty table in front of you. This is where you’ll do the main work.
As for the equipment, here are the things you need-
• An Allen Wrench
• A new bowstring
Now you’re all ready to start the task.
Locating Limb Bolts
First, locate your limb bolts. Similar to when bow presses are used, insert the Allen wrench into them. Rotate the Allen Wrench 3 times fully in the anti-clockwise direction. This will take the pressure off the bow limbs.
Re-positioning the Bow
Next, you need to adjust your bow in a full-draw position. Tightly step on the bowstring. Then, pull the bow up with your hand firmly.
Make sure not to drop the bow while you’re doing that! This will crash your bow fully. Stop pulling it when it is in an ideal dull draw position.
Inserting New String
With one of your hands holding the bow handle, use the other to insert the new string. There are teardrop fittings in the cables of your compound bow. So, loop the ends of the new string through them.
Checking New String
Now it’s time to rewind and lower your bow instead. Keep lowering it until you see the limbs in the original position. If you see that the string is seated properly, you’ve done a perfect job!
Removing Old String
Since you have two strings on the bow now, take the old one out. Step on the new string and repeat Step 2. After the bow is in the full draw position, remove the old string. Then, like Step 4, lower the compound bow again.
This is how you restring your bow without a press.
Conclusion
That’s it! We hope now you know how to compress a compound bow without a press!
A tip: Compressing a bow without a press might be hard at first. Sometimes, you might face issues in parts other than the string too.
So, inspect these parts on a regular basis. The more you look at how they work, the more familiar you get with them. Thus, you can do tasks more easily.
