Christophe of Grey
Leathersmith/Archer
Storing Your Equipment
Thus far we have discussed technique and other aspects of archery. But what do you do with your equipment between shoots? Storing your equipment in proper fashion is just as important as shooting techniques.
How to store your bow. I don’t recommend back stringing your bow during storage. This means stringing the bow string from tip to tip on the back side of the bow – the side that faces the target when shooting. This often results in a twisting of the bow limbs and also could lead to untwisting of the string thereby changing your brace height each time you string your bow. I suggest instead using a string keeper. This is a simple device that keeps tension on the string that has been slid down the upper bow limb to release the tension on the bow. You can use elastic cord, a small leather pouch fitting over the limb tip with a tail that wraps around the string, or a knot on the bow limb to keep the string from sliding further down the limb. The knot is usually a decorative knot like a Turk’s head or similar.
You can hang your bow by the string from the top limb on a coat rack or suspended between two pegs horizontally. I personally store my bows hanging from a coat rack in the garage by their strings, top of the limb.
To store your arrows it is best if you have an arrow box. This is a box that stores the arrows horizontally. Each arrow fits in a notch/groove in a piece of cardboard or foam such that each arrow is supported at two points. An alternative is to get a cardboard box, turn it upside down and punch holes in it. Place your arrows point down in this box such that the box keeps the arrows standing point down, fletches up. Arrows that are stored flat will warp. Store your bows and arrows in an area that has low humidity and constant temperature.
You should be applying bow string wax to your bow string about every other time you shoot. You can purchase special bow string wax or just use bees wax. Apply a good generous coating then rub it in with your fingers by briskly stroking the string. Be sure the serving areas get covered as well.
Lately I’ve been applying silicone spray to my arrow shafts. I spray a rag then rub the shafts and store them. The silicone soaks in/dries on the shafts for next time. The silicone makes the arrows easier to extract from foam targets. Don’t know if there is any scientific truth to this, but they also seem to fly better. Maybe it’s just the “look good, feel good, shoot good” factor.
Treat your quiver and arm guard as you would a good pair of shoes. These items are typically made out of leather and need a coating of shoe polish now and then. Neutral shoe polish works just dandy and does not change the color of your equipment. If your glove is made out of leather you could try washing it with saddle soap. Any type of leather treatment on the finger tips coming in contact with the bow string would not be a good thing. Usually we just use gloves until they become too nasty to use then replace them. Tabs last longer as we don’t typically sweat in them.