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Leather Bow tip protectors?

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Wvinter

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Those leather bow tip protectors that are shaped like an arrow head, open at the bottom, and have a small hole for the string to pass through...you know the ones?...are they strictly for storage or can you shoot your bow with them on and not have adverse effects?

It seem like they wouldn't hurt. I have one on the bottom of my bow and a string keeper on the top. I take it off for shooting, but I figured for hunting it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep one of these tip protectors on the bottom. I don't think it would stretch enough to be able to have one on the top too - with the way they are installed.

Opinions please...
 
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#2 ·
I leave them on my bows.I use the plastic protectors on my recurves and a leather lace up on the longbow.You should take it off occassionally to clean it out.Dirt,grit,etc will get in there and could be abrasive to the nock.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Hello WV,

WV>>Those leather bow tip protectors that are shaped like an arrow head, open at the bottom, and have a small hole for the string to pass through...you know the ones?...are they strictly for storage or can you shoot your bow with them on and not have adverse effects?

It seem like they wouldn't hurt. I have one on the bottom of my bow and a string keeper on the top. I take it off for shooting, but I figured for hunting it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep one of these tip protectors on the bottom. I don't think it would stretch enough to be able to have one on the top too - with the way they are installed.

Opinions please...<<

They are wonderful for holding your string on the bow, so that when you string and unstring, the string will always be on your bow... They will not hurt your bow in any way... They are not necessarily a "Tip" protector, but a aide to string your bow....

Save your money... get a rubber band....string up your bow, and use the rubberband and wrap the tip a few times to hold the string in place.

Usually by rule of thumb... never put the tip of the bow on the ground.

There is a small loop, and a large loop on your string... the small loop is where the plastic "thing" <g> goes, and the large loop will slide down your bow when you unstring it with a stringer...

Shoot with it on!...I will not hurt one bit...

DWayne
 
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#4 ·
Wv -

In the old days at our range, you'd stand up your bows on the bow racks, and a lot of people used the plastic ones. These days, most racks I deal with are horizontal, so the tip doesn't rest on the floor. For me it's just extra weight and one more thing to deal with when dissasembling a T/D bow. Also seems like you're adding weight (disproportionally) to one limb tip, doubt there's any demonstrable problem with that, but I just don't bother.

Viper1 out.
 
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#5 ·
Hello Viper,

Viper> For me it's just extra weight and one more thing to deal with when dissasembling a T/D bow.<<

Thats interesting... I have had one for years. I just leave it on. 24/7. I guess I never thought about taking it off and on. :darkbeer:

Dwayne
 
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#6 ·
Dwayne -

My Target bows get a full takedown after each session, with the string off the bow, so it would be just another thing to loose. Also, I've used the "Staples" brand string keepers, 100 for $.99, ya can't go wrong! Now, I just make the upper string loop to be snug on the limb. When you get older, it gets easier to loose things :darkbeer: The fewer things I have to remember, the better!!! :darkbeer:

Viper1 out.
 
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#7 ·
It Is What It Is

WOULD THE WORD TIP PROTECTOR MEAN ANYTHING , it is also a good way for the string to stay on the bow and not untwist and maintain brace height except for string strecth. If you disassemble your bow completely then it may be a hindderance. Not all clubs have nice bow racks and you might have to put your bow leaning on a tree or such . Well worth the investment.....
 
#8 ·
Hello Viper,

Viper>>When you get older, it gets easier to loose things The fewer things I have to remember, the better!!! <<

I have already lost my marbles years ago...:sad:

Dwayne
 
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#9 ·
Classic -

KInda depends on how you look at and do things. Limb tips bare the brunt of a lot of force on shock, and a few sratches are going to hurt them much. Some people even use a wrap or two of electrical tape if they think that's necessary. If they experience any fore that will do serious harm, a leather or plastic "tip protector" won't save them,

Most of my field bows either have more than a few scratches and dings, or I've refinished them. My target bows are pretty well cared for, and the few nicks they have, yes even on the tips, don't seem to hurt the performance.

If you like them, by all means, go for it, it seems to be the "trad" thing to do. Given the number of bows I have, supplying each with a leather tip protectors would cost a small fortune ;)

Viper1 out.
 
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Discussion starter · #10 ·
Yeah, I just received my new bow with very pretty steer horn overlays. I wanted to cover them with these tip protectors. Yeah I know that the purpose of the overlays is to strengthen and protect the tip, but they look so damn good I didn't want to get them scratched. I think that prolly is the main reason for the tip protectors that are leather - to help prevent scratches and dings. Plastic tip protectors may be a little more robust to help against minor force, not sure.

I guess I got that new car, park in the middle of nowhere in the parking lot, syndrome with my new custom bow...lol

Anyway, I was a little confused on the rubber band string keeper dealy...the big loop small loop thing...maybe being dense today, but can you guys explain that again.

The string keeper I have, little metal hook on leather/felt pad with that stretchable rawhide-like material that attaches to a leather pocket, graduated to my new bow. My old bow I just tied a string around the top string loop and then tied that to the tip. Rubber band method would be good for my backup/old bow. Please explain the little loop big loop thing.
 
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#11 ·
Hello Wv,

Wv>>Anyway, I was a little confused on the rubber band string keeper dealy...the big loop small loop thing...maybe being dense today, but can you guys explain that again.<<

Well, most strings are made with a BIG Loop and a small loop on the other end. When stringing a bow, two big loops makes it very difficult to string the bow... one side will fall off the grove.. then the other side... and then the other side etc etc... (lots of fun for uncordinated people like me).

Thus you have a smaller loop. That loop can go either on the top limb or bottom limb (It really doesn't matter, but you HAVE to be consistant, or your nock will be wrong <g>) This smaller loop will hold itself on the tip MUCH easier than the larger loop.

On One Piece bows, stringing and unstringing can be a little different. You cannot "break down" a limb and slip the string on the top limb (the big loop for me). So here comes the useful part of a big loop. Instead of completely removing the string from the bow, you can "Slide down the string" on the limb. Thus you have a bow with one end (a small loop on the tip) and the other end (a large loop slide down about 10 inches on your bow). Somefolks like to make sure this small end "keeps" the string. So...

They string up their bow properly, and take a rubber band and wrap it around the tip that has the small loop. The Rubber band will sure the loop will stay on the limb. It is a cheap way to make a "String" holder. It takes very little weight, and your string stays on the bow. (And you won't lose it like I do...<g>)...And...if you are talking to a friend...having a great conversation...while stringing up your bow...and not paying attention.... You won't walk up to the firing lane and realize your nock is about 8 inches too low or too high...:confused: :wink: Its a great chuckle when you do this... trust me... I have done it a couple of times...:) I have been hounded, poked, and given a bunch of good laughs when this happens to me. I just tell them my wife must have been that last to use my bow...:wink:


Thus, that rubberband just holds the smaller loop of your string on the bow, allowing your string to stay on your bow. The larger one will (most people I would say) slide down over the limb. The biggest advantage of this, is... If you twist your string to achieve a certain brace height, or twist it for some other reason.. your string will always have the same number of twists in it during each set up. And it is 3 to 4 dollars cheaper than the "plastic" thingy-ma-jig...especially if you get the newspaper or some other item that uses rubberbands for assembly or support...

Plus that, it is the "Traditional way" :darkbeer:

Dwayne
 
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Discussion starter · #12 ·
thanks for the explanation, I was getting the rubber band thing confused with my string keeper...which on one end, the bottom in my case. the loop stays in the nock and the other end loop is put on the hook leather/felt pad with an elastic string attached to a leather pocket that goes over the upper tip. I am sure you have seen these live or in catalogs.

Funny thing, I don't think the strings I have, have a small and large loop...especially the one that came "stock" with my Martin (my old bow). I will have to go and look, but I think they are the same size loops, I will have to check tonight as I am at work...

I know, maybe because I have a flemished twist string and you can make the loops smaller or larger by untwisting. But the stock ones that came with the Martin I believe just had serving thread wrapped to create the loops - static loops, but I still think the loops were the same size. Not sure...but I will check tonight...especially the extra strings I got with my custom to see if there is a small and large loop. Is this standard?

Thanks again for the explanation!
 
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#13 ·
Hello Wv,

Wv>>I know, maybe because I have a flemished twist string and you can make the loops smaller or larger by untwisting. But the stock ones that came with the Martin I believe just had serving thread wrapped to create the loops - static loops, but I still think the loops were the same size. Not sure...but I will check tonight...especially the extra strings I got with my custom to see if there is a small and large loop. Is this standard?<<

It depends on who makes the strings. I haven't bought strings for quite some time...When I bought them, I would use FF strings (if I could), and they would have different sizes of loops... now I make them <g>.

Wv>>Thanks again for the explanation!<<

No sweat!.... Happy to help.

Dwayne
 
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#16 ·
Five X

FIVE X what a good idea. and alot cheaper than $3 each for the regular protectors. This is the kind ot responses we need more of , sweet and short and informative, and directed to the original question on the first post excellent ...
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
What do you know...my strings do have a large hole and a small hole...go figure...

One string company that I have bought from has the same size holes, but they can untwist to open the size of the hole.

Hey, what I thought would be a very short thread is turning out to have a lot of good ideas and information. I learned something...thanks to all.

:darkbeer:
 
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