How Do I Keep My Crossbow Strings in Good Shape?

When it comes to your crossbow, the strings are one of the most important parts of the entire fixture. After all, without the strings, what good would it be to you? Just like other types of hunting equipment, you have to keep crossbows in good condition because if you don’t, they will let you down the next time you go to hunt or shoot at targets.

If you’re interested in learning what you need to do to take good care of your crossbow strings, here are a few things to remember.

Regularly Wax the String and Cables

This is a very important step because bowstrings have to be waxed regularly to work properly. Most manufacturers, in fact, recommend a good waxing every 10 times you shoot the crossbow, but check with your user’s manual to make sure the instructions don’t say something different.

You’ll usually get a tube of wax with your crossbow, but in case you don’t, you need to head out to the sporting goods store and buy some. Compound crossbows also have cables, and you should wax them at the same time you wax the strings. All you have to do is take the wax and rub it across the entire length of the string or cable, being careful to avoid the area located right above the arrow rail. If you were to get the wax in that area, it could gum up your trigger box, which is not something you want.

Once you’ve rubbed the wax on the strings, take your fingers and rub them across the string in the areas you just waxed. You’ll want to concentrate on rubbing the wax and making sure it gets into the string so that no part of it is left untouched. The heat from your hands also helps to melt the wax, which means it will remain on the string for much longer.

If the manufacturer doesn’t make a recommendation as to how often the strings should be waxed, you should try to wax it every 10 times you shoot, which is a good number to start with. Later on, you might want to wax the string more often, but every 10 times you use the crossbow is a good number to use when deciding how often to wax your crossbow string.

Check the Bowstring Periodically

In addition to waxing your bowstring, you also need to check it regular for signs of wear and tear. Although most bowstrings last from 200 to 1,000 arrows fired, different circumstances can make the string last shorter or longer than that, so regular inspections of the bowstring are crucial.

For starters, you should check the string for things such as:

In any of these cases, you should go ahead and replace the string. If in doubt, replace the string! Bowstrings are not always expensive, and since not replacing them when they need to be replaced can be unsafe, it behooves you to go ahead and replace your strings regularly.

When you’re inspecting the string, pay close attention to the center where the arrow is nocked, as this is the area that may show more wear and tear than the others.

If you do not wax the string regularly, instead of it lasting for 200 to 1,000 arrow firings, it likely will last a much shorter period of time – count on 20% less in most cases.

Even if your bowstring does last a long time, you never know when it will go out and need to be replaced, so it’s a good idea to have a spare one on-hand at all times. This way, you’ll always be prepared for the unexpected.

Taking care of your bowstring is neither difficult nor time-consuming, and it will save you a lot of money and worry over the long run. Regularly checking the string and waxing it goes a long way in increasing its lifespan. Of course, if the manufacturer of your crossbow or bowstring suggests additional maintenance or something different, it’s best to stick with their plan so that you can enjoy your bow for many years to come.