How Often Should You Wax Your Bow String? 2024

Bowstrings are an extremely essential part of any bow hence, you must take due care of them. There are multiple processes that one should carry out to keep their bowstring maintained for the long run. Since waxing is essential, you should know how often should you wax your bow string.

It’s usually done when the bowstring shows early signs of damage. However, many archers procrastinate it.

It is important to know when and how often should you wax your bow string. Though the waxing frequency is based on the condition of the string. Generally, archers who use the bow almost every day, wax it twice or thrice a week.

Keep a close eye on the string and inspect it every time before using it. This will help you notice any possible signs of damage. Early diagnosis on a bowstring will always keep you safe from poor performance and harmful injuries.

Basic Maintenance – How Often Should You Wax Your Bow String?

Waxing is the basic maintenance practice done to ensure that the bow operates without any issues. It coats the fibers of the string and prevents them from fuzzing or fraying hence, enhancing the longevity.

If you are a regular archer or bow hunter, it is ideal to inspect the string of your bow every two days. Don’t forget to be very regular with the inspection during harvest season or any archery competition. These are times when you use a bow rigorously every day hence, it needs to stay lubricated.

According to some experts, waxing your bow string after every five to seven uses or 100 to 120 shots is incredibly efficient. Since every archer uses the bow on different days, the measurement of uses and shots will help everyone.

Speaking of heavy hunting season, you can make the waxing cycle a bit more frequent by waxing after every three to five uses. In case of demage, you can learn how to string a recurve bow yourself.

waxing your bow - practically shown by bowmastery

What Is A Bowstring Wax?

Waxes used for bowstrings are either natural or synthetic. The natural waxes are composed of beeswax and nothing else but still smell amazing. Synthetic waxes on the other hand are a mixture of natural beeswax and pine rising.

Some companies roll out hydrocarbon-based, silicone-based, and non-tacky wax. Generally, natural wax is used for bowstrings made out of natural fibers and synthetic waxes are used for synthetic strands.

how often should you wax your bow string - waxing

Why Do You Need To Wax Your Bowstring?

Now that you know how often to wax bow strings, it is also useful to understand why and when to do it. The string will show various signs that indicate it has started to deteriorate. As soon as you observe these signs, start waxing.

Look for fraying, it is when the fibers start breaking and create fuzziness on the particular part of the string. The frays in a string if not waxed timely, further lead to knicks and breakage of it.

That said, to overcome these minor issues, you must use the wax and keep the strings lubricated. In the case of major fraying and extreme knicks, the only resolution is the replacement of the bowstring.

archery waxing - over waxing and wax build up

Bowstring Wax Application Procedure

Improper application of the wax will fail to protect the bowstring from damage. Carefully understand the guidelines shared below and follow the steps.

1. Prepare The Bowstring

You cannot just grab a wax stick and start rubbing on the bow. The process requires the preparation of the bowstring in the first place. As you inspect the bow, also look for any kind of dirt and debris. Clean the string using a clean, dry, and soft cloth.

Another easy way is to do this by using dental floss or any other string. Wrap it around a couple of times on the string but don’t tie. Once done, drag it down the bowstring.

It will strip off all the previous wax buildup on the string, making it easier to lubricate the bowstring properly. Clean the area for finer results using a cloth or paper towel.

2. Apply The Wax

Now that your bowstring is clean, take the wax and rub it on the string with gaps. Make sure to roll out the wax stick far enough that the tube doesn’t come in contact with the bowstring. If it does, the sharp tube edges can damage the strands. The waxy layer on the string makes it weatherproof as well, making it ideal for humid, snowy, and rainy days.

3. Rub The Wax

Using a paper towel or cloth, rub the wax that you applied on the string using pressure. Don’t exert excessive pressure. The rubbing movement will generate heat, causing the wax to melt due to friction. In this way, the contents of the wax spread all over the string easily.

You can also use a piece of leather for rubbing. While it does help in creating more heat, too much of it could be responsible for premature wear in the bowstring.

4. Remove The Excess Wax

The final step would be removing any excess wax from the bow. You can do this by simply rubbing a piece of cloth gently down the bowstring. Overdoing wax on the string can slow down the fire rate of the bow. On compound bows, it can accumulate inside cam grooves.

how often should you wax your bow string - waxed string on compound bow

Conclusion

Knowing when and how often should you wax your bow string helps you keep your bow maintained for better longevity. Invest in a good bowstring wax and it will lubricate the fibers extremely well.

Incase if your bow string is damaged, learn how much it costs to restring a bow. Keep checking the bow every now and then for damage signs so that you can pinpoint the problem and wax it before the string condition gets worse.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can you use candle wax on the bowstring?

You can but it is not suggested. Candle wax does not easily penetrate the strands of the bowstring because of high melting points.

Can rainwater seep through the bowstring wax?

No, a proper and even layer of bowstring wax prevents rainwater to seep through the string fibers.

How Often Should You Wax Your Bow String? 2024