Ozbow

Guess I should clarify them--for me it's never made any difference. Haven't had any customers tell me any different either--I do serve them pretty tight though. There are folks that say you get a rounder string from a 3-bundle, but if you know how you can make a 2 bundle just as round as any. I figu...

How you twist a string will mostly depend on whether you are right or left-handed. I've made literally thousands of strings, but it would be a bugger for me to try and do it backwards--and no, it doesn't make a bit of difference if the string is built properly. I served a string for myself "bac...

I'll third what Glenn said. I've been guilty of doing it myself, and see bows strung like that all the time--and I just cringe. It only takes one slip to loose an eye. Definately worth the time and trouble to use a bow stringer, especially with a recurve. On a side note, I generally use a Selway (po...

Mick's suggestion is probably the safest, for you and your bows. Hummingbird sells a bow stringer that works using that same concept--it's the safest way to string a bow using the step-through method.

Chad

The Bitzenburger is the best I've ever used, and if you take care of it it will last a lifetime. One big thing is, if you use glue, be careful when you clean the clamp. The BPE Pro is also a good one, a little more aggravating to adjust for me though. Fletch tape eliminates the need for more than on...

After several thousand strings (I guess that qualifies me as a "stringmaker"? :? ) I've learned there is no general rule that will work for every bow. AMO specs state that any string should be 3" shorter than the AMO bow length (www.texasarchery.org/Documents/AMO/AMOStandards.pdf). Ho...

Look like they will work. I don't know what they would cost there, but the Ace Hex Head blunts are almost as un-looseable as judo points, and in my limited experence they are much more deadly on small game.

Chad

We (Joe Stark from Lone Wolf Traditional Archery and myself) did a string making DVD last year called "Doin' the Twist". It covers 2 bundle and 3 bundle flemish twist strings, padded loops, accent strands, endless loop strings, installing fur and rubber silencers. It also has instructions ...

I had the good fortune of seeing it in person (and the bad fortune of having to send it away :cry: ). It looks MUCH better than the pictures--absolutely beautiful! The Bolvian rosewood is a perfect compliment to the cocobolo. I apologize for my lack of photography skills--maybe Brian can get some be...

I'll third that--Mick has always been true to his word in my dealings with him. The world could use more folks like him!

Chad

Thanks for the review Dave! I wouldn't refer to either Joe or myself as "professionals" though--we've just made several thousand strings each over the years, and you can't help but pick up on a few things after that many. Our goal was to lay out what we knew and hopefully in a way that was...

I have to apologize for the photos--I was in a dead run at the time, but I'd promised Mick I'd get him some today. I'm not much of a photographer to begin with, and when I'm in a hurry, I can really make a mess. After thinking it over, I may not have been clear with Marc on the accent stripe in the ...

(1) What type of bow have you chosen? For the last several years my #1 bow has been a Chek-Mate Crusader longbow. (2) What are the physical dimensions and draw weight of this bow and why have you chosen this configuration? 66", 66@30.5. Smaller riser, deflex/reflex design. I like the lighter o...

Sorry--I meant no offense--just couldn't resist a poke at Erron.


Chad

No worries Erron--I understand how it goes! What is the traditional Christmas tree in Oz anyway? Jarrah?

Chad

Well, I'm glad it plays at least! Actually you are exactly the type person (someone who hasn't made a string) I'd like a review from. I want to know if it's easy enough to follow and if someone with no experience can make a string following it. 'Course I'd like to know what your friend thinks of it ...

Cool! I'm jealous--of the very few robin hoods I've been lucky enough to get (probably less than a half-dozen over several years), every one of them has been in a wood or carbon arrow, which shattered--no "arrow mating with arrow" trophy to put on the wall. I like that grip--it reminds me ...

Just checking--Erron, did it get there yet? If it did, could you play it?

Chad

Hey Mick--yep, I found someone to work on my site (I'm no good at that sort of thing), and we hope to keep improving it as time goes on. Currently we have some goofs and glitches to take care of, but we had to get something up because I also changed hosts and the old one dropped it sooner than expec...

I live in the U.S., and have acess to gobs of broadheads. I haven't tried them all out on various big game, but I have put many through the steps rabbit hunting--the rabbits themselves don't test the heads, but the rocks, stumps, trees, etc. that we hit in the process sure do! There's some great bro...

It depends on who you talk to. Obviously Craig Ekin believes in it. I have talked to other bowyers that really liked it, some that were indifferent, and some that won't use it--or at least won't guarantee it. Chek-Mate doesn't offer it for a few reasons. They have tested bamboo, and found no benefit...

Bob Morrison was making the ACS bows under an agreement with O.L., but that didn't work out. As I was told, O.L. is only putting out about 50 bows a year--that's going to make for a long wait. Getting a bow in 6 weeks would be nice, but sometimes it just can't be done. Chek-Mate only has one bowyer,...

My guess is I've owned at least 100 different bows (but never had more than 30-something of them at one time), and I couldn't begin to count the different ones I've shot and haven't owned. I reckon I own my dream bow--it does everything I could ask for and more. It's a Chek-Mate Crusader longbow, ye...

BS is correct--it's just another way of deflexing the riser. In the case of the Firebird, it's designed to be a short bow (56") that will handle a longer draw length (up to 30"). I've drawn them well past 30" with no problems. Chek-Mate has made, I believe, hundreds of Firebirds (alth...

I'll get it to you one way or the other Mick! Probably have to go UPS or Fed-Ex, but it won't cost you anything extra because the goof was mine. I don't understand how I got away with shipping a tube that was at least 68-70"--and it went through with no problems. I would have sworn we found it ...

Well, it seems that I just got lucky with the longbow. I checked this a.m., and (using the U.S. Postal Service, Air Mail) the regs are max. length 42", max. length and girth is 79", max. weight 44#. This is on page 325 of the regs. book. Looks like Federal Express or UPS if you have a box ...

If it's any consolation, it's the same here in the U.S.--even if you are an Indian medicine man, you must apply for a federal feather permit to use raptor feathers in a ritual. From what I've been told, you will get less prison time for killing someone than possessing a single eagle feather. If you ...

I've sent at least one longbow to Oz--can't remember if it was a 66", 68", or 70", but I had no problems at all. I used a cob from a carpet roll for the shipping tube. It seems that there are a LOT of U.S. postal employees that really don't know the regulations, and won't bother looki...

Something to consider--if your arrows are longer than average, the average back quiver probably won't be deep enough. Tip-to-tip, with broadheads, my arrows are a shade over 34" long--very few if any over the counter quivers will work properly. If you want to make your own from scratch, use som...

I can't speak for this model specifically, but I've been using a Woodchuck taper grinder that's pretty much identical to this one and it works great. Beats a pencil sharpener type by a long way! The only thing about it is you need a vacumn system or just set it up outside, unless you want wood dust ...