Arrows, Bow Care and Maintenance, Outfitting your Bob Lee Bow, Traditional Archery, Videos
Damage Control for your Bob Lee Bow – Read FIRST
Dec
BEFORE you assemble, string or shoot your bow it is extremely important that you read, and heed, these precautions.
We realize how anxious you are to “get shooting”, but your new purchase (and its warranty) are at stake.
Our HOW-TO VIDEOS cover these items in greater detail, as well as providing additional tips and precautions. It is time well-spent to peruse each topic.
Safety First
Never draw, aim or shoot unless you are sure that your line of fire is clear of all unintended targets. REMEMBER: Once an arrow is in flight, it cannot be recalled.
Assembling
BOLT-UP Model: Assembly
STABI-LOCK™: Assembly
BOLT-UP Model: STRINGING
Stabi-Lock™: STRINGING & SEATING
ALWAYS use the bow stringer furnished with your order each time you string and unstring your bow. A bow stringer is designed to protect you against personal injury and the bow against limb damage. NEVER attempt to string a bow by any other method.
Each of your takedown model limbs is marked as a top limb or a bottom limb. These markings are found on each limb near the mounting area. To align the limbs with the handle, press down over the handle inserts. After you feel the bolts bottom out, a half-turn turn on each screw is all that is needed to seat the limbs. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN your limb bolts as too much pressure can crack the limb glass, causing irreversible damage and voiding the warranty.
Disassembling
Never string your bow by any method other than a bowstringer. You can do damage to your bow, and to your person. When unstringing (again, ONLY with the bowstringer), we suggest you clip the loops together to prevent unwinding (and losing your brace height setting).
Preventing a Dry Fire
Never draw and release a bow without an arrow. This is known as a “dry fire” and can be a death knell for any bow. Arrows serve as shock absorbers, and when a bow is released without the arrow to absorb the energy, all the bow’s energy is directed back into the limbs, which can cause substantial cracks, splits and shattering. If a friend draws your bow, be sure they understand the dangers of a dry-fire in advance.
Check your arrow nocks constantly. A damaged nock can simulate a dry-fire. Every time you position an arrow onto your string, inspect the nock to ensure that it is structurally-sound.
There are tell-tale signs of dry-firing, and we cannot be responsible for warranty claims for this type of damage.
Selecting the Correct Arrows
It is crucial that you pair the proper arrow shaft with your bow. Make sure you are not shooting arrows that are too light — this can simulate a dry-fire, issuing a death sentence for your bow. As a general rule, our recommendation is 8 grains per pound of draw weight, based on a 50-pound bow. A lighter bow would need less grains per pound, while a heavier bow would require more. It is acceptable to bump your arrow weight to increase penetration, but shooting an arrow too light for your bow’s poundage is similar to dry-firing. With insufficient shock-absorbing qualities in the arrow, too much energy is transferred to the limbs, causing irreversible damage to your bow, and thus voiding the warranty. It may not happen immediately, but eventually it will cause irreparable damage to your bow. ((Read more about Arrow Selection here).
Check the Brace Height
Each bow differs, as does individual preference. After a few adjustments, you should be able to find the brace height that is most suitable for you. A setting that is too low will cause the bow to be sensitive or critical, while a high brace height will decrease velocity. If your brace height measures low, unstring the bow and shorten the string by twisting it. New strings stretch considerably, so this procedure will have to be repeated several times. Check your brace height often, since the string will stretch over a period of time (see our RECOMMENDED BRACE HEIGHTS here.)
Do Not Obstruct the String Groove
Do not place any material on the back of the limb. This is a practice used by some to reduce string noise; however, it obstructs the string groove in your bow, which is there for string alignment. If you cover the string groove, your limbs can become twisted.
Setting the Nock Point
To secure your nock point, position an arrow on the string 3/8” to 1/2” above square. Shoot and check the flight. If the arrow does not porpoise (up and down movement during flight), shoot again, move the nock down 1/8” and shoot again. If it begins to porpoise at this point, raise it up just enough to correct the arrow’s flight. This should be your best nocking point.
Tweaking a Limb
Should a limb become twisted, it will remain twisted until you straighten or ‘bump’ it back to the straight position. ‘Bumping’ involves the placement of one hand near the twisted section of the limb and the other hand on the riser section. A twisted limb can be straightened in this manner by applying pressure in the opposite direction of the twist. Always unstring your bow with the bowstringer provided before straightening a twisted limb. Neglecting a twisted limb will only allow the twist to become more severe. A brief inspection of each limb should be made each time you string your bow.
Padding the Shelf and Window
Bob Lee bows are designed to be shot either from an elevated arrow rest or directly off of the arrow shelf. An elevated arrow rest provides increased fletching clearance and is helpful when using plastic vanes. Shooting off of the shelf allows the arrow to be held closer to the bow hand which is helpful for instinctive shooting. It is recommended, when shooting off of the shelf, that you pad the arrow shelf and the portion of the sight window directly above the pivot point with a rug rest or hair rest. Our bows ship with these pads installed.
Safely Storing and Transporting
It is perfectly fine to leave your bow strung for long periods of time, but storage of your strung bow is critical. Store your bow in a cool, dry place and avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat and moisture. NEVER leave your strung bow in a vehicle where temps will rise above 90 degrees, or in direct sunlight (indoors or outdoors). Doing so will effectively reverse the glue process and cause your bow to delaminate. Do not stand a bow on one limb (leaning against a wall or other structure), even for just a few minutes. This will create a twisted limb. Store your bow on a flat surface, or hang by the string on a rack where the bow has ample “free swinging” space from the wall.
Protecting against Heat and Moisture
Under normal use, your bow does not require a wax coating. However, in damp conditions, you may want to apply a coat of paste wax for extra protection. If your bow has been exposed to rain or extreme weather, you will need to disassemble your bow, wipe it down and let it dry thoroughly (especially limb caps and bolt assembly area). If your bow was completely submerged or drenched, we suggest leaving it disassembled to air dry for a few days to make sure limb assembly parts are not subject to rust.