i REALLY need bow tools. ARGH!

[pointysticks]

my bowstrings finally came in. i made some measurements on my bow, and made the long ass drive to my bowshop.

first the strings look amazing. not beautiful, like some custom jobs..but really nice. new winner's choice strings. blue/grey!

the bow guy installed the strings and handed the bow off to some other guy to "get it right". halfway thru, i noted my pencil timing marks were off..one was slighty advanced, the other more advanced..i figured take some twist out of the cable to let the top cam retard a bit, and the other cam will follow behind slightly. i pointed it out to the guy..he said he would check it.

every goes on..new peep. NEW rest! (opted for the trophy taker smackdown pro). i papertune it and wham! i get a slight nock high tear..not bad..something i can work with. i figured i could get it right during broadhead tune at home. the shop gets slammed. bow range fills up with students..i pay up and leave.

i get home..i shoot a few shots and noted a slightly spongy backwall!! i look..my bottom cam stop is not even touching!! they never fixed the timing issue!! i called them, and they said the worst words i have ever heard.."bring it back..we need to check timing" the guy was apologetic..but DAMN! what a PIA. 96 miles one way. brutal!

i need a press, and a drawboard. now. oh, a bow vice too! i am so annoyed. hate being a slave to not having tool or know-how.

[pointysticks]

i have to admit..i am surprised a bow can shoot such nice paper holes being out of time. i think i am only loosing some energy, or efficiency.

arrows still leave the bow straight..any explanations?

[ctdad]

Paper tuning isn't of much use to me and at best, it is a starting point only and real tuning starts there.

Buy a press. The know how is literally all on YouTube and sights like this. I do all my own bow tuning as well as about a dozen bows for friends. Lots of fun

[jmez]

Just bite the bullet and get a press. You can build a draw board in about 30 minutes for less than $50. Plans on Archery Talk on how to build them. I was in the same boat for a long time except I only live 20 miles from the Pro Shop. Twenty miles, two miles or 96 it really doesn't matter when it needs to go in and out of the press several times while tuning. Not many shops will let you shoot broadheads so you have to make all your adjustments with your rest.

You will become a better shooter with your own equipment. Almost perfect won't be good enough anymore because its easy to fix.

After about 100 shots with your new strings you'll likely be on your way back to the shop to tweak things a little. Bows really aren't that complicated.

[pointysticks]

Jmez. Loud and clear!

[FemoralArchery]

I live literally on the same block as the proshop and I've never taken my bow there. I bought a portable press and a set of Allen wrenches and never looked back.

[timberland]

"arrows still leave the bow straight..any explanations?"

To paraphrase the original ISHI "it is not the bow, but the arrows" Arrows are made to self correct. What affects arrow flight the most is nock travel and the orientation of the nock point in comparison to the rest. As long as there is minimal nock travel you probably won't see much in paper tuning, its kind of an inaccurate science (IMO). Sometimes the best way to fine tune a bow with or without broadheads is to shoot a lighted nock in the dark. it can be a real eye opener.