New string

[bowmaster12]

I always unstring my bow, only leaving strung when hinting or shooting, unstringing as soon as done. I just recently got a new string, would it be a good idea to leave the bow strung for awhile to help stretch the string in?  It will be awhile before i can get 100 shot through it. Or would i be better off  just hanging a weight from the string so it can stretch without putting the limbs under undue stress. If you all can't tell I have too much thinking time.

[stevem]

My thoughts- if it is endless and of low stretch material, it shouldn't need a lot to get to near the final length.  If flemish and /or B50, I would leave it strung for a couple of days.

[old_goat2]

Unless it's a selbow, there's no need to unstring it at all unless it's going to be in a really hot environment like a car in the summertime etc, or you know for a fact you aren't going to shoot it for a long time. But to your question, I'd leave it strung, or just check your brace every time you string it up and twist it up as needed, doesn't really matter!

[Osage1997]

Unless it's a selbow, there's no need to unstring it at all unless it's going to be in a really hot environment like a car in the summertime etc, or you know for a fact you aren't going to shoot it for a long time. But to your question, I'd leave it strung, or just check your brace every time you string it up and twist it up as needed, doesn't really matter!

2nd that. Had someone bring in an antique Bear Kodiak (1962) while I was hanging out in the local archery shop awhile back. It had been strung for at least 20-25 years straight (could have been strung since it was purchased the year it was made for all we knew) and pulled the exact weight it was marked for on the scale. Glass bows are pretty bulletproof to string-follow. And that was for a bow made in 62, with newer epoxies and sealing methods it should ring even truer.

If it is a selfbow, I take all of the b50 strings that I twist for the bows I build and hang a 50lb weight from them for a day or two to stretch them out. Make sure if you do this you put something to keep the weighted object from spinning so you don't untwist the string and have the loop slip. I've also used my guitar amplifiers and cinder blocks. Anything with some decent weight will do fine.

[Matagorda]

Wow, and here I've been unstringing my bow from every session.  Gosh, what a waste of energy.  Thanks for sharing this.