Arrow rest padding?

[Savate]

I've been using aluminum arrows (Stalkers) with my longbow (I kept breaking my wooden ones) and have noticed its scuffing and scratching up the arrow rest on my bow.

I know that folks pad the arrow rest to make it quieter, but I could see how it would also protect from abrasions and wear.

What can I use to pad my arrow rest?  Is it something I should just do or take it to my local archery shop?

[Stringdancer]

I like leather.  Cut a piece for the shelf, and sideplate, and glue it on with Barge cement, or contact cement, and it will last for years, and is as good as anything else.

[R H Clark]

I really like the industrial strength peel and stick velcro sold at Walmart.You get three big pieces for about $3 and it lasts very long.Use the fuzzy side.

[Savate]

Hey RH,
I just went and picked some up.  I'm trying it out.

[Savate]

Hey!  WOrked great!  Doesn't get any points for looks but its quiet.

[R H Clark]

Savete
It may not be as pretty as some but it grows on you.It lasts longer than anything I've used.

Another trick I do is to cut a small piece of peep tube in half and put it under the rest for a pivot point.It should be in line with the deepest point of the grip but doesn't matter too much if your bow has a straight grip.

I think it acts sort of like a little shock absorber. If you happen to get a bad release it won't affect the arrow as much.

Guess I should have shared that before you put the velcro on.

[Scott J. Williams]

I like the Velcro also, but if you are getting excessive wear it is likely that something else is going on.  

While some wear is expected, excessive wear is depicts undesireable contact.  In most cases it will be the quill of the feather.  A slight rotation of the arrow nock, cut off and reglue if you are not shooting carbon.

If the nocking point is too high, or too low in some cases, you will get excessive wear.  If all those things are o.k., you will get good use of the arrow shelf materail of your choice.

I shoot both carbon and aluminum and my rests look nearly as good when I replace them as they did when they were installed.  

You might ask why I would change them if they were fine,  simple,  I will from time to time shoot different feather configurations, such as four fletch, or I might shoot a different size arrow, in which case it will require a more custom fit between rest and arrow.

[crazymoose]

Industrial grade fuzzy velcro for the shelf and scuff pad.

[killinstuff]

Put some car wax on your arrows once in a while, that will help as will mink oil rubbed on the leather rest.