String noise ?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I shoot a bear 48" super magnum 45# with 29.5" 2016 aluminum arrows. the bow came with a fast flight string and I use brush buttons, and beaver balls on the string and calf hair on the limbs. the result in string noise is more of a crack than a twang. I switched over to a dacron b-50 flemish string and have more of a twang than a crack. I really like the feel and look of the flemish and I know I sacrifced a little speed but is there any thing else I can do to reduce string noise on this setup I have got the brace height set where I get the least noise and best performance out of the bow and realize that shooting this short of a bow I will get string noise but would like to reduce it as much as possible.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Kris

[mrpenguin]

Hi Kris,

FF strings will always be louder and higher pitched, so your description is accurate.  I have found the same thing you have as far as noise is concerned.  The only bow I have EVER been able to truly silence is my Bear Montana LB.  It has a FF string and I used the Musk Ox ball silencers.  It has a brief thump, that's it.  You could try Musk Ox??  The other cool thing about Qivuit Musk Ox silencers is they do not affect arrow speed at all!  The other option is a heavier arrow.  The more energy to transfer to the arrow, the less is left in the string to be transformed into noise once the arrow is gone.  Weight tubes could help you here, and you'll get better penetration!!  That said, you will loose arrow speed : (   Like everything else in archery, its ALL about trade-offs...

Best of luck and good hunting!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I had a bear montana and was a nice bow, very quiet.. a little cumbersome for me in a blind or treestand but i killed my first traditional bow kill deer with it. been hooked ever since, I am waiting on my bow from striker bows (Rick Ellis) I went tois shop a week ago and shot some of his bows and now I'm like a kid waiting on christmas morning. Rick makes a some super nice bows.
any way I think I'll try the added arrow weight tubes. Do I glue them in the shaft or what? How do I correctly install them and won't this affect arrow spine and require retuning my setup?

[mrpenguin]

Very cool on the Montana... they are pretty cool... though I prefer my Robertson TD Recurve.

On the weight tubes... very simply, No on all accounts.  Weight tubes are bought to fit inside carbon arrows at precisely the right diameter, no glue.  You can check with 3Rivers or your local dealer for the right size.  You simply slip them in, cut for the nock and your set!  THERE IS ONE EXCEPTION... if you use Easton Axis or Beman MFX (micro diameter thick walled) arrows, a weight tube WILL affect the spine... at least this is what I have consistently experienced.  I shoot MFX Classic arrows and the tubes make the spine stiffer.  I think it is because they are so thick walled and the tubes are such a small diameter.  But I am not an engineer... anyway, you should NOT have to retune your bow, but you WILL have to practice because the heavier arrow will shoot lower and slower with more arch over distances.  I actually used them for a while and then decided I didn't think the extra weight was really necessary for deer, and I didn't like how they were shooting for me... that said I shoot MFX arrows, so my spine was a bit screwy.  It's a pretty cheap experiment.  

Best of luck!

[Keuka]

Kris,
I took off the brush buttons on my Widow because they actually caused noise for me. I live in an area that gets cold during hunting season. As soon as the temperature dropped down near freezing, the brush buttons got hard as acorns. They smacked against the bow limbs and my bow sounded like a 22 rifle.

I also use a second set of beaver wraps way up next to the tip, where the string contacts the limb. I actually used only one wrap and cut it in half. I tied it so when the bow is strung but not flexed, about 1/2 inch of beaver fur is wedged between the string and limb. My thought is that on release, the tip flexes forward and the string strikes the limb below the contact point of the unflexed limb. It did help.

Another thing I've noticed with fast flight string. As they get used, they begin to make more noise. I think whats happening is that the string wax is slowly getting squeezed from between the stands as we shoot. The more we shoot the more wax gets displaced. The wax actually cushions the sound so the more we displace, the more noise she makes. I unstring my bow and wax the string, making sure I work wax in between the strands. This sometimes does the trick but after a while, a have to change strings.   I did have one string that was load right off the bat. I had to throw it away.

Check your brace height. Usually you can make a big difference with just a small adjustment. My bow is load at 8&1/2, quiet at 8&5/8 and it starts getting load again at 8&3/4. There is a sweet spot and it takes some looking to find it. One trick that seems to work for me is lightly pluck the string and listen. Twist the string up or down a turn or two and lightly pluck it agian and listen again. You should hear the tone change when your getting close to the spot. Bare shaft tuning will nail down the spot.

Another BIG help is arrow weight. My Widow is load with any weight less than 10 grains per pound of draw weight. Example, 55lb draw requires a 550 grain arrow, minimum. The heavier the arrow, the more energy is transfered to the arrow on release. The noise we hear is actually energy being wasted. Try increasing your arrow weight and I'll bet your bow gets quieter.

Every bow is different and every archer has a little different form. I've shot bows that cracked like a gun for me. When the owner shot the same bow, it seemed quiet. Work at it and you'll smoth her out. Good Luck!

[Keuka]

Kris,
I took off the brush buttons on my Widow because they actually caused noise for me. I live in an area that gets cold during hunting season. As soon as the temperature dropped down near freezing, the brush buttons got hard as acorns. They smacked against the bow limbs and my bow sounded like a 22 rifle.

I also use a second set of beaver wraps way up next to the tip, where the string contacts the limb. I actually used only one wrap and cut it in half. I tied it so when the bow is strung but not flexed, about 1/2 inch of beaver fur is wedged between the string and limb. My thought is that on release, the tip flexes forward and the string strikes the limb below the contact point of the unflexed limb. It did help.

Another thing I've noticed with fast flight string. As they get used, they begin to make more noise. I think whats happening is that the string wax is slowly getting squeezed from between the stands as we shoot. The more we shoot the more wax gets displaced. The wax actually cushions the sound so the more we displace, the more noise she makes. I unstring my bow and wax the string, making sure I work wax in between the strands. This sometimes does the trick but after a while, a have to change strings.   I did have one string that was load right off the bat. I had to throw it away.

Check your brace height. Usually you can make a big difference with just a small adjustment. My bow is load at 8&1/2, quiet at 8&5/8 and it starts getting load again at 8&3/4. There is a sweet spot and it takes some looking to find it. One trick that seems to work for me is lightly pluck the string and listen. Twist the string up or down a turn or two and lightly pluck it agian and listen again. You should hear the tone change when your getting close to the spot. Bare shaft tuning will nail down the spot.

Another BIG help is arrow weight. My Widow is load with any weight less than 10 grains per pound of draw weight. Example, 55lb draw requires a 550 grain arrow, minimum. The heavier the arrow, the more energy is transfered to the arrow on release. The noise we hear is actually energy being wasted. Try increasing your arrow weight and I'll bet your bow gets quieter.

Every bow is different and every archer has a little different form. I've shot bows that cracked like a gun for me. When the owner shot the same bow, it seemed quiet. Work at it and you'll smoth her out. Good Luck!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Thanks for the advise, I'll start experimenting tomarrow and find what works and let you guys know.

[Mo. Huntin]

Hey bud how is your nock fit.  I noticed a huge difference in string noise when I sanded my nocks so they just hung on to the string until I tap the string.  Be careful not to sand them 2 much.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

well I took off the brush buttons, what a difference that made alone and added some more beaver fur closer to limb tips. a few trial shots out back in the dark and I noticed alot of noise reduction. I was looking at the bow hushes and I think I will try those out along with some other minor adjustments that have been recommended here and I would say that Ol' gobbler won't know what hit him until he's in the frying pan!  

[frank bullitt]

Kris, I'm going to add something to this mix. First, all the ideas and info given is true and helpful. You didn't say what your draw length was, but said you shoot 29.5" arrow. That short bow and a long draw can have a contributing effect if your not getting a clean release! Short bows are neat and fun, but not always practical or efficent.

  None of these gentlemen mentioned short bows! And you can't compare a Montana longbow to a 48" recurve.Not trying to be a stick in the mud, just stating some facts. Keep it simple, and Good shootin too you, Steve.

[Oliverstacy]

Some bow hush might help with the sound!  I have it on my 56" and 60" Kajika’s and will be adding them to my 60" Kota.  I feel they’re a great way to take the slapping sound away!

 

 

These and big Beaver balls have make a great difference in the sound of my bow!

Just a thought.

Josh

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Steve, My draw weight is 29". A little much for a 48" bow but i gotta have that manuverability. I am waiting on a bow from Rick Ellis whom owns striker bows to get me bow built but it will be kinda short for a long bow 56" I think I can't remeber all the specks I ordered I just know I ordered the Stinger and it's a sweet bow and guiet.
I knew that i would get more noise from this bow than a longer recurve but just want to guiet is as much possible.
Thanks for all input guys, Kris

[Stiks-n-Strings]

OK,
got rid of the brush buttons, and got rid of the smaller beaver balls and went with bigger beaver balls on a b50 flemish string and so far so good a dramatic decrease in noise. I stilll need to sand my nocks though they are a little tight and Inever would have considered that but it nmakes sense.
Let you know later, Kris