dumb question?

[bear bowman]

I recently started making my own wood shafting. That being said, I'm using glue on nocks now instead of the push ins I used with my carbons. My problem is, my glue on nocks fit the string really tight. I mean really tight. Do you guys use sandpaper or something to open them up? I bought 100 nocks so I'd really like to use them.

[kevsuperg]

well you certainly can use sandpaper or an emery board ( better choice) to loosen them up.
 the problem is the sanding can give you an uneven nock position, more sanded off one side than the other, it may also weaken the nocks or make them too loose.
 if they are really tight as you say, you may be better off to get a different nock or reserve your string with less or thinner serving.  good luck

[macbow]

It would be better to reserve,the string for,a,better fit.

[LBR]

Definitely re-serve the string.

[Matty]

Third the re-serve

[bear bowman]

Well, I guess I'll re-serve the string. thanks guys

[Blackhawk]

I've run into the tight nock problem before and find this method works well.  Boil an inch or two of water and submerge the nock end for about 10-15 seconds.  Immediately, put it on the string and let it cool a few minutes.

I've done the same for loose nocks and just squeeze slightly for the right fit.

[McDave]

I've also had good luck heating the nocks in boiling water.  For some reason, the glue-on nocks for wood arrows seem to be made of softer plastic than the push-in nocks used on carbon arrows.  It doesn't take much heat to make them pliable enough to fit your string, whereas the push-in nocks are much more resistant to shaping.  I've done this successfully from time to time when I've just had one or two tight fitting nocks to deal with.  If I thought most or all of my nocks would have the same problem, I'd rather re-serve the string.

[Yewbender]

I also use the boil water method which works great and i can get the nocks to fit just how i want them to. I use the Marco snap on nocks and really like how they hold up. My strings are 15 strand B50 or B55 so i have to heat them to fit right. I don't like the index nocks, they are to thin and dont hold up to hits well. You could try arizona nocks they have a wider opening.

[Yewbender]

Bear bowman, by the way that wasn't a dumb ?

[Eric Krewson]

I don't know what kind of nocks you bought but it has been my findings the snap nocks are tight, classic a bit more open and Nirk, wide open, no pinch.

The classic nocks fit my 12 strand df97 served with .024 zebra perfectly.

[SELFBOW19953]

What brand of nocks do you have, what brand do you need, what is your string-FF, B55, how many strands?  Maybe you can swap with someone for what you need.

What I do is buy my favorite antique Mercurys hundreds at a time, then tell LBR how I want them to fit and then he sends me strings that fit just right and I don't think about it anymore.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Blackhawk:
I've run into the tight nock problem before and find this method works well.  Boil an inch or two of water and submerge the nock end for about 10-15 seconds.  Immediately, put it on the string and let it cool a few minutes.

I've done the same for loose nocks and just squeeze slightly for the right fit.

this one works for odd ball knocks really well, but if you have a 100 knocks, i'd re-serve the string.

[Jakeemt]

Omg dumbest question !    ha! Kidding man had the same questions a few years back. What Kirk suggests is best.

[bear bowman]

Thanks for all the input. It is all 100 nocks. I'm not sure what I bought to be honest. These are the first glue ons I've used in many years and I just bought what was available at my local pro shop.

[bear bowman]

This site is amazing. I always get great answers/ideas. the wealth of knowledge here seems endless. I may try running back to the pro shop that I bought these from and take my bow along to see if they have better fitting nocks or I'll buy thinner serving while I'm there and go that route.

[MnFn]

I had no idea that many people re-served their string to fit their nock.  I have always just thinned the nock.

It makes sense, along with using the same string on similar bows.

I guess it is a "duh" moment for me, now I just have to learn how to re-serve, if I don't get it ordered right in the first place.

[bear bowman]

I wouldn't have thought of re serving either

[Jakeemt]

MnFn. If you never try any thing else when it comes to string building you should definitely learn to serve. It really is very handy know how. It can be tricky at first but, once you get the hang of it it's a snap!