Anyone Ever Use Human Hair For String Silencer?

[2fletch]

I had tried a number of furs, rubber bands, feathers, etc. as bowstring silencers, when it occurred to me that human hair might work well. I had ask my barber if she would save some for me. She either forgot or thought that I was crazy, but when I went for a haircut a couple of weeks ago I noticed a young lady with nice hair getting her hair cut at the same time I was. The color was nice blondish and was being cut off at about 4-5". I got permission from the shop and the lady who owned the hair, and told them what I was going to do with it.

After putting two groups on the top and bottom of the string it was ready for the test. I had put it on an old Shakespeare Custer bow that had a bare string and was fairly noisy. The hair really did a nice job of quietening the bow. Now I am on a quest for different hair colors. My next goal is red hair, or maybe red, white and black together. That would look good on my widow.

       

[Gil]

Creepy! Haha

[Jakeemt]

No but, I use it to make my hair dolls.......

[jsweka]

I don't even want to know what you might use for a handle wrap    

[Petrichor]

......... It's either brilliant., creepy or both... Yep definately both.

Interesting idea!

Bisch

[Terry Green]

We used to collect hair from the beauty salons when we were in high school and we spread it around tree stands of a couple of older guys who picked on us it works great for running deer off

[Hawkeye]

"Older guys?"

You mean like 31 years old??????   :rolleyes:

Funny how my idea of an "older" guy has progressed over the years...

[Steelhead]

Really greasie hair works best.Its waterproof and does not collect the burrs as much.They kinda slide off.It does not look that good though LOL.

Permed hair looks pretty good on a string for style points.It will make a nice ball.Like a wool puff pretty much.

Curly locks seem to dampen out string vibration better than thin straight hair.

Be selective.You don't want lice or dandruff in your hair silencers.

[Msturm]

Dreadlock bow hush?

[achigan]

Clairol or Revlon.  

[Car54]

Say WHAT!!!

[McDave]

Now if anyone asks me what happened to my hair, I can tell them I donated it for string silencers.

[BAK]

Yeah, OK, but WHY, when wool yarn is readily available.

[Kevin Dill]

Isn't this why Chuck Deshler's huge beard disappears annually? I mean...aw heck. Upcycling is what we do.

[Bowwild]

A fellow named Hannibal, maybe?

[meatCKR]

This is a new one on me.  I have heard of Barber shops saving hair clippings to be put in nylon stockings and used to soak up oil when an oil tanker sprang a leak one time.  Heard it did a great job.
This is what I love about trad archery sites, someone always thinking outside the box.  I can't tell you how many good tips I have both gotten and given on sites like this one and others.
I like this idea.  Just put a clump of hair in a short piece of stocking, tie off the ends with a knot and slip between your bundles of string.  May have to try that one day.

Thanks 2Fletch!

Steve

[2fletch]

I was mildly surprised at the reaction to this post. It's wide open for comment, but I believe the idea has merit. What I have seen so fair indicates that it works well for silencing a bow for target shooting. It may have to be washed with unscented soap to get rid of odor that might alert an animal. Natural hair colors could be blended for a camo effect, or you could have a blond bow, a red bow, black bow, or, if you are like me, use your own hair for a white bow. I would hope that it never goes commercial, but it's a good way for an individual to personalize their bow.      

[Terry Green]

yes...best wash it first...

"older guys"....as in a couple of years older than us at the time....and they are still older than us

   

[Duker]

My wife won't let me use hers and I don't have enough   :D