Wool Yarn For String Silencers

[RonD]

I am planning on using wool yarn as silencers on my bowstrings. However, I have a few questions about what yarn material to use. What is the best ply to use, 2 or 3 ply? What weight yarn is the best to use: super fine, fine, light, medium, bulky, or super bulky? What is the best wool to use for yarn silencers, sheep wool, Alpaca wool, or something else? Your opinions and personal experiences with yarn silencers would be greatly appreciated.

[owlbait]

I made some from Merino wool. I like my Bow Hush and Bow Puppy yarn better. The bow seems quieter and the yarn is definetly stronger. Should last longer.

[WidowEater]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=061924

[RonD]

WidowEater, I made a copy of Apex Predator's build along for yarn silencers for future reference. However, it did not answer the questions I have concerning the quality and viability of particular yarns. I make my own bow strings and like the idea of doing my own silencers and would be better served buying yarn in quantity. I also make strings for some kids here who make their own tree limb bows and they cannot afford the Bow Hush silencers and when I have yarn on hand I can silence their bows for little or nothing.

[GingivitisKahn]

We just used the thickest stuff we could find that was all wool.  Works and looks great.

[Mint Hill Mule]

I have tried acrylic yarn and Merino yarn. They are ok, but don't silence as much as cat whiskers. That is my experience.

[JSimon]

I bought "Lion" brand 100% wool yarn from Wally World. It was Medium #4 and it worked great when I followed Apex Predator's build along. The puffs turned out like perfect full balls. I'll try to get a picture if I remember.

[Bill Carlsen]

If you use wool that is used in making rugs you will be all set. We have a sheep farm in town which has a store where they sell all sorts of wool products. I brought some of the stuff that I had been using to compare and got the heaviest, lanolin rich wool yarn I could find and it works really well. For about $4 I got a lifetime supply in dark gray.

[RonD]

Thanks Bill, that opens new avenues in my search for a wool that will do the best job of silencing the string slap. I think I will visit my local carpet stores and find out about their manufacturers and the sources of their wool for making carpet. Everyone of the responses I receive is helpful one way or another. In this part of the country our winters are extremely mild so finding wool yarn is not as easy as it is up north where it gets cold.

[SOS]

For sure, if you use store brand, don't use acrylic.  Shreds in no time.  I found the pure merino holds up well.  I agree, raw wool with lots of the original oils would be best.