Best way to string longbow?

[Curveman]

You can do many things without tools that are just smarter and/or easier to do with tools. Stringers do not take up a lot of room or weigh much. With my bows in the 60# plus range, I just find it easier to use a stringer. Always useful to know another method however.

[BowHuntingFool]

I use the push/pull method! There times when I have a stringer sitting 5 feet away from me and I still do the push/pull method!    

[Jeff Strubberg]

Push pull always on longbows.

[PAPA BEAR]

i have one stringer that works for both longbows and recurves...no clue on brand though bought it on .... 8.99

[Boom Stick]

Thanks to Tree Man,  I tried out this fancy push/pull I kept hearing about.  

It works great!

I always felt it was such a production to use a stinger.

It's only going to be used for my recurve if I ever start shooting it again.

[UKarcher]

I would no sooner go up a treestand without a safety harness, drive my car without wearing a seatbelt than string my bow without a stringer...ANY bow. Just commonsense.
I had to administer first aid to someone who used the push/pull method after it hit them in the eye, and I saw an ILF limb go sailing down the range when somebody used the step through method. Never seen an accident caused by a stringer.

[Red Beastmaster]

A couple little tips for push-pull: Grip the sight window instead of the handle and you will get a much easier pull. Use a bow tip protector on the bottom limb to make sure the bottom loop stays put. And always turn your head.

The only time I had a mishap stringing a bow was with a bow stringer. My 65# Brackenbury somehow ripped from my hand after I was sure the string loops were set. It whacked the top of my foot and brought blood, even through a tennis shoe and sock.

[BowHuntingFool]

Do you guys ever worry about breaking the tips off your bow! I have one bow that I've never used a stringer on and another that I've always use a string on because of the tips!

[Holm-Made]

I'm spraying out 4 bows right now.  This weekend I'll build 5 strings for them, complete with silencers.  One guy wants 2 for his bow, hence 5 strings.  By the time I get the strings tuned to the bows, I'd hate to even guess how many times I'll string them by the push/pull method.  40-50 would be my guess.  I only do it with the longbows, not the recurves and I'm looking at my belt when I do it, just by feel, keeping my face out of the way.  
Often times I don't even bother standing up to do it, just as easy to do it sitting down and then the tips are no where near your face.  Chad

[Dan Bonner]

When you are tillering a new bow or setting a brace height on a new string you have to brace-unbrace a whole bunch. I use the push-pull on every bow I make RC or LB unless its a real heavy recurve. I hunt with a RC most of the time and I have never used a stringer on it. I think a stringer is more dangerous to use personally.

[Ruby]

I prefer push-pull anyway, but I'll confirm what everyone says that if you don't do it right it is just as dangerous as they say.
I've got lots of practice; I'm teaching a friend to make Flemish strings and the guy forgets something at least once a month, so when I go over I actually have to remind myself not to treat his bow like I do mine out of courtesy. It works fine if you know what you're doing.
This is the guide help you string recurve bow without stringer:
  http://hunthacks.com/string-recurve-bow-without-stringer/  
Thanks all.

[bluemelonchitlin]

Selway longbow stringer

[LBR]

Something to consider...some bowyers will void the warranty if you don't use a stringer, even on a longbow.  

Happened to a friend of mine...he got a longbow, it had a twisted limb when he got it (first time I'd ever seen a longbow with a twisted limb).  First thing he was accused of was not using a bow stringer (which he did, religiously).

I don't know how you could prove someone wasn't using a stringer, but long story short my friend wound up being out about $1,000 and never got a shootable bow.

So...if you have a bow that's under warranty, unless you get it in writing otherwise...use a bow stringer.  It could cost you, even if you don't do anything wrong.

[David Mitchell]

All I use for longbows is push-pull.  For recurves, I use a dandy leg strap stringer I got from Ben Graham at Hummingbird.  No way to hurt you or the bow and more secure than any limb tip stringer I have seen.  There is a video of its use on Ben's web site.

[Yewbender]

I always us push-pull for longbows.

[two4hooking]

Push pull on all my Straight-end longbows.  Part of the simplistic beauty of the Hill style bow.

[Stump73]

Push pull for longbow and stringer for recurve like many others have said.

[TxAg]

Step through on my longbows is so easy and safe. I don't know why more people don't do it.

[Yellow Dog]

Push pull on all my longbows. Careful to make sure the tip is firmly against the instep of my foot and not on the ground. The only longbows I've ever owned where I used a stringer were the A&H ACX CS bows with their strong R/D limb design.

[Trond]

Ever since I learned the push/pull method, that is my way to string longbows.