off the shelf vs off a rest

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Keeping a Berger Button clean and working smoothly is an important consideration. Here's how I solve that problem
Note the "dot" above the arrow rest. That's the button behind the leather arrow plate. Completely closed system.
   

don't look like the plunger tip is even showing?  how do u tune that?  do you tune first (spring tension and centershot distance) and then add the leather plate to cover?  do you allow for the plunger inward movement during release?  oh, and why's the sky blue????  

[Charlie Lamb]

Ozzyshane....The bow is my personal Sunbear, "Curly"... I make them. Complete with a checkering job by Sherry Abraham and Velcro rest with Berger Button.
The wood in the riser is Bacote and Osage. The Osage matches the Bacote much closer these days after a few years.

[Charlie Lamb]

Rob... I set the internal screws so the button doesn't move. (spring is completely compressed) Then I put it in the bow so it sticks out an eighth inch or so.
After than I lay on the leather (garment grade)sight window cover. I don't put any glue in the area of the button and don't stretch the leather down real tight.
After that I just tune the button for center shot and spring tension. Works just like it would without the leather except it's dust/dirt proof.

I'd always wanted to try the button and shelf rest so when I started making my own recurves I drilled one out for it.
Works like a charm and bareshafting is a snap. Very forgiving as well.

[Charlie Lamb]

Not sure why the sky is blue. I'm still trying to figure out why it's falling.
   :D

[Rob DiStefano]

yeppers, i hear ya charlie, i shot with pressure plungers for nearly 3 decades, they make arrow/bow tuning much easier for sure.  cool method ya got ... geez, maybe i need to hook up a button to my longbow ...  :D

[Charlie Lamb]

Rob... then the sky WOULD be falling! Not to mention the ghost of Howard Hill coming down and slapping the snot out of you.  

[Rob DiStefano]

quote:Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Rob... then the sky WOULD be falling! Not to mention the ghost of Howard Hill coming down and slapping the snot out of you.    

[ron w]

I'd pay to see the ghost of Mr. Hill do that!!  

[COLongbow]

Very interesting thread with a lot of good info!

However, I have a question I hope someone can clear up for me. I understand how a rest with a side plunger or button can aid in tuning, but what is the inherent quality of a flipper type rest that improves arrow flight?

Is it the small contact surface with the arrow, as opposed to contacting the whole shelf, even if it's radiused?

If that's the case, might an object placed under the rug accomplish the same thing?

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

COLongbow,

The main advantage to a good flipper-type rest is that at a minimum it provides a very small, forgiving pivot point. At best, it "flips" out of the way during the shot.

[Shawn Leonard]

WOW!! Just re-visited this thread and Mr. Lambs method sounds sweet!! Gonna set up my Belcher that way tomorrow and give it a go!! Thankyou sir for the idea!  Shawn

[Charlie Lamb]

COLongbow... what Jason said. The elevated "finger" type rests have a little give to them and that's what makes them more forgiving.

Forgiving counts in times when we might not get the most perfect of releases. That affects how the arrow passes through the bow and if the rest is rigid the arrow can react negatively to that.
 
Since the finger type rests give a little the is less "reaction" and the arrow can go about it's business unaffected or at least less affected.

I watched the evolution of arrow rests in FITA target archery. At the time (early sixties) a guy named Max Hamilton started making plastic fletch. Scores of those using this fletch improved considerably.

The problem was that the fletch was hard plastic and the slightest flaw in release would cause the fletch to shatter passing across the rest and head off down range fletchless...and none too accurately.

Earl Hoyt was one of the first (if not the first) to cushion the arrow plate and the finger the arrow rested on.
Soon Vic Berger developed the cushion plunger (often called a panic button)which greatly helped the plastic fletch move through the bow and come out intact. He was also blowing away the competition with it on his bow.

Eventually the hard plastic vanes were replaced with softer and softer vanes and the rest is history.

[Charlie Lamb]

Shawn... glad you like the idea. Let us know how it works for you.  

[S C Mercer]

I use a Bear WeatherRest on my recurve.  Barry Wensel taught me how to trim it down so it sits very close to the shelf.  I line the shelf with velcro to keep it silence in case off accidental arrow strikes. Then I apply the Bear WeatherRest so the arm is on top of the velcro.  Gives flawless arrow flight set up this way.  Very easy to use, durable and field expediant.  I won't use anything else on my recurve since I started using this style set up.  I still shoot my Morrison Shawnee longbow off the shelf though.  Steve

[COLongbow]

Mr. Lamb and Jason,
Thanks very much for the info and for addressing my question specifically. I may have to experiment!

Trad archery is so simple, but not easy. Not the same thing, you know!

[Rob DiStefano]

no question for me - as always in the past, if i shot a recurve i'd be using an elevated rest and plunger.  i make my own rests ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Flingblade]

Rob,  I appreciate your ingenuity, but I can hear Foxworthy now; "If you tape a chunk o' old Clorox bleach jug to yer bow to save $5 on an arra rest... you might be a redneck".  LOL

[kawika b]

Now that is truly frugal Rob... and possibly mountain fresh too.  

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Flingblade:
Rob,  I appreciate your ingenuity, but I can hear Foxworthy now; "If you tape a chunk o' old Clorox bleach jug to yer bow to save $5 on an arra rest... you might be a redneck".  LOL

PROUD to be a northern redneck, sir!  :D

[Rob DiStefano]

quote:Originally posted by kawika b:
Now that is truly frugal Rob... and possibly mountain fresh too.