Arrow Shelf Material?

[Anvil]

What have you found to be the best arrow shelf material? Considering quietness and durability in that order. I could be mistaken but it also seems that your shelf material could add a degree of forgiveness, any thoughts on that would be appreciated also.
Thanks,
Curt

[duck'n]

I really like using velcro...the soft side...easy, cheap, and available everywhere.

[eagle24]

Personally, I like the rug rests and calf hair plates from 3rivers.  I tried velcro, but got a lot of wear on my bottom feather.

[NoCams]

I am with Eagle, calf hair is good, but seal skin is FINE !!! A fellow tradganger and dear friend, JC got me hooked early on with the sealskin. 3 Rivers and others ahve it on here as sponsors.

nocams

[BobW]

Sorry to hijack this post....

NoCams (JC or anyone else):

Do you use it as just a rest or as a strike plate too?  If both, do you make two seperate pieces (open space at bottom) or fold and fit?

Is the bow you are using cut short, to, or past center?

I am currently using it on a cut to center long bow in one piece as a rest and strike plate.  Initially I was getting heavy wear on the strike plate but I am confident it was due to too stiff of a spined arrow.  I also switched to cock in and got better results.

Thoughts or comments please.

BobW

[NoCams]

HI BobW,
I use it for both. I normally do a two piece and leave a small tunnel in between like BW does on their bows. I do this on both longbows not cut to center as well as my center cut recurves. I shoot cock out and the only wear I get is slight wear on the very outside edge of the rest which tells me that my arrows are spined properly and not rubbing the strike plate. Bareshafting proves this also.

nocams

[JC]

Careful Jimmy, admitting yer a friend of mine in public might get you thrown out of a few places    

I do like sealskin on my shelf because it wears literally like iron. I wish they had pieces as thin as the calfskin I use on my strike plates and I'd use it there too.

[nevada cody]

i to like the seal skin but i can not make it stick to my bow i used barge cement but when it gets hot outside it falls off or moves dont know what glue to use dont want to damage my bw so i have gone back to the stick on calf hair rests
cheers cody

[AnointedArcher]

I just started using a clear piece of polycarbonate mylar cut to size of choice. This material is used in the interior of cars and trucks to keep plastic parts from squeeking and has a very slippery surface and has an extremely high ware resistance.  Plus the material is very thin and works great for bows cut close to center and who's shelf is nuckle high.

[mmgrode]

Hey Curt,
   you asked what the best material is for shelves on bows. Since I haven't used all of them I can't comment on what is the best, but I personally use adhesive backed velcro for my bows. Cheap, easy, replaceable and, in my opinion, good looking, Yet, at the same time, it is not the most durable material out there.

You do make an interesting point about forgiveness. I would think a consistent, durable(doesn't wear down effecting nock point), reasonably dense yet not too hard material would be the ticket. I suppose too soft and wear would change nocking point, too hard and bad releases would not be compensated for. Thoughts?

[eddiejclayton]

Another vote here for seal skin.

[huntnut]

I"m useing a thin piece of leather just folded for the striker and shelf.

[Anvil]

Thanks for all the info guys! Matt, that is exectly what I was thinking regarding the forgivness of the material.
For those of you that use seal skin, if using just for the shelf, do you put it on so the hair points towards the back of the bow or so it points left/right?

[JC]

I like the hair to lay pointing in the direction the arrow will travel. Not sure why, I just always thought it would be "smoother" on release this way. I don't think it would make a penny's difference any way you put it on.

Add a drop of mineral oil on your finger and rub it into the hair now and then to keep it water resistant.

Also, I barge mine to gorilla tape, then cut to size/shape and stick spares on a piece of plastic milk jug to keep in my pack, just in case. It'll stay put until you need it to come off.

[pseman]

I use the velcro as well. I also think it looks good.:-) It has lasted pretty good so far and if it wears out it can be replaced for pennies. I use thin moleskin as a strike plate.

[geno]

I am using hair on my plate.I do think it would make a difference if you ran it "backwards". I have a space between the plate and shelf. I have the soft velcro on the shelf and I am seeing a residue left. I guess it is from the feather. I will try something different for the shelf next time.
JC I like the idea of the mineral oil..

Hey Archer, You are getting a little to high tech when I cant even pronounce the words your using   :D

[Shawn Leonard]

I use industrial velcro on all my bows. It is tough and wears better than anything I have tried and I have tried them all. Shawn

[eddiejclayton]

I put my seal skin on in the direction of arrow flight, that is what is recommended on the package.

I'll have to give velcro a try, I've heard good things about it, and it's cheap!

[30coupe]

Like Huntnut, I use a thin piece of deerskin (one piece for the shelf and plate. I can't seem to get consistent arrow flight with the hair type rests. Haven't tried velcro yet. I might try velcro or hair on the rest and leather on the shelf and see how that works.

[Dave Coalter]

Seal Skin for me, works great I use it on the shelf and rest. I don't cut it just use one solid piece.