Nocks

[Lil Red]

Nocks to tight on string what is the best way to open them up?

[Pepper]

Re-serve the string, in the event that isn't possible, a little fine sandpaper, or emery board to remove some of the inner surface of the nock.
Error on the side of caution, remove a little, and try it, then some more if necessary.
Should be tight enough to hold the arrow on the string and release with a light tap on string.

[Swamp Yankee]

It's a whole lot easier and more consistant to reserve the string than to try and adjust a dozen nocks to all be exactly the same.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Put nocks in boiling water for 15 second then take them out and put them right on the string until cool.

[lpcjon2]

I use sandpaper and go very lightly and check them often as you go.

[JamesKerr]

I would either reserve the string with a different material or I would use a 120 grit sandpaper and lightly sand the inside of the nock until you get the fit that you want.

[Night Wing]

I vote for re-serving the string.

[wooddamon1]

Slowly with an Emery board.  

[JR Williams]

X2 on the emery board.....slowly.

[don_h]

I vote for reserving as well, quick, cheap, and no worries about not being able to undo something.

[BowHuntingFool]

To me I want my nocks uniform and consistent...I hope you have a steady hand and are VERY consistent at sanding or boiling nocks if you decide to go that route. I myself would reserve the string so every nock from that point on fits proper and are consistent! JMO.

[traditional beagle]

Either get the right size string or the right size nocks. Not a fan of cutting corners.

[Duncan]

x2 on the hot water thing. It works!

[stujay]

X3 hot water.

[MikeW]

How would you know what to reserve the string with?
And then what buy a serving tool? I'd sand them or do the boiling water trick, both work fine.

[cedar]

Don't put yourself or anyone else in danger by heating or sanding the nock, this will weaken it.  Either reserve the string or have someone do it for you.  Why take a chance with something so cheap and simple to fix?

[Dimondback]

Replace one or the other....otherwise you will have to fix something everytime you replace either one.

[Bladepeek]

From a sad personal experience, I have to advise against filing or sanding the nocks. I lost a very nice recurve when the nock that I had enlarged to fit the string failed.

The left side of the nock sheared off and I had, essentially, a dry fire. A few shots later, a limb separation started spreading inward from the edge of the limb.

I have to vote for changing the serving rather than the nock. Or, shop for a different nock that fits the serving - then change all my nocks.

[Encino Man]

I like to pick the nock I intend on using, then serve the string to match. Serving comes in several diameters to give you a perfect fit. If you work this out now, you won't have to keep boiling nocks or sanding to fit.

[MikeW]

Originally posted by John49:
Don't put yourself or anyone else in danger by heating or sanding the nock, this will weaken it.  Either reserve the string or have someone do it for you.  Why take a chance with something so cheap and simple to fix?

I don't know about some of you guys but I have many different arrows for 2 bows and different nocks on all of them, what am I going to reserve my string every time I want to switch arrows? Give me a break!

Bring water to a rapid boil turn off heat, let it set for a few minutes then dip your nock for 60 seconds or so and snap it on & off your string a few times, if it's still too tight repeat. This will not weaken the nock. I can't recall ever having a nock break due to this procedure.