String Silencers

[Deeter]

What kind of string silencers does everyone use?  I have thought about just using the yarn puff balls.  I have also thought about the "beaver balls".  I will be putting these on a Bear Kodiak Mag.  Thanks.

Home made wool yarn puffs for me. One skein of yarn lasts me years.

Bisch

[Jon Stewart]

beaver or mink

[Fletcher]

The wool puff balls work very well, and it doesn't take much.  I've been using inch plus long pieces of leather boot lace soaked in Pitch Blend.  Just slip them between the bundles or strands and serve in place if needed.  They work great and last forever.

[Josh Perdue]

I just got some wool I think "scallops" from two tracks and they are real nice. They work really well.

[bornagainbowhunter]

Bow hush and Hush puppies.  They took a bow with a twang to a very dull thump...

[Joeabowhunter]

Rubber cat whiskers.  Less affected by burrs and weather for me.

[Bob B.]

Muskrat or mink work best for me ... but hush pupies are incredible as well.  My Sunset Hill requires none and that is awesome!

Bob.

[britt]

I make my own out of cheap yarn. I nail 2 nails in a piece of wood about 3in. apart. Then wrap few strands of yarn around nails. Then tie in middle with bow string material. Then cut yard close to nails, both ends.

[Bernie B.]

I also like rubber cat whiskers.  They weigh very little and aren't a problem in inclement weather.  If you have a chance, read Fred Eichler's "The Traditional Way" column in the Feb/Mar issue of Bowhunter called "Don't Get Surprised".  

In order to avoid complications with "puffs" in bad weather, he switched to rubber silencers.  He shows a picture of why he changed.  Makes sense to me.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[BOHO]

cat whiskers is my favorite but if I do my own here I use yarn

[Stumpkiller]

Wool puffs.  Not just home-made, but we raised the sheep and THE ADMIRAL spun the yard as well.  ;-)

 

 

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Bisch:
Home made wool yarn puffs for me. One skein of yarn lasts me years.

Bisch

X2

Also use the felt silencers from Two Tracks on a couple bows.

[DamselflyFarm]

Rubber cat whiskers here. They seem to work very well on my Grizzly and longbow.

[Tater John]

I like musk ox the best but they are very expensive.

Rusty

[tree dancer]

The wool silencers from Two Tracks  work real well and  look good too.
George

[dabprice]

The Two Tracks silencers really work well for me on my long bows and recurves. I've tried everything from cat whiskers to beaver fur and river otter fur and the Two Tracks are by far the most quiet, easy to install and maintain. (I've not tried musk ox or yak yarn, though!)

[danderson]

I make mine by cutting strips of felt and making 4 bunches in my strung. Havent changed the first set yet but I found a new material I want to try

[FarmerMarley]

I don't use "beaver's balls" anymore..Switched to hush puppies. Like how they look and work great.
 
Even though I originally didn't like the looks of cat whiskers I have been converted. I now prefer them to yarn or fur. I am particular of how I tie them on though, I hate when they are all long and dangly like a limp daddy-long-legs. I like mine tight and bushy and symmetrical.

Here is a great video of how to tie on the cat whiskers in a really nice way. It's where I learned. Video done by a trad ganger Ryan.

 

I prefer the cat whiskers now cause they are much more resilient to the weather and getting smashed etc. Plus I compared the weight to my wool ones and they are lighter.

[Marc B.]

I make them from yarn or cut fleece like the old tarantulas. 2 Tracks has a good one and Bow Hush is very good stuff also.