Archery encompasses more than just shooting at targets and game. Enjoyable tasks include designing arrows to achieve the greatest power and accuracy while also tuning your bows. A complete home archery shop with all the essential bow tuning tools is required if you want to perform this task and address each detail of archery maintenance.
20 Must Have Bow Tuning Tools
1. Bow Press
When servicing compound bows either indoors or outdoors having access to a bow press is crucial. Your bow’s limbs can be relaxed from their hold on the string through use of a bow press that flexes them. The bowstring and servings in addition to cables and timing wheels can be maintained through this approach. To perform essential maintenance on your bow, like correcting cam lean and syncing cams you’ll need a bow press. It’s also useful in greasing the cam axles or repairing any harm done due to dry firing.
Two major kinds of bow press machines are bench and cable presses. Bench presses offer greater stability and ease of use. Fixing cam problems on-the-go is possible by carrying portable cable presses while hunting.
The Bowmaster Press G2 is our top recommendation for bow hunters . The model’s adaptability makes it a top choice among consumers. Not limited to being used solely in an at-home archery shop setting as its small size permits easy portability. Being prepared for cam problems while hunting doesn’t require any additional space in your gear. With its notched design feature ,the cable is compatible for usage on numerous types of bows that possess varying ATA and draw length measurements. It functions on bows for both right and left-handed individuals.
2. Bow Vise
To create an archery workshop at home and fix any type of bow , a bow vise is also necessary equipment. You can use a bow vise to keep your bow stable while performing maintenance or installing accessories such as a bow sight , drop away arrow rest or a quiver . By clamping onto one of the limbs it accomplishes this.
A significant element in a bow vise is the pivot it possesses. Accessories like sights require the bow to be completely level during installation. Rotation of a securely fastened bow within a vice is necessary for successful completion of this task.
The RAM Pro Bow Vise is appreciated for its name’s accuracy. With its finely tuned and complete 360-degree rotation capability for precise positioning of the bow ensures greater accuracy. Enhanced stability is provided by attaching it effortlessly to your workbench.
3. Bow Sling
The bow sling is designed to encourage a loose grip. Eliminating any possibility of a shooter dropping their bow post-shot achieves this goal. Enveloping around your bow’s handle from behind its stabilizer allows shooters to easily slip their hands into this device called a bow sling. To avoid unnecessary torque generation ensure that the sling is not too tight around the hand but rather loose.
4. Bow Square
Working on compound bows or longbows and even recurve bows requires the use of a basic tool known as a bow square. Nocking point installation and brace height setup are essential.
Two clips are used for attaching it to your bowstring while sitting on the arrow rest. Afterward comes its extending ruler feature. By providing both horizontal and vertical measurements for determining brace height (distance from riser) and placement of a nocking point on the bowstring respectively
One can effortlessly use this bow square. This item offers secure attachment to your bowstring using its waved clips while also providing you with both horizontal and vertical measurement options. Additionally it provides great worth.
5. FPS
When firing an arrow from a bow and measuring its velocity one would use FPS or Feet per Second as their preferred unit. Firing an arrow weighing three hundred fifty grains using equipment with seventy pound’s worth of drawing strength and thirty inches in total drawn distance determines the IBO rating for most bows. To reach its IBO speed rating shooting a bow under those conditions is mandatory. Reduction of speed is possible with any changes.
6. Grains
Utilizing a unit of measurement helps in weighing an arrow together with its elements which include nock insert and either broadheads or field points. Weighing arrows through this technique requires the application of a GPI rating. If left unprocessed an arrow’s shaft has the ability to bear x amount of grains for each inch.
Arrow weight and how it affects your arrow flight
7. Grip
Shooters make physical contact with bows only through gripping when firing an arrow (excluding finger shooters). To fulfill particular shooting demands one can opt for aftermarket models that substitute most grips.
Proper grip to use while shooting your bow
8. IBO Speed
The term IBO speed refers to the starting velocity obtained by launching a 350-grain arrow using specified draw length and weight settings on the bow. This exclusion disallows using a peep sight or d-loop on the string.
9. Idler Wheel
The idler wheel in single cam bows replaces the upper cam and only touches the bowstring instead of cables.
10. Insert
Screwing in both field points as well as broadheads on to a threaded aluminum insert present at the foremost section of an arrow makes it possible for their installation. Once the arrows are trimmed to their ideal length and become hollow inside they can be filled with all necessary tools and devices.
11. Let Off
The let off is the percentage of the bow’s draw weight that gets subtracted after reaching full draw. A bow with an 80% let-off reduces the draw weight holding requirement to only 20%.
12. Limbs
While storing energy before during and after shooting Limb supports the cam system of a bow with its flexibility due to being made up of fiberglass plank. Within the range of weights from 70lbs up to 80lbs are where limb weight categories are designated. A certain range exists for limb weights that allows shooters to choose any weight they desire. The offered limb has a weight range of approximately between fifty and sixty pounds while there are also other limbs weighing within this limit. In order to accommodate changes in weight range limb replacements may need to occur.
13. Long Bow
Unlike a recurve bow that has curved limbs and shorter in height than the person who uses it. A longbow has straight and narrow limbs with roughly equal height as its user. Cross-sectionally speaking the limbs have a circular or D-shape appearance.
14. Mechanical Release
Aiding in drawing back of bows and releasing strings is what Mechanical release does best for archers. To connect a release’s ‘jaws’ with either bowstring or D-loop one needs to first hold/release/attach it on their wrist. The bow can be drawn back by the shooter at this stage. Releasing an arrow or bolt requires squeezing down on a release’s trigger which will then cause it’s jaws to open. The operation of some specialized training release-aids involves using back tension and rotating the shooting hand whereas most function differently.
15. Nock Pliers
Nock pliers are the recommended tool for installing nocking points or D-loops. These tools allow for a secure crimp on the nocking points when positioning them. When using your fingers for clamping purposes there is a risk of doing so at an incorrect angle or applying insufficient pressure resulting in slipping. Your accuracy while shooting will be affected either way.
Don’t risk breaking your nails when removing nocking points – use a pair of reliable nock pliers instead.
These pliers are perfect for installing D-loops which we prefer when using a bow release.
The rubber grip and dual jaws make using these pliers straightforward for even the most inexperienced bowyer. Additionally they offer not only removing and adjusting loops but also four diverse crimping grooves. Achieve maximum precision by being specific with the sizes of your nocking point and bowstring.
16. Serving Tool
To ensure that servings are wrapped correctly on your bowstring (whether attached at limb ends or protecting against arrow nock damage), having a serving tool is crucial. The utilization of these tools enables you to regulate how tightly or loosely the serving is connected so that it’s firmly secured onto your bowstring with no twists present.
The steel guide rollers on the BCY Bearpaw make feeding the serving through the device and wrapping it around the bowstring a breeze which is why we love this serving tool so much. You can achieve a uniform serving that will remain on your bowstring and provide long-lasting protection.
17. String Stop/Arrester
At either the riser or limb ends these silencers are attached and extended back towards the bowstrings. When the string jumps forward at the shot these rubber stoppers collide with it essentially. The stopper absorbs the excess vibration from the string quickly.
18. Allen Wrenches
Maintaining and tuning your bows at home requires Allen wrenches in your tool kit which makes them doubly important. For attaching limbs and accessories on most compound bows and takedown recurve bows Allen nuts are the go-to option.
The specialized Allen wrench set is highly recommended for archers due to its design catering specifically to their needs. This set covers all your needs with its nine different sizes of Allen nuts commonly used on manufactured bows. Furthermore we admire the yellow hue. Storing the Allen wrench set together with other tools in a dark drawer makes finding it less difficult.
19. String Care Kit
Maintaining your bow requires doing multiple things like regularly applying wax to its strings. Meticulousness can lead certain archers to choose frequent application of wax onto their bowstrings. The prevention of water absorption in the bowstring along with protection against wear is its double function. When carried by the string instead of other methods,a bow’s lifespan is prolonged and performance enhanced.
Regularly performing this bow and crossbow maintenance step is of utmost importance.
To make Scorpion Venom which sounds frighteningly dangerous requires a mixture of kokum oil together with shea and mango oils. The formula’s intricate nature makes it both durable and defensive. Hunters who prefer using their bows outdoors will find this product beneficial as it resists chemical alterations resulting from temperature variations.
20. Sight
The shooter is provided with an aiming point by archery sights just like in firearms. Attaching to the riser just above the arrow shelf are bow sights. Numerous sights contain fiber-optic pins. In lieu of conventional sighting mechanisms a few people might prefer to utilize cross-hairs or laser dots instead. Additionally , there are bow sights that come in stationary models with multiple pins or moveable versions with a single pin.
Bow Tuning Tools Final Thoughts
No matter if an archer uses a compound or recurve , having particular bow tuning tools on hand can be beneficial for sighting in and upkeep purposes.
You can find many high-quality bow cases that include pockets and storage for transporting your tools to the range.
The last thing one wants is to commence work on their bow and then discover they do not own a vital tool needed for adjustments. Verify that you have a full stock of items needed prior to starting.
Captain Hunter is a seasoned hunting mentor with over 20 years of experience in the field. His passion began as a young man on trips with his father and grandfather in the Colorado mountains. Today, he shares his unmatched skills in survival, tracking, and marksmanship through his website CaptainHunter.com. When he's not volunteering with youth hunting programs, you can find Captain Hunter providing expert hunting tips, gear reviews, and answers to your most pressing questions. His decades of experience make him the trusted guide to help any outdoorsman master the sport.