I've got a longbow that I bought used, and I really like her, but the tip grooves are hard on strings. It only takes a few dozen shots until the strings are wearing through.
What is the best way to sand those grooves and get them silky smooth in there?
I'm not a bowyer, just a shooter!
Roll up some 220 grit and gently round it out and clean it up. I wouldnt be concerned with resealing that little area. String wax does a good job protecting it.
Or if you need it really stiff, you could wrap it around a drill bit that is the right size...3/32 or whatever fits best
Scott
Are the grooves angled from the back of the limb to the belly? If that angle is to sharp it will eat up a string pretty quick as well.
Yeah you got a corner or something there that needs to be rounded out. If you can see it you might hit it with a round file. If not too bad (I use 180 emery cloth. Rip off a strip about 1/4 in. wide and roll it up like you would twist a string) Now use the shoe shine method and sand the grooves smooth. Do the same to finish with 320 grit. That will be baby butt smooth. You can seal them with thin CA glue.
I also use emory cloth in 180 grit and use it like Crooked Stic mentioned. About 10 swipes back and forth inside the string grooves will smooth it out nicely. Make sure the string nock grooves are rounded toward the belly and that there's not a blunt straight edge there. They should be rounded toward the belly of the limb and sort of flow into the limb. Use a chain saw file if it needs some more aggressive work, then the emory cloth after that. Wax it or use a bit of super glue to seal it.
You can also get sanding string from Woodcraft. It comes in grits to 220.
I might also add that if you would cut you tip off (dont :eek: ) down thru the center of the groove it should be tear drop shaped--Just to give you a vison of how to shape them.
Thanks a bunch, guys! I cleaned up the grooves, and they feel pretty good. Hopefully this solves the problem.