Interested in what everyone else is using. I started using leather tip protectors when I began shooting trad back in 1975. Lately I have heard from other "old timers" that leather retains too much moisture over the course of a hunt (rain, dew, etc) and could cause tip delamination/damage. I like having somthing on the lower limb tip due to the fact when out west, I can utilize my bow as a monopod when glassing standing up. Love to hear your guys and gals thoughts.
Haven't used a tip protector in about 45 years. I will rest the tip on my boot if the area is rocky, otherwise set it on the ground. A few scuff marks add character.
Go to the big box store of choice and in the hardware section look or ask for bolt tread protectors. They come in about 3 sizes 1/4 up to 1/2. I use the 3/8 diameter size and fits great on my bow.
Never had an issue with moisture.
I've never used tip protectors, not on wood bows, not on glass bows. Never had a need to.
I use the plastic type. I didn't care for the leather ones. Only bow they wouldn't work on was a Hill style LB I had. Nothing really worked on that bow for me. I use the plastic one full size on my recurves. For my R/D LB I cut it down and turn it sideways. The antler limb tips keep it in place.
A toddler's binky has worked great on certain applications.
get the black plastic ones from Black Widow. Cut them in half for longbows, so that they rest just above the sting groove. Drill a hole in the bottom to let the moisture wick out.
I don't use tip protectors on recurves but I do on longbows. The mass of a tip protector on recurves (limbs are thinner and lower mass) seems to affect them...tunning wise and noise. Longbows don't seem to be adversely affected by tip protectors (higher mass of the thicker limbs).
Been the same for me over the years with different bows from several companies.
No moisture problems....but if you get soaked to the bone or dunked ...take it off and dry out.
We use clear baby bottle nipples cut to cover just the the limb tips - bottom and top. We have done this for a couple of decades and there are no scratches on any of our limb tips. We do keep them clean and dry. We remove and check under them after any encounters with moisture or temperature extremes
I've got black plastic protectors on one of my longbows and one of my recurves. The one on the recurve came fitted to the bottom of the limb. I don't know how they did it, but it's on there very tight and if I ever have to change the string I'm going to have to cut it off probably.
I use bow protectors, because they do just that. Out in the field I rest the bottom limb on the ground a lot, especially elk hunting. I also really like the looks of it on my bows. The ones I use are pretty fancy, made out of deer, shark and giraffe hide, and are really nice. I get them on the unmentionable site from Traditional Archery Bow Protectors. Moisture is not an issue, I check that often.
Been using the Kwikee Kwiver type for many, many years in all types of weather. Always work and never a problem. When extremely wet, usually pop it off and dry when returning from the trip.
The Kwikee Kwiver protectors work well on longbow tips. I use the Saunders on wider recurve tips.
X2 with the ones from Black Widow and the hole in the bottom.
Never use tip protectors as they are prone to hold moisture, especially the rubber ones. I have seen what they can do to the tip.
But to each his own. I use my boot to rest the tip on.
I got a few from American Leathers, they came along with glove orders. They are a little hard to get on the first time, but they seem to do a good job.
Plastic dip
[attachment=1] I've had two of these on my go to bows for years
Personally I don't see the point. Kinda like putting a slip cover on a new couch. All your doin is keeping it nice for the next owner.
It's my bow, and I'm gonna enjoy it now. If the tip gets bumped or banged, it's not a big deal to give it a little sanding and a quick shot of varnish to seal it back up.
The worst thing you can put on a bow . I took one off a customers bow recently and it had water in it , imagine that soaking into the limb tip it will start a delamination .
I have used them for years and years with none of the issues some of you guys have mentioned. Use the one possum head pictures above on my recurves and the rubber ones on my longbows. I like the idea that they hold the string in place on the bottom limb when unstrung as well as protect the tip when setting it on the ground.
Works for.me(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/77c48c5ef87362bc563a526e7bb95afc.jpg)
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I use the bolt tip protectors. Put a hole in the very bottom. And yeah you need to take them off if you been in heavy rain etc.
I use one like pictured above, Saunders I think, on every bow that sees the woods or 3d course. Have been for over twenty years. Cheap insurance. Can't remember how many vintage bows I've seen with buggered up bottom tips from being stood up or dragged on the ground. Like anything else, just takes a little common sense, get wet, just take them off and dry out.
Bvas, great analogy. That makes me think of LeBra car bras too! :biglaugh:
I've been using the rubber ones for years--rub string wax generously on the tip of the bow before putting it on. Makes it easier to install and protects the bow tip from moisture. I remove it and rewax every few hunts, put on a new one when I start using a new string. No problems.
i use a suitably sized piece of black latex tubing. slide it on as far as you want then leave it overhanging a little and it serves to dampen limb tip vibration on recurves. play with the overhang length to get the dampening effect right.
the difference it made to the sound of my recurve is amazing
I cut 2 thin strips of Gorilla tape. Just cut by eye. Lay one over the end the long way, lay the other one over that. Press down tightly. Wrap some 3/4" vinyl electrical tape around the tip the cross way. Stretch the tape real snug and go around a couple times. On the third wrap, do not stretch the tape. Cut off and press down. This protects the tip, is lightweight, easy to put on and take off, does not hold water, and is really inexpensive. If there is any residue left, wipe it off with WD40 or alcohol.
I've often used my bow as a 'walking stick' (to maintain my balance when the footing isn't the greatest) while stalking an animal. In order to not scratch my bow-tip I've done similar to NY Yankee, used a couple strips of camouflaged duct tape. Works great. - John
Here's what I use. Doesn't hold water and easy to use.
[attachment=1]
Ha! Same...99% of the time.
I've been using a saunders tip protector on all my St Joe bows with year drop tips.
Of course my wife went against the grain and got the wide pointed tips. Nothing fits on hers.
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Quote from: Possum Head on July 15, 2019, 08:54:49 PM
[attachment=1] I've had two of these on my go to bows for years
Yep. That's what I use. Except I cut it down to just below the tight spot there. Only covers the tip. Stays on tight. No water.
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I love em...especially the nice looking ones!
I'd rather have the occasional scratch to touch up than to trap moisture on my tips. I reset it on my boot most of the time but am not afraid to rest it against a tree with the tip on the ground. Far easier to fix a scratch than a delaminated tip.
Old thread but good topic.
For those that use Plastic Dip or Liquid tape to simply dip their limb tips into the material, have you noticed whether the resulting 'rubber coat' (that the string loop then slides over) aids in quieting the bow any? One would think that having the string OVER the rubber protection vs. UNDER a slide-on tip protector would help in the vibration department, but maybe not.
I have put two on my long bow. They don't last long. I could spear an animal with the tips on a Primal Tech longbow. :biglaugh:
I like the plastic ones with the hole in the bottom. Not so much as to protect the tip, as much as to keep the string from falling off and untwisting when I unstring my bow. I unstring when not using for a week or more. During this time of year it is strung all the time.
I've used the rubber tip protectors for well over 30 years. I've had them on some of my bows for 15 to 20 years without removing them and never had a bow limb tip problem.
So the guys using there shoe, how do you do that and pull arrows or keep score at a shoot? :)
Quote from: GCook on November 09, 2022, 09:25:17 AM
So the guys using there shoe, how do you do that and pull arrows or keep score at a shoot? :)
This way
[attachment=1,msg3016078]
Apparently there's not much in the way of thinking outside the box re limb tip protectors and their relation to bow noise...they aren't really intended for that (at least not yet) and those I've tried (most of those already mentioned) don't do a great job of it. But since vibration begets noise, starts with the limbs and ends at mid-string, logic suggests that minimizing vibration at more points in between...like at the bow tips and/or or on the string tips themselves...would have benefits. Have wondered whether rubberizing those areas (not with plastic but with a soft rubber or silicone-based material that can be dipped) would help control those vibrations and so reduce overall noise. Haven't seen anyone (bowyers or string makers) try that yet. Might be worth an experiment.
We would have to ask a bowyer about this, but most of my string loops fit pretty precisely on the string nocks, and I would be reluctant to cover the string nocks with anything that would interfere with that precise fit. "Precisely" meaning that I have to be careful when stringing the bow to seat the string correctly in the string nocks to make sure that it doesn't slip off when I shoot the bow.
I carefully dip my longbow bottom tips in PlastiDip just short of the string nock so it doesn't interfere with attaching the string. I usually dip each tip 3 times (3 coats) letting each coat dry before dipping again. It protest the tips very well, forms a permanent barrier not allowing water access to the tip and is easy to remove if I decide to sell a bow. Works real well and makes no noise during a shot.
I used to only use the rubber ones from TRA or wherever, but now prefer the harder black "plastic " ones. I barely ever take them off except to change strings or if I am truly out in rainy weather. I have never had the slightest problems except that the softer rubbery ones age, dry out and crack. After YEARS you usually have to replace them. Maybe a different story if you hunt in very wet conditiond/rainy weather a lot
Quote from: McDave on November 09, 2022, 10:50:41 AM
Quote from: GCook on November 09, 2022, 09:25:17 AM
So the guys using there shoe, how do you do that and pull arrows or keep score at a shoot? :)
This way
[attachment=1,msg3016078]
I have one of those. Great for standing there but not for pulling arrows. Saw Bisch's and got one. Okay but less functional than I'd hoped. Usually just lay my bow down.
In the blind it depends on room and something to lean it on.
I dont use any tip protector, I use my boot.
"So the guys using there shoe, how do you do that and pull arrows or keep score at a shoot?"
I don't do shoots, and to pull an arrow, I simply raise my bow with my right hand and then put my left hand into the grip and slide an arrow out of my bow quiver. I've only done one shoot, and it's no different than Put Put Golf score keeping. I simply just never had an issue with using my boot. I really don't see the problem.
Good grief, over three years and this is still going. It's not a problem, just a choice. And fwiw, most guys who use tip protectors still set the bow on their foot when able.
Mahantango, HA! I don't even realize is was 3 years old.
:biglaugh:
Black electrical tape
From your quiver maybe but from a 3D target it takes two hands, bending over or down on one knee. I can understand if you don't shoot the matches that it would be different. The lanes are often brushy and tight.
I use the belt loop hook while waiting my turn and my boot as well butu now gets leaned against trees, branches, the fence, blind floors and I've chipped an antler tip as well as wearing all the finish off a longbow tip. So a way to protect it is a wise decision IMO. Especially since I'm generally hard on my equipment anyway.
If you are taking to me, I don't buy that for a second. I hunt in thick stuff ALL the time and I manufacture shots ALL time. Meaning position and can't angle variations. No way a shoot is more difficult than the way I hunt. :campfire: