Hello all, how do string silencers affect bow tuning? Do they impact arrow tuning? Do I need to have my bow completely set up how I like it before I put on string silencers? Thank you!

Unless you put on something that really weights down the string, they don't affect tuning enough to make a noticeable difference. 

I agree with Orion but I think I would add the silencers then test again. You may have to adjust arrows by adding or subtracting a bit of tip weight. Fur or raw wool silencers weigh very little.

I have had good luck trimming the string silencers in the final stages of tuning if the bare shaft is showing slightly stiff.  Alternatives would be to move the silencers closer to the ends of the limbs, increase the brace height, increase point weight, or increase the shaft length.  An example would be this silencer on my Bob Lee Shikari. It came on the string provided by Bob Lee, and was excessively big in my opinion anyway. So it was a win-win to trim it and get it closer to the size I wanted and also to correct a minor amount of stiff spine indication without having to make any of the other adjustments I noted.

(Edit: sorry, I got this backwards the first time around)

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For me placement does change my tune a bit...if things start going south its the first thing I check then brace height 

I use cat whiskers and have tried big ones, little ones and 4 little ones. Tuning wasn't affected enough for me to notice but when I tried the four it did seem a tad quieter but I also tested them on the chronograph and they lost maybe three FPS. I personally think big silencers actually cause more wind resistance to slow arrow speed vs the few grains of weight on the string itself.
Your results may vary.

I have been using paracord sheath as a puff ball silencer.  My experience has been, quieter bow, faster transfer of energy to the arrow (subjective), smoother arrow flight and increased speed (subjective).  IMVHO from the extensive scientific research and double blind studies I conducted.  Plus the pair weights 26 grains and costs about 25 cents.  The attached pics reflect a zero shots, top and bottom after 84 shoots.  It takes about 200 shots to fully fluff out the puff. 

Depending how persnickety you want to be..... but there's no doubt that a change causes a domino effect of changes. Whether it's silencers, brace height, tip weight, arrow weight, nock weight, wrap weight....
Changing a tab even affects tune. Can be frustrating, can be fun- I know people on both ends of the spectrum.

But yes, silencers.... The type, shape, weight, and placement all affect tune in some way. But never so drastically that it can't be fixed with a little change one way or other to the brace height. You say good enough way before you get to this point, and most do and they are right. Just answering the question..... I love archery for it's simplicity...LOL

If normal string silencers effect your set up, you were borderline to start with.  If so, the silencers will tell the tell....which is a good thing. 

I never had my silencers affect my bows tune. I use wool and acrylic yarn. I make my own.

Very true Terry, I agree. Again I say it depends how picky you want to be...

Just saying there is a change. May or may not notice, but it's there....

I really discovered this tunings BW bow. 2 spiders on the string, changing placement, 4 spiders on the string, changing placement of those, then wool puffs...

If you try all of this with feathered shafts, you wont notice a thing. Bareshafts will show everything.

Well, the real question in my mind is what is it about adding a little puff of yarn to a string that causes it to be quieter?  Truth is it isn't about the puff of yarn, as a bit of rubber (string leeches) does the same thing.  How about cat whiskers, rubber puffs so to speak!

So what are the physics?  Has to be about harmonics right?

So bottom line is it must be about adding a bit of weight to the string at precisely the right location to dampen the strings vibration, not so much as what the weight consists of.   

Quote from: kopfjaeger on January 18, 2022, 01:33:10 PM
I never had my silencers affect my bows tune. I use wool and acrylic yarn. I make my own.

Me either, and me too.... BowHush.

Been trying everything for 50 years, on every bow I've had.  Finally, settled on paracord at 18.3%, as the lightest and most effective material.  Other stuff may work great, but paracord is light (reduces the least amount of string speed) and cheap. (because I'm frugal)

Hey Wudstix, do you have a pic? Curious what you do with them, and what they look like

Maybe I have been doing it wrong? I "tune" with my catwiskers on the string. Once I am done I don't want to go back and retune because I added string gizmos.

I don't think you have been doing it wrong Gunner. I do the same.

When I get a new bow, I first get a string, whatever it will be. Set it up with silencers, then tune the brace height. Once all of this is good, I get a second identical string for a backup.
Then I bareshaft tune the arrows, and that's just the way that I have always done it.

Medley;
Pics 8 posts above your question.  Also these from my initial attempt.  From the string colors my 10 Rings on my Big River 21st Century clone longbow.  This is after 150-175 arrows.

Gotcha, sorry I missed the connection. That's what I get for posting while at work lol. I didn't realize those pics above were yours, thank you for setting me straight.
I may have to give these a try....

Can't say enough good about them.  Just pull the white nylon thread out and put sheath between the strands of your string.