Since I started shooting a bow 3 years ago I have tried to learn more and more about working on bows. I hope to one day be able to do all my own work on all of my bowhunting equipment. I have purchased a bow press, chopsaw for arrows, Bitz jig, etc. The list goes on.
I have gotten more and more confidant in my abilities as time goes by. Saturday while shooting I noticed my string loop looking a little frayed so I decided to change it. When I got it off I noticed that my center serving was starting to unravel. (This was mostly do to me nicking it while cutting off the loop [:@]) So I thought, crap now I have to go to the shop. Then I realised I had purchased a serving tool and thread so I got to it. For a first attempt it turned out well. I knew how to start the thing by paying attention to how the old one came off. I wasn't sure of how to finish tying it off. A few 1/2 hitches one way and then the other took care of it. I then tied on a new loop, realised I didn't measure where the old one was and went outside to hit about a foot high. A bit of an adjustment to the loop and then a tightening of the nock and I'm good to go.
It is a good feeling of accomplishment to be able to do this kind of thing. I don't have to rely on anyone else. I like that.
The way I finish off all my servings is the same way I start them . Run the tag end under about a half inch of the serving and then pull tight. No half hitches needed in a bowstring at all except for nock sets.
Yep, congrats on gettin' er done... but you don't need any half-hitches in a center serving.
I would recommend buying Bohning's serving kit with the instructional dvd... I started to say you'll need everything included anyway, but it sounds like you've got a serving tool already. It is nice to see a center serving done properly on video though, where you can pause and rewind as much as you need to.
ORIGINAL: txjourneyman
I wasn't sure of how to finish tying it off. A few 1/2 hitches one way and then the other took care of it.
Myself, I would worry about the 1/2 hitches. There is a proper way to finish one off, and you should never worry about it coming unraveled. But the 1/2hitches it might.
OK, that makes sense. Thanks for posting that pic. I'll do it again tonight. I'll look at Saturdays attempt as practice. I would much rather do it right if I'm going to do it.
1st attempt at center serving.
