BearHair or SealSkin
 

Hey guys finally got home from school this weekend and got to shoot my recurve, i'm getting alot better. I noticed this weekend that my BearHair and strike plate are very worn. What is the best way to remove these without hurting the bow? As far as replacements go, BearHair or SealSkin? Any opinions?

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Should just peel right up. Might have to remove the adviesive with something. But shouldn't be hard. I have used both. I usually go with bearhair, but sealskin works as well.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

My uncle has a longbow and he uses calf hair rest and plate and it wears off pretty quick. But I'd probably go with sealskin. Do you got any pictures of it and what brand bow is it?
EnglishHope

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Both are over-priced IMO. Calf skin, or if you want to be economical the fuzzy side of Velcro works just fine. I've used all of the above and can't tell much difference. I have been using seal skin for a while, because I like the look and got a great deal on a bunch of scraps.

Chad

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

English it is an old Browning Wasp 40#@28" that my girlfriend's dad gave me.It had just been hangin' in his shop for years and is in exellent condition. Unfortunately i don't have any pics, i didn't think to take any while i was home and have returned to school. But i will take some and post them the next chance i get! LBR, where do you get the calfskin rests? I haven't seen them in NEET, orBowhunters Superstore.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I'm new at this so please forgive the dumb question. Are the leather rests any good?

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Really, if your arrow is right spine for the bow, it shouldn't make a difference which rest you have.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Lone Wolf, Kustom King, and 3 Rivers has them. I like the ones Kustom King (and I think Lone Wolf has them also) sells--larger and seem to stick better than the ones from 3 Rivers. Leather works for a strike plate/rug rest also.

If you are wearing any of them out quick, most likely there is a problem: sharp leading edge on a feather, bad release, or wrong arrow spine. I can't remember how often I change mine out, but I'm sure it's not more than once a year, maybe two years. The one I have on my longbow now has been on it several months and looks brand new.

Chad

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Mark, from what I've gathered from reading and experience with other archery equipment am I to understand that the arrow doesn't slide on the rest very much at all? Does arrow flex and lift away from the rest pretty much right away?

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Thats the plan. Of course there is going to be some contact. But LBR is the man to ask, as he probably shoots 10X more than me.

Thats the reason, some people with longbows have to use an arrow with weak spine cause their shelf cutout is definately not on center with teh bow limbs. So they have to find a spine to wrap around consistently.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Personally, I use leather on my longbows. I also have used pretty much everything and find the seal skin a bit expensive.

Dnk, here is a pretty good representation of what is happening:

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Bob, does that mean that the feathers do a pretty good job of folding away? Does that mean that a arrow with more grains per inch will fly better because of the minor disturbance to the feathers? If so what weight per inch is a good starting point? Or an I just being a duffus and who cares about feather contact?
Looking at the right set of drawings it looks like the shaft makes good contact with the bow (I'm guessing from the string rolling off the fingers), is that correct? This stuff is pretty interesting!

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

The rest has been on the bow a long time so i think the adhesive got brittle and has begun to pull up. Just was wonderin' what ya'll use. thanks for the great info keep it comin!

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Yes, the feathers have to fold away if you are shooting off the riser. If you get a chance go to Foxfire Archery, Arrows by Kelly and read about their theoy of using four fletch arrows 60/120 and fletch contact. If you are using an elevated rest, you can get away using vanes. I'd imagine using a heavier arrow would be a little more stableconcerning fletching contact, however having the proper spined arrows will be the more important. If the arrow contacts the riser, you will have problems. I don't really think of grains per inch, rather I use total arrow weight. In general, I like to use at least 10 grains per pound. This would equate to a minimum 600 grain arrow for a 60 pound draw. The right set of drawings shows archers paradox. It is suppose to be an overhead representation of the arrow and the riser as the arrow is released. Below is another representation that may be helpful. It shows how a properly spined arrow reacts as it clears the riser.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Shark Skin works well too. Just another one of the 100 options to look at.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Anyone ever try "moleskin"?? (The stuff you'd cut a patch from to cover a foot blister)

It was always pretty tough stuff and stayed on my foot until worn away when I used it. I also put it around the shelf of my compound bow to quiet the "tap..tap" when knocking an arrow a few years ago and it'sstill stuck to my bow...

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Yes, I use/used it. I usually will not use anything spongy on the side plate however.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

What type of adhesive would anyone recommend??

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I have a seal skin on mine but most of the hair is gone. I just leave it as it is. Flies just fine off the leather. Unless it's buggin you just let it be.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I use Barge Cement:

Here

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I'd try 3M spray adhesive..used properly it will hold lightly,or hold like super-glue...depends on how well you want it to stick.