Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Can you?

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I do. I don't do the leg step thru deal. I put the nock in the side of my left shoe, hold the bow by the handle with my left hand, and slide my hand up to the tips and string.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I don't use a stringer ether,I do the step thru as BC calls it......

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

huh?

I dont really get it

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Longbows I don't but for my recurves,I always use a stringer

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Niether did I before a bunch of self-bowyers showed me. Think about it this way. Your holding your bow by the handle with string down towards the ground (bow is upside down). YOu put the bottom bow tip on the side your shoe. With your right hand, you push the top tip with your palm, and with your thumb and index finger, you place the loop in the nock groove.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Got it:) Thanks!

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I do with a straight limbed longbow or selfbow. But I won't do it with a recurve or radically curved longbow.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I'd been shooting bows for 30 years before I ever heard of a bow stringer. I have to admit that old habits die hard and I don't use a stringer every time. I've been trying real hard to make a stringer my new habit though.

I use the push-pull method bigcountry describes but I do have to add a word of caution. Be sure to not hold your head in direct line with the bow limb, as in watching your hand slide the string into the nocks. Make sure your face is well out of the way if your hand slips and slide the loop in by feel. I make sure as I'm leaning forward to do the deed that my head is leaning even further forward, well out of the danger zone. I personally know one fella who lost an eye when he was stringing a recurve like that and it got away from him. The recurve tip nailed him square in the eye. I've heard of too many others who've been injured the same way.

Never, ever use the step through method. It's okay if it's done correctly, but hardly anyone does it correctly. That stringing technique has killed more bows and twisted more limbs than any other single cause.

It's always safest for you and your bow to use a stringer. Knowing how to string a bow without a stringer is a good thing to have stashed away in the memory chip, but use a stringer.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

What Art said.

Chad

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

be safe....buy a stringer or make one....you dont want to damage a bow or yourself [X(]by improperly stringing your bow.....it can be done and i used to stepthrew to string with my cheap bow....id turn my leg and stand on my tip toe to bracethe bottom limb better before appying pressure(if you do this wrong youll twist your limbs in no time)...and make sure i push down strait on the toplimb...some people can never do it correctly nomatter how hard they try.

get a Stringer its the better method.....

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I never use a stringer. Ive only used a stringer when i had a skin backed bow.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

You can, but I never do because it's not good on the bow. I recommend getting a stringer.;)

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I guess that I should buy a stringer.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I can see its not great on a recurve, but how is it bad on a longbow?

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Ivedone it this way from when I 1st started,left leg thru,bottom tip outside of right foot/ankle(tip potecter),bendupper bow limb over with left hand and slide sting up with right handand done,its easiest without arrows in thelimb quiver(just a fact)....dont understand the chance ofhitting the eye or face,I dont even come close,well maybe 10-12 inches of face,maybe its just how I do it.....

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

For me its just habit. Ive used the push pull method foraround 30 years. A stringer would make more sense, i guess old habits are hard to break.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

ranger, you're using the step-thru method and there's little chance of hitting yourself in the face with the limb tip - although it's the most dangerous method to use for the bow.

With the push-pull method, you brace the bottom limb tip against the instep of your foot with the back of the bow facing you, pull on the grip and push against the upper limb while simultaneously slipping the string loop up and into the nocks. This kid is doing it wrong because his face is directly in the way of the limb tip if his hand slips while sliding the loop into place. He should be holding his head out of the way.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I have too much money invested in my bows not to use a bowstringer. Repairing twisted limbs can really SUCK. I know many say you don't need a stringer on longbows but for the few seconds it takes to use one it worthavoiding an accident. I have in the past used the step through method, I never could get the push/pull method down.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

What does a stringer do that the push pull method will not? A stringer puts pressure on limb same as your palm. some stringers may put pressure on the tip.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I think instead of dissing the method, he just means he's never been able to accomplish it, bigcountry. ;)

Push-pull does require a little extra agility. It's really hard for some people to push on the limb AND slide the loop up the limb to the nocks with the same hand. Don't know why that is. Maybe some people are simply not wired up in a way that allows it? Who knows.

Putting talcum powder on the push hand helps make the sliding part easier while doing the push.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bow stringer?
 

The push/pull will work fine if you can use it right, I just never got used to it. On a recurve you should always use a bow stringer. Byron Ferguson brought it to light best, he said "if you grab the tip of a recurve you can move it right and left pulling the string out of the groove. That can cause limb twist,you can't do that with a longbow". Byron uses the push/pull method. Using a stringer is not an issue on limb tips as long as the tip are not damaged in any way. With the step-through method you're bending the bow around your leg possibly causing twist, with push/pull there's the possibility of torquing the riser twisting the limbs.

Like I said earlier, for the few seconds it takes to use a stringer it's better to be safe than sorry. JMHO

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Im going to make me a stringer tonight. As i said earlier, I use the push pull method just because that is what ive done for years and its a habit. A bad habit, because it just makes sense to use a stringer.Even though ive never had an issue with my bows from using the push pull method, itdoesnt mean im not due for one.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

I just went and tried the push/pull and it just didnt feel right......

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

same here.....i grabbed the 30# bowfisher i can do it with that....im not comfortable doing it with my 50#er tho.....

You guys use this Method with 60+# bows????

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

20 years ago, when my back was stronger than my brain, (;)) I was doing it with a 120 lb longbow.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

if i remember right your a taller/bigger guy....you have lots of leverage on your side.(kindof like arm-wrestling).... im only 5'9 or so. and ive never used the (Push-Pull) so it is aukward.

Stringers really werent around???? 30 years ago????? it seams like a pretty primitive concept? Maybee you didnt know about them or were too stubborn to use one?;)

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

At 6'6" and 380, I'm about the size of your average NFL offensive lineman so, yeah, I'm a little larger than most. ;)

Stringers... There may have been a sringer like we have now, in fact I would guess there probably was something like it, but you gotta remember that not everyone had a comprehensive archery catalog back then, and we didn't have the internet either. I only knew of a couple different ones. There was a leather cup mounted on a loop that you put around your foot. You put the bottom limb tip of your bow in the cup and did the push pull. It didn't really do anything different than the regular way except to keep your limb tip from getting scuffed up. And some folks had a wall or workbench mounted fixture that let you put the bottom limb in a support so that you could keep the limb tips in alignment while you put the string loop in the nocks. It was nothing more than a steel plate with a couple of polished steel rods welded to it. Other than that, it was the old step through.

RE: Can you string a bow without a bowstringer?
 

Ive used the push pull method with every bow ive ever owned. But like others have mentioned, my brawn is bigger than my brain in this case. Even though ive never had a problem with it, but that is probably because ive always done it that way. It only makes sense to use a stringer. I said i was going to make one last night, but didnt get around to it.:D

RE: Can you string a bow without a bow stringer?
 

I'm always used the step-thru method and never had any of my recurves develop twisted limbs. When I use the step-thru method I always try and keep the entire 'flat face' of the limb fully against me leg and bend. Thus far - no problems. I tried using a stringer a few times and found it to be a PITA & require me to have 'another piece of equipment' which I disliked.

I'm a big fan of the G. Fred Asbell 'school' - simple is better. I have the bow set up to shoot off the shelf, silencers, a a brass Noc Set and thats it. I DO always have a identical spare bowstring already all set up just in case mine gets cut thats been ON the bow for awhile so it can stretch out and then I just keep it in a Zip Loc bag in my fanny pack - just in case. Which leads me to another story on WHY I LOVE shooting traditional now...

In my compound toting career I had a nice weekend of whitetail hunting ruined when I inadvertently cut my compound bowstring with a broadhead. Then our local archery shop was closed Sundays and here my compound bow is all apart and my ability to hunt ruined. Nothing is worse than having the TIME off to be able to hunt, good weather, beautiful October weather and I was sitting home watching the hunting shows on TV b/c my bow was in 'ruins!' That incident was so painful that I decided I had 'had it' with modern equipment and went traditional 100%. I do currently have a beautiful Champion compound up for sale b/c there it sits all decked out in its camo case not being used. For me - traditional IS THE only way to go! Nothing to break or lose to ruin MY hunts. No loosened sight pins, screws, out of tune, broken cables, etc. I was an avid 3D shooter, owned over 35 compounds in MY career and have done it all from overdraws, carbon arrows, releases, etc. No more!

I prefer push-pull anyway, but I'll confirm what everyone says that if you don't do it right it is just as dangerous as they say.
I've got lots of practice; I'm teaching a friend to make Flemish strings and the guy forgets something at least once a month, so when I go over I actually have to remind myself not to treat his bow like I do mine out of courtesy. It works fine if you know what you're doing.
Hope this link can help you string your bow : http://hunthacks.com/string-recurve-...hout-stringer/
Thanks all!

It will be dangerous if you string recurve bow without stringer

I usually use a stringer. But if I don't I use the push pull method when I can. I say when I can because my arms ain't very long and on some recurve bows I have trouble reaching the upper limb tip.
Besides, the stringer method is much much easier.

Stringing bow with notch on side of shoe
 

Watch that with a recurve. I saw one explode when the tip slipped off the shoe and hit the floor.

If I'm using a bow that's light or I care LESS about it I might use the step through method. But I normally use a stringer, I just see them as cheap insurance on my favourite bows.