Overview
Repairing a twisted recurve bow limb is crucial especially to get accurate shots. Proper care and maintenance of your recurve bow should prevent this pesky issue from happening.
The most important point is to properly store your bow. You would want to make sure that your recurve bow doesn’t get any unwanted pressure while in storage. You would also need to make sure that the gear is safe from weather elements when not in use. Also, investing in a stringer will make sure that the bow limbs will not be distorted or warped when running a string on it.
When a twisted bow limb does occur, the several methods which can help you repair your bow limbs. Just make sure to be really careful when making a fix! Using too much force in twisting back the affected bow limb towards its original position may end up breaking it. Also, applying too much heat or moisture may just delaminate or melt the glue in the limbs.
Lastly, knowing how to fix a twisted recurve bow limb should save you on both time and money. Sure, you can have your gear checked in an archery pro shop. But is it really worth the effort if you yourself can fix it instead?
We hope the tips below will help you - enjoy shooting!
Diagnose Before Going for a Recurve Bow Limb Twist Repair
Before anything else, properly checking your recurve bow's limbs will help you determine the best course of action. And when it comes to bow limb twist, these simple steps should give you a clear view on what to do next:
- Grab hold of your bow.
- Make sure the bow is strung properly.
- Inspect from either end of the recurve bow.
- Check and see if the string runs straight along the centerline of the recurve bow's limbs.
You'd know something's wrong if the string seems to be running off-center!
Choose Your Process: Methods for Recurve Bow Limb Repair
There are several ways to repair a twist limb on your recurve bow. There is no best way to fix it - it all depends on your preference. Check these methods out:
The Conventional Self Bow Limb Twist Method (Cold Bump)
Considered to be the most common way to repair a bow limb twist, the cold bump method is done this way:
- Carefully hold your recurve bow by the riser.
- Make sure to use your dominant hand when holding the bow.
- Using your free hand, grip your recurve bow's limb right above where the noticed twist is located.
- Slowly twist that limb opposite the direction of the distorted twist.
- As you twist the limb towards the proper position, slowly release your grip on the limb.
- Repeat as needed until the proper limb alignment is achieved.
How to Fix a Twisted Recurve Bow Limb - the Low Heat Method
You would need a hair dryer for this method (and a buddy to either hold your recurve bow or use the hair dryer):
- Grab your recurve bow, hold it so that you'll be able to warm up the affected area using your hair dryer.
- The person holding the hair dryer (or you, if you're the one holding it) should position the dryer at least 6 to 10 inches aways from the twisted limb area.
- The twisted limb area should be heated by the hair dryer for at least 2 to 3 minutes.
- Heating should be done in a up and down motion, to cover all areas of the affected limb.
- Inspect the area after heating. Repeat the process until the limb is straight – the limb should untwist itself from the heat. If not you can force it gently as in the first method.
Doing the Warm Wet Submerge Method
This method will require you to dip your recurve bow in a tub of hot water - use this method only if the others fail. If your recurve bow is old or damaged, the water may damage it even further.
- Have the affected twisted limb of your recurve bow submerged in hot water.
- Leave the recurve bow dipped for at least 3 to 4 minutes.
- The recommended water temperature is about 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once ready, carefully lift the recurve bow out of the tub.
- Grip your recurve bow tight.
- Slowly twist that limb opposite the direction of the distorted twist.
- Inspect if the affected limb has straightened.
- Repeat the dipping process as needed until the limb has straightened.
Explaining More Why Twisted Bow Limb Occurs
Why do twisted recurve bow limb defects occur? There's actually two common reasons for this to happen to your gear:
It's Natural!
As your recurve bow ages, expect its limbs to distort. Proper maintenance and storage may help this twist from happening. Temperature, particularly, plays a big factor in possibly warping your recurve bow. As such, care for your gear really does matter if you want to make the most out of it!
Improper Stringing May Be the Culprit
Another reason for twist bow limb defects to happen all boils down on how you string your gear. Improper stringing can lead to deformity, particularly because the bow's limbs are being pulled in awkward directions. This is why investing in bow stringers is crucial in keeping your recurve bow in tip-top shape!
Why It Is Important To Repair Your Twisted Bow Limb
Although twisted recurve bow limbs may seem to be a minor issue for some (consider that most of the time, it's a natural change on your gear), addressing the straightness of your bow will help you get most out of your bow. Here are some reasons why you really ought to always check your bow limbs for twists and the like:
A Change in Shooting Form
Every archer may have his or her shooting stance - that's a given, and it's all good. However, if your gear makes you adjust your form, then you may want to consider making the necessary fixes on it. You never want to adjust to your archery equipment - your bow has to adjust to your preferences.
You Need to Stay Consistent
This factor is of high importance if you're either out hunting or competing. Shooting arrows is similar in getting into this certain rhythm. For you to hit your targets, you'd need to stay consistent in both your shooting form and your gear's performance. You wouldn't get into the shooting momentum if you'd need to always stop and force yourself to refocus just because your recurve bow's limbs aren't straight!
It Will Prevent Accidents from Happening
If you're forcing yourself to adjust to your twisted bow limb's position when shooting, then you may even risk getting injuries. More often than not, twisted bow limbs force you to lean forward whenever you'll shoot. With the awkward stance, you may either fall or have your bow snap back on you. No one wants to get hurt while shooting - prevent any accident from occurring by making sure your bow's limbs are straight!
Your Recurve Bow Deserves Your Care
Simply put, you'd want to make sure that your recurve bow is in working order whenever you plan to use it. Aside from potentially making you miss crucial shots, your gear may end up broken (and beyond repair) just because you do not want to straighten those bow limbs!
Additional Twisted Recurve Bow Limb Repair Reminders
Here we'll be sharing some quick and short pointers which will help you when you plan to repair your twisted recurve bow limb:
- Invest in either a bow case or a bow hanger when storing your recurve bow. Leaving your gear standing in a corner may put more pressure on a limb – which may lead to it being twisted.
- Temperature does play a big part in warping your recurve bow. Aside from making sure that the storage area is in a warm and dry place, think through how you plan to transport your bow. Even simply leaving your recurve bow in a closed car (especially during long summer treks) may result in glue found in your bow limbs to melt.
- Moisture can also be considered a major factor in the twisting of your recurve bow's limbs. Make sure that your bow is far from any wet surfaces when storing it!
- Some expert shooters string a bow through their legs (the step-through method). This practice stems from medieval archers – but since you really cannot gauge on how much pressure is applied when doing this approach, you just might end up with damaged bow limbs this way! If possible use a stringer to string your bow.
- Some recurve bows work best when kept strung, others when they get unstrung when not in use. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and ask others using the very same kind of bows on what works best for them.
- Be extra careful if you plan to do the Low Heat method. This process involves putting your bow limbs in heated conditions – applying too much heat may delaminate the glue. This could break your bow apart!
- A variation on the Warm Wet submerge method is instead of dipping the affected limb in warm water, you'd run some hot water on it instead.
- Even another variation to consider would be using a hot wet towel. By wrapping this hot cloth on the affected bow limb, you'd be able to apply just the right amount of heat on it.
- For both the Warm Wet and Low Heat methods, always make sure that your bow limbs DO NOT have any stress fractures. These small dents or scratches, when applied to too much heat, may just further distort your recurve bow!
Read More
Here are some nice links to check out when you want to learn more about twisted bow limbs.
- Pirates of Archery shares its own take on how to repair a twisted recurve bow limb.
- A nice Reddit thread detailing several ways to fix a twist limb.
- Check out the Survivalist Boards on how different hunters deal with twisted bow limbs.