Here's the centuries long history of this issue. All-wood longbows were typically unstrung when not in use because the wood on the face/belly of the bow compresses, and that causes the bow to "take a set" and "follow the string" toward the archer, which results in a loss of draw weight. It happens quick, and when that weight was gone, it was gone forever. The limb cores of the ancient and medieval laminated sinew/wood/horn recurve bows did too, but the sinew back and horn face/belly meant it did not matter as much. They lost less weight slower over a much longer time and could get most of it back when rested. It was typical to leave them strung for months at a time, often an entire war season (because their unstrung crescent shape made them a hassle to string). After being strung for 6 months they might lose 15% of their draw weight but get it back when unstrung and rested. They adjusted for that. That was with natural material bow strings too. When Americans and Europeans began facing and backing their all-wood bows with modern synthetics like Bakelite, Lamacoid, Toxhorn, and Fiberglass they kept the always unstring tradition of the all-wood bows they were familiar with. Even though long-term experiments with the fiberglass backed/faced bows showed then (and still show) they could be kept strung for years with no damage and no significant loss of draw weight. Why Black Widow bows says in their owner's manual it is not necessary to unstring your recurve bow if used regularly. Why Bodnick bows 30-year warranty is not voided by leaving their bows strung. I've kept bows (Bear TD) strung for years w/o problems, and I have friends who have kept theirs (Bear and Groves bows from the 70s/80s) strung for decades w/o problems. With a well-made modern bow it will not be a problem. Keep an eye on the string, change that before it needs it. If it makes you feel better to unstring go ahead and be happy. If you want to leave it strung, don't worry about it. Don't let it get too hot/cold too often, use it cold w/o a warm-up, or leave it in a hot car. That will hurt it strung or unstrung.
I have a rd longbow I built and it has been strung for 10 years. It still shoots fine and has lost 0 pounds. I shoot it from time to time and still shoots fine. 55#@28
I go by the manufacturer's recommendations. Henry Bodnik is a friend of mine and he says you can leave his bows strung. I have other bows that their manufacturers say to unstring when not in use.
Only non compound/some lever bows I would leave strung up are the, all Fiberglass bows but only if it is not in say a hot car or really hot out like 100---110 F or 38---44 C
@@solac7749all of the tension is in the limbs. The riser, limbs, and cams have the same tension throughout them. The reason it is fine is because of the compressive strength of fiber glass. It does not compress so it does not take a set. This means it does not loose strength from being strung.
I spent a week building a self bow, left it strung here and there and after a month the string follow was horrible.. Lesson learned, don't make a bow from even partially wet wood..
This is the most uninformative video I have ever watched. Fiber glass laminated bows arw finw strung. There are some examples that have been strung for decades and lost no weight.
Here's the centuries long history of this issue. All-wood longbows were typically unstrung when not in use because the wood on the face/belly of the bow compresses, and that causes the bow to "take a set" and "follow the string" toward the archer, which results in a loss of draw weight. It happens quick, and when that weight was gone, it was gone forever. The limb cores of the ancient and medieval laminated sinew/wood/horn recurve bows did too, but the sinew back and horn face/belly meant it did not matter as much. They lost less weight slower over a much longer time and could get most of it back when rested. It was typical to leave them strung for months at a time, often an entire war season (because their unstrung crescent shape made them a hassle to string). After being strung for 6 months they might lose 15% of their draw weight but get it back when unstrung and rested. They adjusted for that. That was with natural material bow strings too. When Americans and Europeans began facing and backing their all-wood bows with modern synthetics like Bakelite, Lamacoid, Toxhorn, and Fiberglass they kept the always unstring tradition of the all-wood bows they were familiar with. Even though long-term experiments with the fiberglass backed/faced bows showed then (and still show) they could be kept strung for years with no damage and no significant loss of draw weight. Why Black Widow bows says in their owner's manual it is not necessary to unstring your recurve bow if used regularly. Why Bodnick bows 30-year warranty is not voided by leaving their bows strung. I've kept bows (Bear TD) strung for years w/o problems, and I have friends who have kept theirs (Bear and Groves bows from the 70s/80s) strung for decades w/o problems. With a well-made modern bow it will not be a problem. Keep an eye on the string, change that before it needs it. If it makes you feel better to unstring go ahead and be happy. If you want to leave it strung, don't worry about it. Don't let it get too hot/cold too often, use it cold w/o a warm-up, or leave it in a hot car. That will hurt it strung or unstrung.
Ha, interesting. Thank you, man.
I have a rd longbow I built and it has been strung for 10 years. It still shoots fine and has lost 0 pounds. I shoot it from time to time and still shoots fine. 55#@28
If it's a take down recurve laminate then it's perfectly fine to keep strung.
I left my Fleetwood edge strung and forgot it in my car last summer long story short it was a lesson learned
I did the same thing with a Martin longbow 35 years ago. Lesson learned indeed!
I have not gotten the point, has the bow lost some its strength?
Thanks In advance.
I go by the manufacturer's recommendations. Henry Bodnik is a friend of mine and he says you can leave his bows strung. I have other bows that their manufacturers say to unstring when not in use.
Very interesting stuff! 👌
Only non compound/some lever bows I would leave strung up are the, all Fiberglass bows but only if it is not in say a hot car or really hot out like 100---110 F or 38---44 C
What if you shoot it every day?
Good👍
Would you shoot a bow that’s been strung for about 40 years in a case
Wait, . . . what was your answer? LMAO!!!
why are compound bows left strung like forever then???
Because the tension is not stored in the bow/limbs more pulleys so it doesn't change too much.
@@solac7749all of the tension is in the limbs. The riser, limbs, and cams have the same tension throughout them. The reason it is fine is because of the compressive strength of fiber glass. It does not compress so it does not take a set. This means it does not loose strength from being strung.
I spent a week building a self bow, left it strung here and there and after a month the string follow was horrible.. Lesson learned, don't make a bow from even partially wet wood..
👍
i agree because the limbs will eventually follow the string
This is the most uninformative video I have ever watched.
Fiber glass laminated bows arw finw strung. There are some examples that have been strung for decades and lost no weight.