Hedeby bow

Ash bows

ALWAYS keep within the stated draw limit;
NEVER over draw your bow;
NEVER dry loose your bow;
NEVER bend the bow backwards;
In time all wooden bows “follow the string” this varies from one wood to another and from bow to bow. Never try to straighten
a bow by bending it the wrong way, in many cases they will break.
BE aware of temperature in both use and storage;
The colder a piece of wood the stiffer and more brittle it becomes, conversely, as the weather gets warmer the limper it will
be, so you can expect less cast. In practice the extremes are not often encountered in this country but are common in other
countries, nonetheless, it is good to be aware of temperature. Avoid using the bow in sub-zero temperatures (Celsius) or in
extreme heat, as it will suffer long-term damage or even break.
ALWAYS store your bow in a cool, dry place away from radiators and other sources of heat, e.g. hot vehicles;
Store your bow vertically but NOT leaning diagonally;
Maintain your bow;
No finish on wood that bends is ever truly waterproof; therefore, it is a good idea to maintain the bow to protect it from wet
conditions. We recommend a VERY LIGHT rub with 0000 steel wool, then recoat with Danish Oil each season.
Regularly check the bow for scratches, light scratches should be filled with beeswax to prevent water ingress.
Regularly CHECK the string and nocks for signs of wear.
If the string has got dirty or muddy the grit will cause rapid wear. Keep the string well waxed, this will improve performance and help to keep out dirt and moisture. It is a good idea to “have a second string to your bow”.
Bracing height is important, too high will result in overstressing the bow; too low may cause the string to jump out of the nocks during release and excess string slap on your wrist;
The maximum bracing height for your bow is noted below, bracing height is the distance between string and stave when the bow is braced ready to shoot. Check this regularly and adjust by means
of the bowyers’ twist at the bottom or adding more twists if you have a double looped string. You should expect to do this several times during the bedding in period. Strings do not last indefinitely and should be replaced when worn.
Natural aging, with time a wooden bow will lose a little weight and cast, this is normal and should not be “rectified” by increasing the
brace height, as this will simply over stress the bow, leading to potential breakage.

Modern bows

ALWAYS keep within the stated draw limit;
NEVER over draw your bow;
NEVER dry loose your bow;
NEVER bend the bow backwards;
ALWAYS store your bow in a cool, dry place away from radiators and other sources of heat, e.g. hot vehicles;
Store your bow vertically but NOT leaning diagonally;
Store the fibreglass bow unstrung when not in use to prevent limb fatigue;
Maintain your bow;
If the string has got dirty or muddy the grit will cause rapid wear. Keep the string well waxed, this will improve performance and help to keep out dirt and moisture. It is a good idea to “have a second string to your bow”.
Wipe the bow surface with a damp cloth and dry it to keep it clean, if it gets wet dry immediately after use.