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View Full Version : Quick, Simple & Solid Bow Press



Oldaro
05-02-2005, 07:50 AM
Here's how to make your own Bow Press, to be used quickly and without fuss, which is why you need to use it in the first place...

It is constructed from two sizes of square profile, about 2" square in cross cut, chosen so that the sizes can telescope within one another. It makes possible to change the press size, and thus, adapt it for all compound bow lengths. One long spindle, made out of industrial screw material uses one or two winged nuts to fix the bowlimb rollers at proper distance.

When the roller distance has been determined and fixed, the bow is laid with limb backs symmetrically set into the roller grooves covered with deerskin laps. Rollers do not need to be clad in deerskin all the way, since they do not rotate full circle. Make sure rollers touch the limbs in their midst, or maybe one inch outwards, meaning closer to cams, or a cam & idler wheel.

Two strong gurt or rope 'circles' are laid over the riser at both ends, so that the overlapping pieces form two loops hanging from the bow. Both loops at each riser end are then connected to the hooks that extend from the pedal lever. In the same time, the pedal lever is shifted along the lower horizontal profile so that the bow's arrow tray hangs about vertically over the point where hooks connect to the pedal lever. This will make the forces bending the limbs equal on both riser sides.

Step on the pedal to push, and thus, pull the riser downward: via pedal lever / hooks / riser gurts... and while pressing , carefully move the pedal around and under the locking bolt. Move the pedal lever all the way under the bolt and carefully release it. With the bow limbs pressed, bowstring and cable(s) should be limp , and all the string, cam and wheel parts become accessible and removable. Repair and / or adjust what requires your attention. Check the wheel axles fo looseness, and grooved parts of the cable and bowstring serving for wear. Remove dust and grime, caked mud and / or blood, grass, seeds, hair etcetera. Add oil if required. Repair serving. Have a glass of <____enter favorite drink here_____> yourself, don't just work. We have a saying that boldly states: "Work is not a rabbit. It'll wait."

Make sure all string material is in their correct grooves and all the other parts are reconnected as they should be. There shouldn't be any familiar-looking bow parts on the desk or on the floor around you, before pressing upon the pedal to release the*pressure and re-establish the bow. To be on the safe side, before releasing the pedal, tension the bowstring a little by pulling it upwards. That'll force strings and things into their respective places. Presto! There's your bow, repaired or adjusted, and off the press in a matter of seconds.

The press weighs some twenty pounds, not more, and it can be taken along with a group of compound shooting archers with no extra trouble. It is cleanly designed, easy to mantain and operate, and quicker than many other; quicker to use than most of the portable hand presses, while this one holds your bow in the proper servicing position. The press itself can be taken apart for transport or storage in a matter of seconds! Just screw the wing nut off the spindle screw, and slide two halves of the construction apart. The pedal lever slides off the separated construct with no effort and no tools, since it's not really affixed to anything. Study the sketch, and you'll want to make one of those, I'm certain.

rhoads
11-15-2005, 10:35 AM
This looks really cool, and easy to build, but the one question I do have is the safety aspect of it,
is it safe? have you made and used one? if so any problems with it or anything that you could find that could should be diffrent?

Oldaro
11-16-2005, 01:14 AM
We have actually built one here, and it had some kind of industry transmission instead of pedal lever, I think it's 1:50, but it takes rather long time to wind it to press the bow, and unwind it again for testing. Thus the pedal, to replace the most annoying part of the process - and the machine.

The only risky place is the bolt, and it would have to be turned so that the pedal lever actually has to be pressed down positively, to unlock from the "pressed" position. This is only to avoid any possibility that the pedal could be knocked out of its position inadvertently.

I guess I don't have to sketch what I mean by the above. :)

The gurt loops are quite safe. Every gurt comes with its breaking strength stated, and when oyu pick the one you deem adequate, it will already be over the leve of the forces you'd expect from the bow. Almost every decent gurt sustains 100 - 200 lbs with ease. And then you make a loop, which doubles its strength...

The hooks can be replaced with chains and snap hooks (or "carabiners", the alpine climbers' kind) if you prefer... Main thing and intention is to keep it adjustable in every sense, for the most kind of bows.

I think you'll enjoy it. But to mantain the highest safety grade of the bowpress, as with any mechanical device, keep kids and technically inept away from such great spring forces, or there might be some sudden bloodshed...

:D

snowolf71
03-22-2011, 08:24 AM
I would like more info on that bow press as the thumbnails is not a link to click on , not sure why but does not work ,please send the thumbnails again so I can click on them to see the press.thanks

mobow#1
03-22-2011, 03:45 PM
I have to agree thumbnail is not working