When it comes to shooting with a bow, its strings will begin to fray or lose their elasticity over time, which can in turn affect your accuracy. To ensure that you properly maintain your bow, you need to restring it to guarantee its performance and shooting remain consistent.
However, individuals who are new to archery or are simply curious might be wondering: how much does it cost to replace a bow string? That’s exactly what Archery Edge is tackling today.
In this article, I cover bow strings, from the cost of restringing a bow to establishing when you need to change a bow string, so you can keep your bow in the best condition possible.
So, let’s get started.
How much does it cost to restring a bow?
How much it will cost to restring your bow will depend on a few factors, such as the string quality, the brand, as well as the cost of labor (provided that you take it to an archery shop instead of doing it yourself).
String quality
There are a variety of different strings on the market that vary in price depending on their quality. Generally speaking, the more money that you pay the more likely it is that you’re investing in durable strings.
That being said, you don’t have to spend a fortune. This is especially true if you use your bow infrequently, as cheaper strings should suffice.
The Keshes Dacron Bow String Replacement is an affordable option to restring your bow from $11.99 – $14.99.
If you include this price plus the average price of labor, you’re looking at roughly $32-$35 dollars to get your bow restrung, but this will vary depending on which strings you buy and where you take it to get restrung.
The brand
It is worth mentioning that different brands have different pricing when it comes to bow strings. Which brand you choose is entirely up to you, but I recommend that you weigh up how often you use your bow with the price of the branded strings.
If you’re new to buying bow strings, reputable brands include Keshes and Bucknasty.
Labor
Luckily, the cost of labor is relatively affordable, with most shops charging around $20 and up to restring your bow. However, if you’re on a tighter budget, you could restring your bow yourself.
That being said, it is better to go to a professional archery shop to have your bow restrung if you are a beginner. Taking your bow in store is going to cost you more in the long run, however, if you’re new to restringing a bow, it will be good to see how a professional does it before you attempt it yourself.
How often do you need to restring a bow?
The majority of string manufacturers recommend that you restring your bow every 3 years. However, this could vary depending on how well you look after your bow.
It is important to mention that you need to maintain your string’s quality by waxing it regularly. The string will stretch over time and that causes it to lose poundage and velocity. If the string still seems strong but it appears somewhat hairier than usual, then you may just need to give it a wax.
I would recommend that you unstring your bow when you’re not using it. If the string is constantly being held at the same tension, it will begin to lose power.
No matter the quality of your bow, it will only last as long as you maintain and look after it properly.
How do you restring a bow at home?
As you become more advanced in archery, it’s handy to know how to restring your bow at home. Simply follow these instructions to achieve this at home.
- Find the top string loop and slide it down. Repeat this with the bottom loop to view the string’s grooves.
- Add the bow stringer from the top limb and place the bow stringer’s saddle behind the string loop. After this, position the pouch of the stringer over the bottom limb’s tip. The pouch end should be enclosed to secure your bow’s tip.
- Step onto the bow-stringer with both feet about shoulder-distance apart. Hold the bow by its grip and pull straight up. The bow-stringer will support the bow’s draw weight as you slide the top string loop into the limb tip’s string grooves.
- Remove the bow stringer and make sure everything is attached and secured correctly, and voilà!
It is worth noting that if you’re anxious to restring your bow, your best bet is to take it to a shop! Not only will they answer your questions, but can give you a demonstration, too.
