Portable bow press

[Dale Furze]

Here's another from Fuzzies shed. I was sick and tired of hitting up my mates to use their bow press for slight tuning problems, so I made my own.
I started with some 4mm. cable (about 1.5m.) 4 x small cable u clamps, 2 x 10mm x 40mm bits of round bar and a decent turn buckle with an eye on one end and a hook on the other.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DAZOOL/bowpress.jpg

On the eye end of the turn buckle I attached about 350mm of cable with a u clamp, on the other end of that cable I mounted one of the pre-drilled 10mm bars. This is the half of the press that does not get adjusted.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DAZOOL/PICT1441.jpg

I then took about 850mm of cable and mounted the other pre-drilled bar on one end with the 3rd of 4 u clamps, roughly measured my bow then made a loop with the last of the clamps in 'about the right position.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DAZOOL/PICT1442.jpg

Next, you feed the two little bars between the cam ends of the limbs (one on each limb) and couple up the loop with the turn buckle hook. If it is too loose, loosen off the u clamp and pull your loop a bit tighter.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DAZOOL/adjustbowpress.jpg

When all is firm, (when the turn buckle is backed off) make sure the bars put even pressure on the limbs and start screwing up the turn buckle, this will in turn relieve the pressure on the cables and allow you to work on your bow.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DAZOOL/mountedbowpress.jpg

NOTE: This press is for string replacement/adjustment and peep insertion only. It WILL NOT allow you to disassemble your bow completely.

[HOOD]

Dale that is exactly like the one I made a couple of years ago. Works well. But was a tade hard to turn the centre part once a bit of stress was put on it.
I left mine in NZ 2yrs ago :x and tehn forgot to get it when i was there this year :x

Oh well it's easy enough to make another one. :P

[XTfreak]

Looks good sir...
Bill

[woody]

If I might make a couple of design critisisms, in the spirit of trying to be helpful.

A turnbuckle twice that size is a lot easier to turn under load, and I would lose the cable and use couple of pieces of chain.

Why chain, because if the cable slips under load and whips around it may do you a serious injury and the chain is easy to adjust for length by selecting a different link to hook the turnbuckle end thru.

It's always a good idea to unscrew the bows limb bolts a bit, maybe 50%, when using a press, because it makes it easier and safer to work on, for you and the bow if something slips. :D

[ricochet]

Well done Dale, 8) i have made the same, but as Woody suggested i use chain instead of the cable, mine works well, very easy to use( might take woodies suggestion of a bigger turnbuckle tho) made on the same lines as you have done with yours :)


cheers,
Rick :)

[Dale Furze]

I take no offense in people suggesting how to improve things, this is of course a 'How to' section, should others wish to build one, take these ideas and build them into your own, they are good thoughts! 8)

[cutthroat]

I also use a press similar to what you blokes are using but instead of chain
I use nylon rope that has been spliced onto the eyes of the turnbuckle.
Also hood said he had trouble turning the centre bit when it had a bit of pressure on it,I put a screwdriver in one of the eye and put the handle under
the riser to keep it from turning.I don't know how this setup would work with split limb bows,our club bought a bowmaster press with the hook parts for split limb bows.

[HOOD]

IAlso hood said he had trouble turning the centre bit when it had a bit of pressure on it,I put a screwdriver in one of the eye and put the handle under
the riser to keep it from turning.'

Thats exactly what I ended up doing to.