Is it necessary to use special wax with certain types of bowstring material?
Not really. There are four main reasons for using wax on a bowstring. 1. To lubricate the fibers and prevent fiber to fiber abrasion 2. To help keep the bundle of strands together 3. To maintain and extend the life of the string 4. To help prevent water absorption Bowstring material manufacturers normally apply a generous amount of synthetic wax in liquid form, which insures that from its origin the bowstring material is well lubricated inside and out. It is this process which gives the material its basic protection from fiber to fiber abrasion and helps keep the bundle of strands together. Generally the type of wax used would be a good quality standard tacky wax. At this stage it would be unusual for the wax to include silicone which is very slick and, particularly in the case of Flemish strings, makes it difficult to convert the bowstring material into a finished bowstring. However, after the string is made, it is recommended that the archer look for a maintenance wax that contains s
