Arrow Lube - How effective?

[Torcrayth]

Hi all,

Back at the start of January I purchased a set of Easton ACC's and started to enjoy the improved shooting they give.

However, the club I belong to shoots once a week indoors and therefore we only shoot at 20 yards on straw bosses that are about 16 months old. So last weekend we went to shoot outdoors for the first time this year.
The problem was that I had to shoot at 40 yards on a brand new straw boss which meant that when it can to retrieving the arrows they were so well stuck in there that it took two other club members to hold the boss while I tried to pull the arrows out. In the end the effort of doing this has caused the hand that I push against the boss with to be bruised across the knuckles and even split the skin at one point.

So, the question is, how effective are the arrow lubes for removing them from new straw bosses and which lube can be used for Easton ACC's?

Anyone’s experience with this would be appreciated.

Torcrayth

EDIT -
Having re-done a search on here, it appears that everything from car polish to furniture polish to olive oil has been used, but I have failed to find anyone actually recommending a purchased lube (especially for ACC's).
There is also a reasonible amount of chatter regarding the delaminating and debonsing of carbon and carbon/alluminuim arrows without anybody actually highlighting an actual case as well as the migrating of silicone up the shafts

Has anybody actually found physical evidence of any of these 'problems'?

T

[tel]

As we're in the recurve bit I'm assuming we aren't talking massive poundage/friction problems. In this instance some quite cheap options are available. One I use is the neutral instant shoe shine sponge doodahs - especially handy in the kit box for a 'top-up' during a days shooting. Another option to be used a little more sparingly is aerosol silicon lube. Whatever you choose its worth remembering to only treat the section that counts, otherwise your target companions wont thank you when arrow pulling!

[Torcrayth]

tel,

yep, you guessed right, I do shoot recureve which i currently draw to 41lbs. (i don't know how much force it hits the target with but it appears to be more than enough)

What i didn't mention is that i do even use a cartel arrow puller as i find the shafts to small to grib, but still it's still one hell of a struggle.

Unless anyone else has any comments, i guess it's time to go find some doodahs

[tel]

I think they'll do the job. Really heavy compounds and the friction they produce might require something more.
The benefit is not only in pulling the arrows but in the straw not sticking to them either. Give it a go

[simon m]

I use soap, common all garden, hard bar of soap & rub it on the first 4-5 inches of the shaft. For some reason this reduces the "gluing in" effect of a carbon arrow in a resin soak straw boss. Try it

[BowSurfer]

Originally Posted by Torcrayth

Hi all,

<snip> There is also a reasonible amount of chatter regarding the delaminating and debonsing of carbon and carbon/alluminuim arrows without anybody actually highlighting an actual case as well as the migrating of silicone up the shafts

Has anybody actually found physical evidence of any of these 'problems'?

T

I have used the commercial arrow lube when my ACC's started getting difficult to pull out and it worked OK ish, but needed refreshing quite a bit. Then I switched to using silicon draw lube, which is a bit more gloopy and would last longer. Eventually I went over to FMJs, though they were still pretty tough to get out of the new bosses at the Herts indoor!

With regard to the carbon wearing away, I have expeienced this at both ends of the arrow. One arrow had to be discarded because re-fletching had worn away the carbon (have to take the blame for that one myself - I use arrow wraps now). And one arrow did wear right through the carbon at the tip to the point that it bent just behind the pile. Interstingly the aluminium isn't aluminium coloured but more goldish.

[Torcrayth]

Bowsurfer,

Thansk for your reply - which silicane draw lube did you purchase?

T

[sambow]

Originally Posted by Torcrayth

Hi all,

So, the question is, how effective are the arrow lubes for removing them from new straw bosses and which lube can be used for Easton ACC's?


T

I can only give you my experience of arrow lube as sold by quicks. I shoot with Carbon Impact arrows mainly because they are very light and the cross weaving in the carbon makes them very strong. The cross weaving however also seams to create a dull surface and they are an absolute pig to get out of straw bosses, they are much harder to get out than most other shooters at the club who use ACCs (its common to require two archers with pullers to get them out). I tried arrow lube last year (forget the make but came with a little black storage tube). The storage tube was cute, but the arrow lube was useless.

I have heard soap is good and will try this year. If that fails then sadly I will be ditching them and switching to FMJs'. I can live with shoulder injuries due to my poor archery but if I got one pulling out an arrow I would be well unhappy!

[Old Bloke]

K.Y. Gel' is pretty good.

[buzz lite beer]

it's good for getting handle bar grips on too (on handle bars) is the old KY Gel