First String Wax and my grouping went to heck!

[returnofsid]

Being new to archery, I still have a lot to learn.  My kids bought me a used Matthews SQ2 for Father's Day and my son has been teaching me.  Only seems fair since I taught him to rifle hunt!

Anyway, he failed to mention that the string should be waxed very regularly.  Actually, he failed to mention anything about wax, until yesterday...lol.  I've been shooting it since Father's Day and haven't waxed it at all, until today.  So, today, I waxed the string, avoiding the serving areas.  I applied the wax pretty heavily and then rubbed it in with my fingers, as well as I could. 

Afterwards, I shot two groups of three arrows and my grouping SUCKS!  Where I was grouping at 1/2" at 20 yards, 1" at 30, now my 20 yard group is about 3"!!  What did I do wrong??!!  In case it matters, I did not wipe off excess wax. I figured I'd leave the excess on there for awhile, allowing me to rub it in even more.  I just read that you should wipe off any excess wax.  Would that really negatively effect my shooting THAT MUCH?!

[Elkrunner]

I wouldn't think so.  I have never had it affect my groupings.

[owmygulay]

It probably depends on what you mean by excess but I don't think the wax would have any effect on shooting. Any excess would probably have been flung off on the first few shots. Are you shooting with fingers?

[returnofsid]

I shoot with a release.  I'm not really sure how I should define "excess," lol.  However, after 6 shots, the "excess" is still on the strings.  Maybe I need to look at something else that would have negatively effected my groups.  Sights are still where they were...hmmm.  Maybe I just need to rest for the remainder of the day!

[Elkrunner]

I could be the bud light...lol

How many have you flung today?

[returnofsid]

I could be the bud light...lol

How many have you flung today?

Not possible!  I only drink MGD, Kokanee or Kokanee Gold!!

Ummm, I hadn't flung as many as I usually do and didn't really feel fatigued.  I'll see how it goes, today, and report back!

[pianoman9701]

I was told once by a pro that too much wax will affect my groups. I use Scorpion Venom now. It isn't a problem.

[RadSav]

It would take one heck of a lot of wax to effect shots that much.  A pro is going to complain about little stuff newbies aren't going to notice.  Since it is an older Mathews the string could be 8125 and that is susceptible to a fair amount of creep.  If you heated up the string and cables and really did a thorough job of waxing after a good amount of time sitting dry you may have allowed it to creep in one big jump. 

But I would shoot it again tomorrow and see if the groups are still bad.  I've been known to go from shooting good to shooting bad in the time it takes to eat a banana on the range

[pianoman9701]

It would take one heck of a lot of wax to effect shots that much.  A pro is going to complain about little stuff newbies aren't going to notice.  Since it is an older Mathews the string could be 8125 and that is susceptible to a fair amount of creep.  If you heated up the string and cables and really did a thorough job of waxing after a good amount of time sitting dry you may have allowed it to creep in one big jump. 

But I would shoot it again tomorrow and see if the groups are still bad.  I've been known go from shooting good to shooting bad in the time it takes to eat a banana on the range

I yield to the learned one.

[gonehuntin68]

Maybe when you were waxing you pushed your peep or D loop?

[RadSav]

I yield to the learned one.

Well I should have added that I too use the Scorpion Venom fluid. 

The owners are great guys, insanely smart, and their products have changed the string wax market.  Glad you brought it up pianoman

[lghtnquik]

Wax won't do that but heat and humidity will, especially with Mathews stock strings.

[spin05]

you can take dental floss and wrap it around pull real tight in oppsite directions and slide it up and down. It will cut or scrap off all the excess wax.  The wax is really only for weather repelancy in my opinion. I only put a little on befroe the early season and once more for the late hunt

[RadSav]

you can take dental floss and wrap it around pull real tight in oppsite directions and slide it up and down. It will cut or scrap off all the excess wax.  The wax is really only for weather repelancy in my opinion. I only put a little on befroe the early season and once more for the late hunt

That's a good trick.   We used to do the same thing with #4 Nylon serving thread.  I like your idea of using floss better as it probably damages the micro fibers less.

Wax is to used to lubricate the microfibers from wear against one another during string oscillation.  The reason you want to rub it until it melts is to get it down into the fibers well.  Today's extreme micro fibers are so small you do have to worry about getting the wax too hot where you burnish or alter the strands shape - another reason I like the Scorpion Venom fluid.  HMPE absorbs almost no moisture and is quite lubricious in it's own right.  So most of the modern materials like 8190 or XS need very little wax compared to the older string materials.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sounds like shooter error to me .. when you put the wax on your string maybe try rubbing it into the sring with your fingers to get the excess wax of your string ...