An important part of taking care of your crossbow is using rail lube. This helps your crossbow remain accurate and efficient when you use it. When you lube the rail correctly, your bolt will stay accurate and maintain its velocity as it departs from the crossbow.
Rail lube helps to maintain low friction and maximum accuracy and velocity. You should use rail lube, but there are other products that people use. Some of these include Vaseline, WD-40, mineral oil, and more. However, you should use lube made specifically for crossbows because other products can harm parts of your crossbow.
In this post, we'll cover:
What Does Rail Lube Do?
The rail of your crossbow needs to be lubricated so that your crossbow is able to shoot at the highest possible velocity and accuracy. The rail is where the arrow and string glide down when you shoot, so it’s the top part of the crossbow, and it sits between the scope mount and the foot stirrup.
The rail lube is important because it minimizes friction between the bolt, the string, and the rail. In addition, it protects the center string serving so that it will last longer.
When the rail lube reduces the friction between the rail and the bowstring, the bolt has the highest velocity. Conversely, when there is friction, you will lose velocity. This can also reduce your accuracy because the friction creates additional vibrations that can interfere with your arrow alignment.
The only part of your crossbow string that touches the rail is the serving, and rail lube protects it so that it lasts longer. It isn’t too expensive to re-serve the string, but it is a hassle, and if you use the crossbow when it is warm, it also interferes with your accuracy.
Can I Use Anything in Place of Crossbow Rail Lube?
People have used substitutes for rail lube, such as Vaseline or WD-40. However, it is not recommended. They can make your trigger mechanism gummed up, and you are taking risks of damaging your crossbow.
Lubes that aren’t made for crossbows can cause the rail to rust or break down its materials. In addition, they often have a different odor, which can frighten deer away. Deer have an excellent sense of smell, and WD-40 or Vaseline has a distinct and strong odor that can scare them.
Crossbow lube is inexpensive, at around $20, so it makes the most sense to make sure you have it to use on your rails.
How Often Should You Apply Rail Lube?
The rail on your crossbow should always appear glossy and shiny. You can see when it appears dry, and you should apply rail lube right away. Most experts recommend that you apply your rail lube every 50 shots. However, if it takes you a long time to fire 50 shots, you should consider applying it every few weeks.
The best schedule to follow is to apply the rail lube every 50 shots or every few weeks, whichever one happens first. However, make sure that you don’t put too much rail lube on the crossbow because it can clog up the trigger mechanism, which can lead to other problems.
How Do You Apply Rail Lube?
When you apply rail lube, you should start by opening the lid to the applicator. Then, dab it on both sides of the rail behind the bowstring. Use your fingers to smooth the lube over both sides of the rail. Continue until the entire rail appears shiny.
If you need to add more rail lube, you can, but make sure that you don’t overdo it. Applying too much rail lube can lead to mechanical issues that prevent your crossbow from working correctly.
Wax Your Crossbow Strings When You Lube Your Rails
In addition to rail lube, you need to also wax your crossbow strings. This is actually one of the most important parts of maintaining your crossbow. It will help you extend the lifespan of the bow, and your bolts will be shot at their maximum velocity. The thing to remember is that the fibers in the crossbow string can dry out, which is why you need to keep it waxed.
A good rule of thumb is to wax your bowstring every two weeks or every 50 shots, whichever occurs first. You can actually keep a schedule with your rails and your strings where you lube the rail and wax the strings at the same time.
You should coat the entire string in a thin film of wax that is made for crossbow strings. Over time, when your fingers glide over the strings, they emit heat, which melts the wax into the middle fibers of the string. The wax actually adds a layer of protection for the string.
In addition, by keeping the string waxed, you can prevent the fibers from fuzzing up on the strings. The fuzz from these fibers can create extra friction, which reduces the velocity of your arrows.
Reasons to Wax Your Crossbow Strings
One reason to wax your string is that it helps preserve the accuracy of your shots. It also keeps your velocity as high as possible because a dry string is slower. There is less resistance when the strings are waxed. You also protect the interior fibers of the string, which ensures that they remain consistent. The string will not stretch as much when it is waxed.
Can You Wax Your Rails?
Although there are people who use wax on their rails in place of lube, it isn’t recommended. The key is to understand that even if something works, that doesn’t mean that it is ideal to use. You should use lube on your rails and wax on your strings, and the best thing to do is make sure that you have them on hand so that you can plan to perform maintenance on your crossbow.
How Long Does It Take to Wax the Crossbow Strings?
It takes between five and seven minutes to wax your crossbow strings. Generally, you place the wax on the string, and then you use your fingers to slide it all over the entire string. As you do, your fingers will generate heat, and it will cause the wax to melt into the string to coat the inner fibers.
Some people also wax the serving, but it is a matter of personal preference. Waxing it can make it worse. It is recommended that you use a very small amount of wax on the center serving after 10 shots. Keep in mind that the serving isn’t made of the same material as the string, so the wax can cause it to break down more quickly with some, but it can help it last longer with others. Waxing the center serving can decrease the friction between the serving and the rail, which can increase the velocity of your bolts by a little.
Final Words
- STRING WAX: Our string grease helps lengthen your bowstring's overall life and protects it from dust, dirt, and moisture. This wax is ideal for synthetic bowstrings.
- RAIL LUBE CARE: This wax minimizes string friction across your crossbow rail, increasing bolt speed while decreasing noise and string wear.
- EASY TO USE: Our bowstring wax comes in 0.90 oz. sticks and is smooth to the touch, melts nicely, and is easy to wipe away.
Last update on 2024-05-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Although people use different products to lube their rails, it is recommended to stick with rail lube. Some people use WD-40 or Vaseline, as well as other products, but rail lube is made specifically for the rails, and it is designed to protect them.
You should plan to lube your rails every 50 shots or two weeks, whichever comes first. When you do, plan to wax your strings at the same time. Lubing the rails and waxing the string are both important parts of maintaining your crossbow so that they last longer and perform better.
Sources
- https://pickabow.com/maintaining-crossbow/
- https://blackheartgear.com/4-keys-to-crossbow-string-and-cable-maintenance/
- https://top10best.how/crossbow-rail-lube
