Taking care of your new crossbow can be an exhausting, never-ending task if you don't know what you're doing. There are tons of nooks and crannies to collect dust, mild carbon steel to collect rust, and wood to collect smudges and fingerprints. Not to mention strings that can fray, loosen, and, after time, wear out.
These can prolong the use of parts, finish and overall life of your crossbow with just a few practices and products. Lets go over a few:
Always inspect your crossbow before and after use. Be sure all parts are tightly fitting and correctly assembled. wedges should be firmly hammered into place, the prod should be 90 degrees to the tiller and centered, and the tickler action should be free yet have a good spring action. work the tiller and roller nut with your hand to insure it catches firmly before drawing tne string to the nut. Inspect for cracks or splits in the wooden tiller near the front end and discontinue use if found.
The string: Be sure and use bow string wax. Although each string is waxed before being sent, regularly wax your string with bow string wax to prevent wear, fraying, and exposure to the elements. Rub the wax the entire length of the string, including the end loops, thoroughly.
Steel and brass: Steel and other metal parts can and will rust with time. To prevent rust from forming, I suggest using microcrystaline wax regularly. Available as "mounting wax" or "Preservation wax", Museum Wax brand is available online or in professional wood working shops. cover steel parts with a thin film of this wax and youll rearely need to worry about rust again. If rust appears, a light scrubbing with steel wool or scotch pad will remove rust. follow up with Museum Wax
Wood: Apestooth Crossbows use Tung oil to preserve wood. On occasion, poly or varnish is used. On oiur higher end pieces, we use a propriatary finish consisting or Blond shllac, Manila copal, and bee propolis. Any of these finishes can be wipede clean with a slightly damp cloth or microfiber cloth to remove dust and smudges. A light waxing with a furniture polish or wax can also be applied. Same goes for any inlay such as imitation ivory, bone, PVC or ebony.
If any parts show damage or wear beyond your repair capabilities, contact Apestooth Croosbows for instructions on repair or return for repair. DO NOT FIRE A DAMAGED CROSSBOW UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.