A couple questions

[Kurt]

Are the hooks on Excals rope cocking aid aluminum or plastic? And where should the string rest? I see two lines on the bed near the string. It is a new Exomax. Thanks!!

[Rick Teal]

I'm no expert but I believe the hooks are some type of plastic.

I'm guessing you're talking about engraved lines on the deck of the bow.  My bow is an older Exomag, and I have one line.  I place the string over the line.  I'm sure there must be something in the instructions about the second line, but I'd guess (lacking other info) that if the lines are fairly close together one may be for setting, and the the other a maximum stretch line that would indicate when to take up a couple more twists.

Hopefully someone here actually knows the answer though.

[jh45gun]

Sorry I cannot help either as my Excal is a Wolverine and it has no markings and I use a different brand rope cocker too. If no one answers you here try the Excaliber Web Site.

[awshucks]

I can answer your questions.  the two lines are for max and min brace height, anywhere between the two is ok.  Some new strings sit way above the high mark [closest to trigger] not to worry they will stretch in.  I set my FFF strings a good 3/8" above the high mark as they really stretch alot.  The lowest brace height gives a few fps more, but is harder on your serving as the string tends to bounce off the riser when you shoot it like that.  The Excal pro's from Dover claim that the sweet spot for most Excals is w/ brace height at around 1 1/8" to 1 1/4", which is measured w/ ruler from end of rail, translation: about 3/16" below high mark.  The hooks on rope cocker are some kinda tough synthetic material w/ brass pulleys inside them.  If you are handy, you can find a drill bit just a few thousandths of an inch bigger than the slot in them and kinda hone them out a tad and radius the edges some.  Makes it fall of the string easier after you cock it and ensures there are no abrupt edges on hooks to wear your center serving.  Emaxes are real hard on servings.  Use very little wax on them, try and find "Boo" on Excal forum, aka "Dnk" on HNI and get a string or two from him, his serving life is easy double factory serving life.  FWIW: I found the stock Excal 357 gr arrows and FFF string loud, brutal and way more than I wanted in an xbow, so I use 431 gr GT's from Danny Miller, great b-head accuracy w/ 100 gr Slick tricks.

[jh45gun]

Thanks for helping him out Awshucks. Like I said my Excaliber Wolverine does not have lines like the new xbows do and my rope cocker is a Barnett as that is what I had at the time when  I bought it. Your advice is always welcome here. 

[Kurt]

Hey thanks a lot guys! I found out the hooks were plastic so I machined my own from aircraft aluminum. I don't know much about the strings. There are fastflight and a couple others. I had a fastflight break on a 1989 Hoyt while hanging on the wall. It was unused for a year or so. No sunlight or heat hit it where It was hanging. I want the toughest, not the fastest string. I will need to get a fletch tool again as I sold my old one. The first shot went clean through the cheapo polystyrene target I got from Wal-dog. What do you fellows think of the Arizona EZ Fletch? Anyone build the own target?

[jh45gun]

We just had this discussion at the excaliber site. The Excel string is now made out of dacron and is supposed to protect your bow. It is short and supposed to stretch in though I found that it was shorter than what I liked. The FFF strings are faster but harder on your bow expecially if you have a dryfire yet the Dacron strings according to the owner of Excaliber will protect your limbs from harm yet be a few fps slower which to me is a good trade off I would prefer to protect my limbs. your new Excalber bow should come with a Excel string which is Dacron according to Excaliber so you should be all set. You can read the threads at the Excaliber site about this string issue we have talked about it in the last couple of days. I am using Dacron strings also I just bought an Excel but may go to the older style Dacron factory string to see if it stretches faster. With your bow I would not worry about it as it is what Excaliber sent with your bow so you should be fine. IF the bow brace height is farther up then your lines just keep shooting it and see if the string stretches to where it should be. keep us posted on how your making out. You will love that new Excaliber they are great bows.

[jh45gun]

Lots of guys like the Arizona fletch tool I use a Bitzenburger which is a great fletch tool but only does one at a time. Now I had problems with the fletch cement until I switched to the superglue kind ( GoatTuff) I have no poblems now. As far as targets go you probably should get a block target and one that is made for xbows as they use denser foam from what I have heard. I would get the layered kind the arrows pull out easier. also if you make your own arrows you can use inserts on both ends just run some sandpaper or emory cloth over the one on the fleched end to take any burrs off of it. That is all I use and then I made a puller out of a old tap wrench and the screw part of a broadhead or target tip. If a arrow gets stuck then you can screw that in and pull the arrow out of the target with out grabbing your fletching if the arrow is that deep.   

[Digger]

jh45gun, I use a dot of  red paint on either side of the rail of my Wolverines to mark the brace height (1") and keep the string 1/8" above the dot.