Choosing bow shop tools

Bow shop tools are the presses, jigs, and fixtures used to press, draw, square, and serve a bow. A press, jig, or fixture rated for one load range can be pushed past its limit by a bow it wasn’t built for, and that failure happens under tension, not at rest.

The short answer

Shop tools are rated for a job, not universal use

Task and purpose-built equipment

The named task determines the right tool. Pressing, drawing, squaring, and serving each need purpose-built equipment, not a close substitute.

Adapters and bow position

Adapters position the bow correctly in the tool; the wrong adapter can let a limb or cam sit off-center under load.

Load rating and tool failure

Load rating limits what the tool can safely handle. Exceeding it risks tool failure while a bow is under tension.

Press work and tension

Press work in particular belongs with someone who does it regularly. A bow under press tension that slips can injure hands fast.

What the listings actually show

The current catalog includes 132 bow shop tools from 29 brands. Nearly every listing states the tool’s task, rating, and bow-specific adapters.

Before you buy

When in doubt about rating or fit, have a shop handle the press.