How often should I wax my bowstring?

The Codex is plain on this matter, though the grey catalog buried it beneath a footnote concerning grip tape. Wax your string when it begins to show visible fuzziness - individual strands lifting away from the bundle - or when it feels dry and rough under a pinched finger dragged along its length. For most archers shooting regularly, this falls somewhere between every two and four weeks of active use. For those shooting daily or in humid, dusty, or cold conditions, inspect weekly and wax accordingly. The touch test does not lie.

Use a proper string wax - beeswax-based compounds remain the standard of the Codex - and apply it sparingly. Work a small amount in with your fingers, generating gentle heat from friction, so it penetrates the strands rather than sitting on the surface. Then take a soft cloth or leather and rub off any excess. A string that is visibly gummy or waxy has been over-waxed; a small accumulation near the nocking point or serving junctions tells you to back off. Never apply wax to the servings themselves - the center serving, end servings, and any peep-sight serving are bound thread and do not benefit; excess wax there can compromise nock fit and serving integrity.

A word of weight: inspect the string at every waxing. Run fingers along the full length. Any fraying, broken strands, or serving separation is a reason to retire the string before it fails under draw. A dry, neglected string is one mechanism by which a string breaks; a broken string under load is one mechanism by which a limb or a face is harmed. The waxing interval is therefore not a minor preference. It is maintenance.