Guides
Crossbow string wax and rail lube
Two products, two jobs, and they are not interchangeable. Under forty dollars together, and they prevent the failures that matter.
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Ranked
Quick picks
| # | Product | Rubric score | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Bohning Tex-Tite Bowstring Wax | 9.2 | $12.59Amazon | |
| Rank 2 |  Scorpion Venom Crossbow Rail Lube | 8.4 | $14.99Amazon | |
| Rank 3 |  LimbSaver String Silencers (4-pack) | 8.8 | $10.99Amazon | |
| Rank 4 |  TenPoint 3-Arrow Instant Detach Quiver | 8.4 | $49.99Amazon | |
| Rank 5 |  CenterPoint Padded Crossbow Shoulder Sling | 8.4 | $34.95Amazon |
String wax lubricates and protects the string and cable fibers. Rail lube reduces friction where the string drags across the barrel. They are different formulations for different jobs — wax on a rail gums up and collects grit, and rail lube on a string does not protect the fibers.
These are the cheapest products on this site and the two that prevent the most expensive failures. Together they cost less than a single broadhead pack.
In detail
The two consumables and what else lives in the pack
Bohning Tex-Tite Bowstring Wax
A natural-based wax made for synthetic bowstrings that stays tacky in any weather, in a 1-ounce tube. A dry string frays and then breaks, and a broken string on a cocked crossbow is the most dangerous failure the machine has. This costs less than a single bolt.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| For | Synthetic fiber bowstrings |
| Base | Natural wax |
| Size | 1 oz tube |
| Weather | Remains tacky in all weather conditions |
| Purpose | Lubricates and lengthens string life |
| Use on rail | No — strings and cables only |
What it does well
- Stays tacky in cold and wet rather than going hard
- Formulated for synthetic strings, which is what your bow has
- Cheapest item on the site, and it prevents the worst failure
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 9.0
- 8.6
- 9.4
- 9.8
Scorpion Venom Crossbow Rail Lube
A dedicated crossbow rail lube. This is a separate product from string wax for a reason: the rail is where the string drags across the barrel on every shot, and the wrong lubricant there either gums up or wears off. The listing publishes only packaging dimensions, so judge it on the category rather than the data.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| For | Crossbow rail |
| Not for | Strings and cables — use wax |
| Color | Yellow |
| Published detail | Packaging dimensions only |
What it does well
- A rail-specific lubricant, which the rail needs and wax cannot do
- Widely used in the crossbow category
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.4
- 8.0
- 8.6
- 8.4
LimbSaver String Silencers (4-pack)
Four string leeches in NAVCOM material, which LimbSaver credits with cutting up to 90 percent of string noise by damping oscillation. A crossbow's noise comes mostly from the string and limbs ringing after the shot, and this is the ten-dollar version of the fix.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Noise reduction | Up to 90% of string noise |
| Per pack | 4 |
| Material | NAVCOM |
| Mechanism | Reduces string oscillation |
| Install | Easy, no tools stated |
| Designed for | Compound and recurve bows |
What it does well
- A published 90 percent string-noise figure
- Four in a pack, enough for two bows
- Installs without a press
- Cheapest noise fix available
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.6
- 8.2
- 9.2
- 9.6
TenPoint 3-Arrow Instant Detach Quiver
4.75 ounces, three arrows, three mounting positions, and a rubber loop so it hangs silently from a treestand hook. The detach matters more than the weight: a quiver mounted under the barrel is the first thing that snags on a blind window.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.75 oz |
| Capacity | 3 arrows |
| Mounting positions | 3 |
| Mount | Traditional or side-mount bracket; under-mount included |
| Hanging | Flexible rubber loop for silent treestand hanging |
| Detach | Instant |
What it does well
- 4.75 ounces is light for a mounted quiver
- Three mounting positions to clear your blind window
- A rubber hanging loop for a silent treestand hang
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.6
- 8.4
- 9.0
- 7.8
CenterPoint Padded Crossbow Shoulder Sling
A 5-inch-wide padded sling with a non-slip shoulder surface and quick-detach swivels, for any CenterPoint bow. Five inches of padding is the figure that matters: a narrow strap on a 7-pound crossbow cuts into your shoulder inside a mile.
| Published spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Pad width | 5 in |
| Surface | Non-slip |
| Attachment | Quick-detach swivels |
| Fits | All CenterPoint crossbows |
| Carry | Hands-free |
What it does well
- Five inches of padding spreads the load properly
- Quick-detach so it comes off at the stand
- A non-slip surface that stays on your shoulder
Where it falls short
Our rubric
- 8.6
- 8.2
- 9.0
- 7.8
String wax
Bohning's Tex-Tite is a natural-based wax formulated for synthetic fiber bowstrings — which is what every string on this site is — and the listing's key claim is that it remains tacky in all weather conditions. A wax that goes hard in the cold does not protect anything in late season.
What it does
- Binds the fibers together so they abrade against each other less.
- Keeps water out, which prevents the fibers swelling and losing strength.
- Extends string life, which is the whole point.
How to apply it
Waxing a string
- 01
Rub the tube along the string
A light pass along the string body. More is not better.
- 02
Work it in with your fingers
Friction from your fingers warms the wax so it penetrates the fiber bundle. Keep going until the wax disappears into the string rather than sitting on it.
- 03
Avoid the center serving
The tightly wound section over the middle of the string, where the nock sits and the rail touches, does not want wax. Wax there collects grit, and grit is abrasive.
- 04
Do the cables as well
On a compound crossbow the cables wear the same way and want the same treatment.
- 05
Remove the excess
A visible film attracts dust. The string should look dry when you are finished.
How often
Every few shooting sessions, and always before storage. If the string looks dry or fuzzy, it is overdue.
Rail lube
The rail is the top surface of the barrel, and on every shot the string's center serving drags along it. That friction is what wears the serving out, and a dedicated rail lube is what reduces it. Scorpion Venom's crossbow rail lube is the category-standard product; several bows ship with a stick of lube in the package.
How to apply it
- A thin film on the top of the rail only, along the path the string travels.
- Not in the arrow groove. Lube there collects grit which then abrades the shaft.
- Not more than a film. Excess lube collects dirt and makes the problem worse.
- Wipe off the old lube first if it has gone gray with grit.
How often
Every 20-30 shots is the common guidance, and your manual may specify differently. In dusty or sandy conditions, more often — and wipe the old lube off rather than adding to it.
What happens if you use the wrong one
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| String wax on the rail | Gums up, collects grit, increases friction instead of reducing it |
| Rail lube on the string | Does not bind or protect the fibers; the string dries out and frays |
| Wax on the center serving | Collects grit directly where the rail abrades it — the opposite of helping |
| Lube in the arrow groove | Grit collects and abrades the shaft on every shot |
| Too much of either | Attracts dirt, which is abrasive |
| Neither, for a season | A frayed serving, a worn rail, and an early string replacement |
What else goes in the maintenance kit
- A hex key set for the scope rings, limb bolts and quiver bracket.
- String silencers, if the bow does not have them. LimbSaver publishes up to 90 percent string-noise reduction for about ten dollars. See crossbow noise.
- A clean rag for wiping old lube off the rail.
- Spare nocks, which are cheap and fail more often than people expect.
Substitutes, and why to avoid them
General-purpose grease, chain lube and silicone sprays are not formulated for a bowstring or a crossbow rail. Bowstring wax is specifically made for synthetic fiber bundles, and rail lube is formulated for the contact pressure and temperature of a string dragging across a barrel at 400 fps. These products cost twelve and eighteen dollars. There is no saving worth finding out.
