DIY Tuning You Can Do Without a Bow Press
Leigh Hauck on June 17, 2025
When you’re getting into DIY bow setup and tuning, it’s easy to think you need a fully decked-out shop, a bow press, and a toolbox full of niche archery tools. Truth is, there’s a ton of impactful tuning and setup you can do without a press - and it’s often these early steps that lay the foundation for building your confidence and skills as a DIY home archery tech. I know, because this is exactly how I got started.
Here are three things you can do right now, without a press, that will absolutely level up your setup and your game as a DIY home archery tech.
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Arrow Building: The Gateway to DIY Archery
Arrow building was my entry point to this whole world that now consumes my life. It’s something anyone can do at home with minimal tools and a bit of patience, and maybe some time following along with a good YouTube Tutorial :)
Most shops will cut your arrows for you (or if you're ordering The Arrow by Tooth of the Arrow, we’ll cut them for free), which means you can take it from there and don’t need an expensive arrow saw. Grab a fletching jig - there are great options out there for $30–$50 - and you’re in business.
You can choose to add wraps (totally optional, but I love the clean look and visibility), and then get into the rhythm of fletching your own vanes. I usually turn on a hockey or baseball game, and take my sweet time with it.
Once that’s done, use an arrow squaring tool (they’re inexpensive and worth every penny) to make sure your ends are flush before gluing in your inserts. This is the piece that makes your time spent on the arrow build worth it. Without squared ends, your broadheads will wobble and won’t fly straight at all.
It’s an easy fix, you just need the right tool. When you start doing this yourself, you’ll realize just how much you can control in your setup - and how satisfying it is to build arrows that fly better than anything you’ve bought prebuilt.
I remember the first animal I shot with an arrow I built myself. I had my local shop cut them, and I fletched them with a tower jig and glued the inserts myself. That black bear has a special place in my trophy room, because it represents the first animal in a DIY archery journey that took over my life!
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Rest and Sight Installation: Simple, But Not “Just Bolt It On”
Installing an arrow rest or sight might seem like a five-minute job - and technically, you can bolt them on that fast - but getting them properly set up takes some care and know-how.
For arrow rests, it’s critical to get centershot and leveling correct. It’s not just about mounting it to the riser, you need to have both the X and Y axis in check. For that, a small $10 set of archery levels will be your best friend.
Same goes for your bow sight. It needs to be leveled in two axes - vertical (2nd axis) and horizontal (3rd axis). If you're planning on shooting long range, or at any change in elevation (even a treestand) this is absolutely essential – and doesn’t require a press!
Pro tip: invest in a bow vice before a bow press. A bow vice is a game-changer for all the work mentioned above. It keeps your bow secure and level, so you can work precisely with a totally stable setup. It’s hands-down one of the most used tools in my shop.
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Tying Nock Sets and D-Loops: An Easy Level-Up
This one’s a huge win for anyone who wants to improve their setup almost for free: learn to tie your own nock sets and D-loops. It’s cheap, easy, and totally doable without a press.
For nock sets, all you need is some serving thread and a lighter. This lets you lock in your nocking-point so that you can change your D-loop down the road without having to completely reset it. D-loops also move around on the serving, which can impact the consistency of your nocking point. For a quick tutorial on how I tie a nock set, click here.
D-loops are even easier. Grab a length of D-loop material (a few bucks gets you several loops’ worth), a pair of needle-nose pliers, and watch my video again. Once you’ve tied your first one, you’ll be amazed at just how easy it is. Congrats, you now have to rely on others for two less things in archery! That’s what it’s all about.
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Checking Cam Timing and Lean Visually
While you can't fully fix cam timing without a press (unless you shoot an APA), you can check it - and it's worth doing. Draw your bow back (safely, with a draw board or a safety release) and see when each cam hits the draw stops. If one hits before the other, your timing is off. You can easily watch your cams in a mirror and see exactly what’s going on. Just be safe.
Cam lean can also be seen by looking straight down the string at full draw. If your cams are visibly leaning, you’ll have some problems down the line. Knowing this gives you a diagnostic baseline before you decide to take it in or eventually invest in your own press. Plus, it’s nice to be able to walk into a shop and tell them exactly what is going on without just saying “I think my bow is out of tune”.
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Final Thoughts
Getting into DIY bow setup and tuning is one of the best things you can do as an archer - but don’t rush it. This journey takes time, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you start peeling back the layers of what’s possible. The tools, the gear, the techniques... it all adds up financially and mentally. Take it step by step.
You don’t need to do everything at once. Focus on learning one skill at a time - build a dozen arrows, level your own sight, tie your first D-loop, try paper tuning on your own. Celebrate the progress in every day you spend in the woods. Every little improvement you make builds your confidence and brings you closer to a setup that truly feels like your own. Keep it light, stay curious, and enjoy the process of learning your gear inside and out.
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If you have any questions or would like to discuss the topic further, please feel free to reach out to us at sales@toothofthearrowbroadheads.com
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