Care and safety

Use a bow press safely on an Oneida

A regular compound-bow press can badly damage an Oneida riser. Use only an Oneida bracket press (or the Kestrel Compression Jig), or skip the press and back off the weight bolts.

Difficulty Moderate
Time 15 minutes
For All Oneida lever bows

Every Oneida. The Kestrel takes no press at all. We have no press instructions for the Phoenix and 2017+ Osprey.

All how-to guides

We're still double-checking this guide against how we do it in the shop. If anything doesn't match your bow, stop and text us or call 270-318-2020.

Before you start

Never use a regular compound bow press on an Oneida. It can badly damage the riser and void the warranty.
A bracket press means handling the bow at full draw. Wear safety glasses, keep your face back and hands clear.

Steps

Use only Oneida's bracket press: two brackets on a post, doorway or board.
Kestrel: never use any bow press; Oneida used its Compression Jig for string changes.
Set the brackets 23 in apart for a Discovery, Black Eagle or C.P. Oneida.
Draw the bow, ease the outboard tips into the brackets and let the string come forward until the brackets hold the limbs.
Draw the bow again to lift it out once the string is back, and let down slowly.
Discovery: use the press only to twist the string; make other adjustments with the weight bolts.
No press, 1980s–90s bows and Discovery: loosen the timing screw (pylon bows), back both bolts out evenly, switching every 2 turns, only until the string is loose, and count. Reverse to finish, re-check tiller and brace height, and tighten the timing screw before drawing. Discovery: check all three slides.
No press, Black Eagle: loosen the hub, take weight off until the string comes off, and lock the hub before drawing.
Stealth: back the bolts all the way out, seat each power limb, and bring the bolts back a couple of turns at a time, switching ends.
FireBrand Discovery: use the short stringer over the draw stops, or two dowels in the limb gaps at full draw (two people).
Phoenix and 2017+ Osprey: call us before using any press or jig.