Here's a common evolution in bowhunting: Newcomers start with limited knowledge and rely on others for technical assistance. However, they eventually upgrade their equipment, and the evolution picks up speed. They become more meticulous about their gear and reach a point at which they're setting up and maintaining their own bows, and their archery tackle boxes begin to fill with tools. Finally, they complete the evolution when they acquire their own bow presses.

With a press you can install peeps, string silencers, drop-away rest actuator cords, new strings, new buss cables, and cams. You can eliminate annoying squeaks by pressing your bow and disassembling the cams and axles for cleaning. You can even change limbs. You can fine-tune your peep position by twisting the bowstring, tweak your bow's timing and synchronization by twisting cables and strings, and even correct cam lean.

However, the evolution of bow designs has created problems. Parallel and beyond-parallel limbs and forked risers have rendered many older bow presses obsolete. Finding a press to work on all bows -- both yours and your instant new friends' -- is the challenge.

Below are some versatile bench presses ranging from high-end pro shop models to affordable presses for your home shop. Warning: Always follow bow manufacturers' recommendations when pressing any bow.

APPLE ARCHERY
No one has been making bow presses longer than Apple Archery, and they've had to evolve, too. They have three new presses, the latest being the Eliminator, a press that solves all the design problems and doesn't require adapters. This pro-shop-level press adjusts fully to press any and all compound bows.

The Evolution is another in Apple's Pro Series designed for everyday work in a pro shop, or for serious individual archers. It features synchronous arm movement for equal compression on both limbs, as well as conventional and limb-tip configurations. If your bow work is less ambitious, you can opt for the economy-minded Apple Edge Bow Press. With both conventional limb compression and limb-tip compression, the Edge will handle most pressing needs for one-fifth the cost of the Pro Series.

Contact: Apple Archery, 1-800-745-8190, www.applearchery.com

BUCKEYE ARCHERY SOLUTIONS
Called the Bow-A-Constrictor, this press from Buckeye Archery Solutions can be quickly disassembled and will even fit in a standard bow case (without a bow, of course). The pieces all fit together quickly and securely, and the Bow-A-Constrictor will press any bow currently available.

A Power Bar connecting the upright sections has a pin system for quick length adjustment. Lower pins go against the limbs near the limb pockets, and torque rods are positioned near the cams. Cranking the handle on the Power Bar does all the work quickly and with ease. Also available are a stand kit and a draw kit for timing your bow.

Contact: Buckeye Archery Solutions, (330) 984-2855, www.buckeyearcherysolutions.com