Arrow Fletching?

Wiaxle · 12-30-2007, 02:17 PM

My wife got me a arrow fletcher for xmas (thinking she go tired of me complaining about wrecking my flights all the time

)

She got me a:

Never have used one of these before (or any arrow fletcher for that matter)

Are there any tips or techniques that I need to know? or is it best to just jump in and see what happens?

mobow · 12-30-2007, 03:56 PM

Well, I've never used that particular fletching jig, but the same basic principles apply. Make sure the arrow is clean. Use 99% alcohol (do NOT use acetone for carbon arrows) to clean the shaft. Actually, before you clean it, hit it with green scotch brite pad first, just to scuff it up a tad...install the fletching of your choice in the jig, and run a thin bead of glue.

That's where the real art form is, getting the right amount of glue. Too much is just as bad as not enough.....Just a thin bead.

Wiaxle · 12-30-2007, 11:19 PM

Great, thanks.

Is there any particular glue that seems to work better than another? or can I use the kids Elmers?

How about the vanes? any brand there?

I will be getting a new bow come this spring, so I will hopefully have some old arrows to practice on shortly.

mobow · 12-31-2007, 05:15 AM

Many glues work well. Any of the cyanoacrylates (super glue) works quite well. I'm quite fond of Bohning Quantum XT, but goat tuff and pine ridge also work very well.

I (and about 90% of the people on this forum it seems) love 2" blazers, but any vane or feather or your choosing would work well. If you will be using feathers, I would recomment bohning fletching tape, not glue.

hunter.50 · 12-31-2007, 10:33 AM

Bohning fletch-tite platinum works good holds up ok on pass through shots on targets. I have used superglue also but it seems brittle and vanes come off easier (my opinion)... vanes, I like the harder more plastic type than the rubbery type (whisker biscut rest on my bow).make sure the shaft and vane are clean like mobow said also some vanes have a oily film on them so they dont stick together in the package that needs cleaned off to make it stay put better

Wiaxle · 12-31-2007, 11:20 AM

Awesome, thanks for the input, much appreciated.