Hope someone out there can help me out. I've been trying to replace the fletching on some of my arrows. I shot through the fletching of several while practicing. I use a BPE Pro Force fletching jig and have tried several different adhesives including Flecth-tite, Bond-Tite and most recently Steel Force adhesive in conjuntion with their 'Beyond Clean' arrow cleaner and glue accelerator. But, it seems that no matter what I try, I end up adhesive with bubbles oozing out of the side of the fletching base that dries in clumps. Can anyone explain what I need to do to get the super smooth fletching installation that I get from my pro shop?
Hey man I don't know how much glue you use,but if it's comming out of the vane base then your putting on to much. I run a part-time archery shop from my home. I use a bitzenburger jig and goat tuff glue made by tim's archery. I run a tiny bead, about 1/3 the width of the base, down the center of the vane or feather shove it to the arrow shaft and let it set for a couple of seconds. by the way the only thing I use to clean the shafts with is denatured alcohol. I can usually fletch a dozen arrows in 30 to 40 min.
put less glue on the arrow, and then after removing from press, wipe a acetone soaked q-tip down the length of each side of every vane to remove excess glue.
One thing I didn't hear you say, was prepping your shafts and vanes.. I use 400 grit sand paper or some steel wool, then clean them with alcohol and then wipe off dry with a clean cloth.. I scuff the vane with my dremel tool or sand paper, and never had a problem.. I use Martin fletching glue or Bohning Fletch Tite and no problems.
The average man seeks certainty in the eyes of the onlooker and calls that self-confidence. The warrior seeks impeccability in his own eyes and calls that humbleness.
Rev is absolutely correct ,just take a very fine paper and scuff a small portion of your shaft where the fletching's will be placed. Then clean it off with an alchohol before you apply your fletching's. It's easy to apply too much glue ,so just take a cloth with alchohol on it and wipe it doen the edge where the excess glue is ,just don't soak the rag ,a little bit will do the job.
One thing I didn't hear you say, was prepping your shafts and vanes.. I use 400 grit sand paper or some steel wool, then clean them with alcohol and then wipe off dry with a clean cloth.. I scuff the vane with my dremel tool or sand paper, and never had a problem.. I use Martin fletching glue or Bohning Fletch Tite and no problems.
Yepper, I use steel wool and hot water on shaft then rinse it with hot water for awhile, and make sure you dont touch the area with your hand. Then I use like 90% alcohol and let it evaporate. Then I wrap the arrow and then clean the wrap with alcohol. Then as someone said a small strip of glue, then wait a couple minutes, sometimes 5 to make sure it sets.....guess I could go faster, but no hurry. Then rotate and next fletch and then wait, then last. After I remove it from the jig, dab at end of each tip to ensure no peel offs and set to go. Haven't had one come off yet! [8D]