ORIGINAL: MJL927
Yet for the relatively small work load I would like to have an option which I can throw in a dark, sheltered corner of my workshop once the job is done without regreting to have ever spent money on it. Just checked the AEF, will get one to test
. Also, this lack of fletching jig universality makes me crazy. I could imagine a fletching jig which would be flexible enough to offer all 5 basic setups. Even if it would cost 100$ you wouldn't need anything else to do what ever fletching you want... PFT, lets just not speak about copper in fletching stone age
I agree with what said. I have the Blitzenburger jig because several years ago al the forums ranted and raved about how great the jig was. Seems that it is still touted as the best. When I used aluminum arrows, the tool was the cats ass! But ever since going to carbon arrows, I can never quite get the thing to adjust correctly for a proper offset. I have to either fletch perfectly straight or with ever-so-slight offset. Anything more, and I do not get great contact when I go to press the fletch onto the shaft. There always seems to be one small part of the fletch that doesn't want to seat properly. I too long for a jig that comes with more flexability.
Many years ago I used to build model rockets. When gluing the fins onto the rocket, the trick was the kit would supply you with a 120 degree template. You would place a small pencil mark on the rocket body. Then, all you did was stick the rocket body into a doorway, line up the mark, then draw a line on the body using the straight line of the doorway stop. You're left with three straight lines at 120 degree from which you align and glue on the fins. While this sounds like more work than a jig, I think using a technique like this might be more fun. You'd have to be really careful about place the fletch on the shaft by hand though.
The only thing I would question here is what size aluminum shafts had you been using? I've had my Bitz for well over 30 years, and went through the aluminum arrow thing.Fletched anything from 1614 up to 2312 diameters with no problems. There is nothing magical about aluminum or carbon when it comes to size. Most commonly used carbons are just a 19/64" shaft or very close to it. Then there are the bigger fat shafts, but most people talk about the common variety (19/64"). True, you have to use less offset or helical offset with smaller shafts, but helical is helical.