Arhur P:

I am not even dented, let alone bent out of shape.

Constructive criticism can be received one of two ways; as a personal affront, or instructive. In my case, having worked with bows and arrows for 40 years, I consider your comments to be an instructional alert. In other words, when someone has been doing something for many years, he or she can form bad habits and those habits can become unconsciously ingrained. Sometimes it takes it takes a swift kick in the butt to alert a person that they have formed bad habits.

However, in my case I assure you that I have not formed any bad habits regarding building arrows. And I will not do a sloppy job. My fabrication system is good stuff, precisely set, and in good order. My working area is setup to easily move from one step to another (cutting to fletching) without stumbling over everything. My fletching unit is on a large turntable with two Bitz's and all the components and tools neatly compartmentalized and within easy reach.

I enjoy fletching, so I move slow and can spend an enormous amount of time building shafts. As for the need to reposition or reinstall a fletch. When I set the clamp, I will apply some down pressure for a few seconds to assure the base of the fletch is making full and solid contact. Sometimes I will apply too much pressure and the clamp will slip. I clean the area, apply new glue, and reset. Rarely, but sometimes when have someone talking to me while I work, I will become too engaged in conversation and make a minor boo-boo. However, 99.999% of the time, my finished product is good and durable.

The problem I had with the super glue did result with a batch of Gateway 5" feathers that I had purchased in a bulk sale. I had never used Gateways in all the years I have shot. I could not pass up the price for the amount of feathers I bought.

The "super-glue" was recommended to me. It was not totally liquid, nor was it totally gel. However, it was liquefied enough, that when I inspected the arrows the next day, some of the glue had got into the BASE of the quills, and had actually ran down my shafts. It was a mess.

Your advice is good advice for anyone to follow.