RE: What the heck am I doing wrong
I haven't ever used the bohning platinum glue, so no comment about it. I've always used one of the various superglue gels for putting vanes on carbon arrows. I put a bead on the vane, smooth it out into even coverage with a toothpick, slap it on the shaft and apply pressure for 15 seconds. Pull the clamp off and move to the next one.
Of course, I prefer to fletch with feathers and fletching tape.[&:]