Oh, I meant to add that building your own arrows is extremely fun and once you start you won't look back. I think the bitzenburger is the way to go also. It seems to give you the most flexibility in the way you can set up your arrows.

I charge 18.00 per doz and that includes the feathers

Wow, that is gang rape for fletching arrows. Get any lube with that? Good call on getting your own stuff, fletching is a lot of fun and you can change on the slightest whim this way. get yourself a Zip-Strip for taking them off, best $10.00 you'll ever spend.

Unfortunetly that is what I pay, $3.50+tax.

LittleChief,

Could you report back with how much you have in it to fletch your first arrow?

Thanks

Tom

Okay! Just got back from the store with one Blitzenburger jig in tow. Along with my other supplies, I'm set back $150.00, but I'm ready to have some fun! I wanted to pick up two extra clamps, but they didn't have them, so I'll have to make do with one. I don't see any problem with that.
Sorry, Bryan, but I didn't get quickspins... just feathers and Duravanes. Once I saw what I was spending, I had to draw the line for today. I did pick up one pkg of wraps just to see what they look like. When I get a couple done, I'll post a pic to see what you guys think.

...I forgot to add...besides your jig and vanes/feathers get a good glue...very important!

I've been using this:
Flex-Fletch Flex-Bond Adhesive and works great! also get a good epoxy for your inserts...

my 0.02

Tom,
The Blitzenburger jig (with one clamp) was $69.00. Theadhesive was$9.00. The 4" feathers were $22.00 and the 4" Duravanes were $9.00. To answer your question, first fletch of a dozen arrows with feathers is about $102.00 and with Duravanes is $89.00. Of course, that's for packages of 50 vanes. I'm counting on a few mistakes, though.
In my mind, the great thing is thatI'll be able torepair my own arrows, or refletch anytime I want without having to go anywhere or depend on someone elses schedule. Plus, it just looks fun.

RB,
For adhesive, I picked up Bohning Fletch Tite Platinum. I hope that is good enough. for my inserts, which have already been glued in, I used Gorilla Glue. That's some tough stuff, and it flexes just a tiny bit even when it's cured, so it's not brittle.

You should have told the both stores what you just told us. Tell them "Thanks for the advice, but I'm not really interested in it. I want feathers because I like them, do you want to fletch them or not? If not I can get a fletcher from cabela's for half of what you want to fletch them and do them myself."

I personally think they are full crap, I still think feathers are the best thing going for a stable arrow. Blazers steer well but have no forgiveness at all, you might as well have metal wings on the back of your arrows.

I buy my arrows fletched already most of the time. I don't really care what color fletchings I use, so I just get what ever they have in the size I want, I'm not too picky. I have never had a shop try to talk me out of feathers. I have had them say they like vanes better or they are more popular, but not try to talk me out of it.

I have an Arizon Easy fletcher if I want to do my own, but I'll be honest fletching arrows is about the least fun thing in archery to me. I would just as soon buy them done already. And I can darn near get arrows pre fletched for the prices you quoted just to have them fletched. I shoot aluminum though.

Paul

Ouch that's pricey. I think I paid $0.75 per arrow ($0.25 per vane) in Lancaster about a month ago.

My rule of thumb: If I get preached to, I don't return.