That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I calledmy two shops about getting my dozen arrows fletched. $36.00 at one and $41.00 at the other. That's not bad, but WHY do I have to listen to them tell me what a mistake I'm making using feathers? One kept telling me why feathers are terrible and preached that everything besides Duravanes was a mistake, and the otherkept sayingthat "Blazers are the way to go". Hey, Iwant what I want. Why's that so hard? So..... I'm headed to BPS to pick up a Blitzenbuger jig, some blazers, quickspins, feathers, AND duravanes.... maybe even some wraps. I have two dozen arrows. I'll try them all and see what I like best.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

That's the best way to go. I'm sorry but $36 and $41 to fletch arrows is ridiculous. What QuikSpins are you getting? If you get the Speed Hunters please let us know how they work for you. I'm using Blazers, but the Speed Hunters are supposedly quieter.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

You said it brother. Everyone likes what they like and should not worry a wet rat's @ss what anyone else likes. If you want feathers, shoot feathers. It's not like your arrows won't kill animals. Plus, feathers look kewl IMO.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

Yeah man! I began fletching my own arrows too and I must warn you...it becomes highly addictive!!:D

Enjoy!

Does anyone have tried shooting feathers through a Wisker Bisquit??

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

That's steep. Round here it's like a buck an arrow for normal duravanes.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I was thinking the same thing. That is pretty steep...even for feathers.

It is nice to be able to do much of your own work. It definitely gives a sense of self accomplishment.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I will count my blessings then. The shop I go to charges $2.00 per and he says the turn around is a week and they are usually are done in less than 48hrs. The only "problem" I have is that he will talk your ear off. It is obvious that archery is his passion. His hours are in the evening from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM and the last time I went there my wife called me at 9:50 PM wondering where I was. I guess we both lost track of the time.

HH

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

Hey LittleChief, I'll fletch your arrows with feathers for you. ;)


That's about the going rate for fletching arrows. We charge 2.50 per shaft plus the cost of your choice of vanes or feathers (.10 - .50 each).

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I have tried the 2.25" quikspins, 3 fletch and 4 fletch, and do not see any difference in accuracy. I can't hear any of my arrows but that may be me. I don't really see much difference in accuracy between blazers and 4" bohning vanes but there is a difference speed and also FOC. I think for hunting (yes I am very new at this) I am going to use whichever vane (maybe feather, haven't tried those yet) gives me the arrow I am trying to make. Right now I am experimenting with a534gr arrowand 16%FOC.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I dont blame you one bit...i would do the exact same thing

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I charge 18.00 per doz and that includes the feathers

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

...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

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.:D

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

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.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I agree, brother. Now, the only thing I'll go back in for is a mechanical problem with the bow that I can't remedy. Makes me wish I lived close to Len or Buellhunter instead of here in rural Tennessee.[&o]

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I agree with Paul 100 %.


You made the right call and will be glad,in the long run that you decided to do it yourself.


Remember that feathers will really need a helical clamp for the best results and I like right wing.Make sure the feathers and the clamp are both the same helical.


I also use the Platinum glue and it is a great glue,especially with feathers but does require a small amount of drying time.5-10 minutes per.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

Hey man, great idea! Let me know how the Gorilla stuff works...I never thought of using it...it does expand a little, I wonder if that may be a problem...or if that will be even better!!

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

I had about 40 XX75s (old school ):Dwith just one sliced vane so I finally decided to get a Bitz andlearn to fletch my own arrows. I got the straight clamp and do aslight off-set and they come out beautifully. It wasn't difficult and I enjoy doing it. It's like a personal touch to your arrows. I now have more arrows than I know what to do with. The Bitz does Blazers nicely also.;) Oh yea, the AAE Fastset Gel rules.

RE: That's it... I've had it... I'll do it myself.
 

i started to do it myself after finally figureing out that its going to be much cheaper and more convenient in the long run to do it myself. and i like to do it.