Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Okay, so I'm still wet behind the ears when it comes to archery and I am puzzled. I bought a fully loaded Hoyt Trykon XL earlier this year from a co-worker. Since then, I've shot numerous arrows through the bow. With the exception of 1 arrow (so far), each arrow has lost two of the vanes. Only the cock vane on each arrow in question has survived.

My rest is a whisker biscuit. I've been told that they can be harsh on arrow, but sheesh, this is ridiculous. Some arrows were set up by a friend, some where set up by a shop. The one that survived thus far was set up by a friend of mine.

I'm at a loss. They can't be that rough on arrows. I mean, I have no faith in this rest for hunting season if it's gonna rip off my vanes. My vanes are 2" Blazer vanes.

Any input is greatly appreciated. I'm giving serious consideration to dumping the rest and getting something else (however, I'll need recommendations / suggestions there as well).

Thanks, as always.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

The first thing I would check is your bow's centershot. Make sure the nocking point and rest are inline. A quick way to check the horizontal aspect of it is to line up your string through the hole in the rest....are your sights inline with string, or are they off to one side? If they are off, you need to move the rest. This is a very rough way to help setup centershot, and I'm sure there are lots of guys here who can help explain both the vertical and horizontal setup much better than I can, but that is the first thing I would suspect.

I've shot a WB for three years and this spring I did some changes (DL) on my bow and suddenly I was loosing fletchings left and right. My coach looked at my bow and found out that the rest was out of whack. A quick adjustment and my fletchings stayed on!

Also, without knowing what type of arrows you are shooting, are all of them fletched the same way, do the fletchings line up and go through the same spots in the WB, or do nocks need turned so they are all the same? This could also cause problems for you.

Finally, and maybe the most obvious, check everything over for contact. Are the fletchings hitting something as they are shot (cable, cableslide, arrow shelf, the metal ring of the WB)? That would also cause fletchins to come loose as well.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

I'm shooting Beamon ICS 400's, they are all fletched identical and the nocks are all set the same. I'm suspecting that my WB may be out of alignment now that you mention it. When we were sighting it in, my friend had me adjust it both vertically and horizontally to zero my shot in.

I will take a look at it, but probably also take it down to one of the local shops in town that everybody recommends and have them fine tune it. I'd hate to throw something really out of whack.

Thanks for the insight.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Frank,

I also shoot a Hoyt and purchased the Hostage rest, made by Diamond. Its similar to a whisker biscuit except there are no whiskers where the vanes are. I also found out yesterday that the bristles can be rotated to lessen wear on them.

I have shot about 500-750 arrows (same set of 6) with it and have had absolutely no problems with fletching. There are bristles at 6 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and 2 o'clock. I would highly reccommend them, my fellow Virginian!

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

I shoot a whisker biscuit and have never had an issue with it, I can't even see where it should grip an arrow that tightly or cause that much disturbance to remove a vane completely.... I'd say your WB may be of the small size?
Usually carbons require the medium sized WB.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Sounds like your center shot is off and your WB isnt aligned properly. You shouldnt see this kind of damage using the WB.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Your center shot must be off. Those vanes are hitting something somewhere! I've been shooting a Biscuit for 7 years, and NEVER had a vane come off, ever! I'll admit, you'll get wavey vanes if you shoot the same arrows enough, (that's why I refletch my own arrows)but eventhat doesn't affect accuracy at all. Here's howthe arrow should sit.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

I shoot the WB also on a Trykon XT.The only vanes that I have had come of were because of medoing a poor job cleaning shaftbefore fletching them.Check centershot for sure.Also check the diameter of your shafts to the inside diameter of the biscuit.You should be able to see light between top of shaft and biscuit.If biscuit is to tight it will strip your vanes off in about 20 shots or less.They sell differentbiscuits for different shaft diameters.Your friend probably just used a little more glue or something like that.Always put a small drop of glue on front and rear of vane.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

I have been shooting a Whisker Biscuit for awhile now and when I first shot arrows with 4" vanes, they were getting wavey, warped and distorted due to the Biscuit. I was told by my local archery pro to try 2" Blazer vanes because they were made alittle more stout and could stand the "friction" better. It made sense so I tried it. Arrows with the Blazer vanes not only didn't get distorted but my arrows flew 100% better. Give it a try.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Here are mine (2" Blazers)

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

Dixon, I had the same issues with the WB, but I think you have some centershot problem or your vanes are hitting something they shouldn't.
Can you follow the arrow out of the bow, do they fly straight and do they hit the target in a 90 degree angle. The best way is to use a good glue, like goattuf and just clean your shaft with alcohol and not the vanes. Just use enough glue as neccesary and be patient, don't try and glue them on to fast. a drop of glue at the back and on the front of the vane helps allso.
I have had problems finding centershot with a WB, even after walk back tuning.
I bought this Easy Eye laser tuner and that does the same thing but in minutes.
Don't give up on the WB yet, it's one of the best rests out there, it's simple and effective and shoots great once it's mounted on perfect......

Frank

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

RF, what you're saying is true. I need to mention, as I have in the past, that despite some of my arrows getting wavey, they still fly true for me. I've tried shooting Blazers in the past, but theydidn't shoot any more accurately for me. This vane in the pic shoots perfectly straight for me, believe it or not. I have waaay too many 4" fletched arrows to switch.;):D

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

i gotta go with what everyone else has been saying. i've ben shooting mine for 4 years and with both 4" and 2". I can tell you that if you WB isn't the right diameter opening for your arrow diameter you will defintely have problems. and i know they've all said it but check center shot. and make sure that rest is tightened down once you get it there. my buddy had that problem.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

If I just look down it, it looks centered, however, looking at the at the rest itself, it looks a bit off centered. I'm gonna have one of my friends look at it.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

IM shooting a ne mathews and i also use a whisker, put a dot of glue on eat vane at the front. Im using blazers that i just fletched up myself and im haveing no problem

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

You might want to make sure that you are not shooting a helical on your flecthing. If you are when that arrow gose threw those wiskers it will try to twist and the wiskers will rip them off as well.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

I just fletch my arrows with a slight off-set to the vane. Prepping the shaft properly is very important.Again, it's a good idea to put one drop of glue at both ends of the vane, just for security.

RE: Whisker Biscuit or Arrow Issues?
 

i shotn the WB and liked it but i would loose some fletching it shot good but i decided to go to a drop away and let me tell you HUGE difference won't ever change back