Which is cheaper?
09-30-2003, 08:17 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Valliant, Oklahoma USA
Posts: 294
Which is cheaper?
Is it cheaper to buy arrows fletched and finished or to fletch cut, and nock your own what are your opinions?[:-] I think it would be cheaper but i think it would be a good thing to know if you were in the middle of the rut and were short on arrow. if ya now what i mean
10-01-2003, 05:40 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Onamia,MN.
Posts: 1,375
RE: Which is cheaper?
If you do your own arrows you probably want to start yourself out in the spring so you have plenty of time to make consistent arrows for hunting.It does take a few test runs and is not something you can just buy the equipment and all of a sudden you make perfect arrows--if ya know what i mean?
10-01-2003, 08:46 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: uniontown,pa
Posts: 881
RE: Which is cheaper?
the initial cost is more but in the long run it will pay off ! you' ll be able to repair damaged ones etc. but like jsasker said start in the spring so you can make them consistent ! or even start this winter , but you may have to crack a window the glue and acetone fumes can get to you after a while .
10-01-2003, 08:50 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SC USA
Posts: 1,434
RE: Which is cheaper?
Personal satisfaction is what you would have to put a price on IMO !! Generally I see finished arrows about $10 more a dz. at a shop. Then if you have them re-fletched it' s $2-$3 per arrow.
If you buy a quality fletching jig , arrow saw, epoxy,fletchings, fletching glue, etc. your going to have over $200 bucks tied up .......plus the cost of the bare shafts and/or components. Now just going with the basics .....that would be about 20 dozen arrows you would need to build to make up your investment. How long do you think it will take you to go through 20 dz arrows ?
Now on the flip side:
How often do you have arrows re-fletched ?
How convenient is it for you to go to the shop ?
How picky are you about having your fletchings done perfect and consistent?
How much do you like knowing how to do your own archery work?
Do you ever feel like switching to a smaller size vane or to feathers, etc. ?
Do you ever feel like trying more helical or less....or straight or offset ?
If all that kind of stuff is not important to you.....I' d buy them fletched !!
Personally I bought a used Bitz. jig w/ a helical clamp and a straight clamp from the local shop for $25 . He lets me cut my arrows on his saw....then I take them home and assemble them myself. My job looks much better than the factory applied fletchings that came on my first arrows......and I know they are more consistent than at a shop because my clamp is set up for my arrows and all of my arrows are done on one clamp ! It a lot of fun too !!
If you buy a quality fletching jig , arrow saw, epoxy,fletchings, fletching glue, etc. your going to have over $200 bucks tied up .......plus the cost of the bare shafts and/or components. Now just going with the basics .....that would be about 20 dozen arrows you would need to build to make up your investment. How long do you think it will take you to go through 20 dz arrows ?
Now on the flip side:
How often do you have arrows re-fletched ?
How convenient is it for you to go to the shop ?
How picky are you about having your fletchings done perfect and consistent?
How much do you like knowing how to do your own archery work?
Do you ever feel like switching to a smaller size vane or to feathers, etc. ?
Do you ever feel like trying more helical or less....or straight or offset ?
If all that kind of stuff is not important to you.....I' d buy them fletched !!
Personally I bought a used Bitz. jig w/ a helical clamp and a straight clamp from the local shop for $25 . He lets me cut my arrows on his saw....then I take them home and assemble them myself. My job looks much better than the factory applied fletchings that came on my first arrows......and I know they are more consistent than at a shop because my clamp is set up for my arrows and all of my arrows are done on one clamp ! It a lot of fun too !!
10-01-2003, 09:12 AM
#7
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Savoy Texas USA
Posts: 219
RE: Which is cheaper?
I' m gonna start refletching my arrows next year...I have carbons, so since I' ve already bought the arrows and they usually don' t break, it' s just maintinance from her on out. I' ve had a few refletched by the locale bow shop with mixed results...seems like when they are busy, you get arrows that loose their fletching quicker than if they aren' t busy.....I don' t like innconsistant results and if I do it myself, I wont have anyone to bitch about but myself....oh yeah, it' ll be cheaper too!!
10-01-2003, 10:16 AM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 430
RE: Which is cheaper?
all the above are real good points, i myself like to fletch my own that way if i tear a fletch for whatever reason i simply just put it back in the jig and have a perfect fletch reinstalled...
its mostly the convenience of it more than comparing if its feasable.....
its mostly the convenience of it more than comparing if its feasable.....
10-01-2003, 10:26 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Valliant, Oklahoma USA
Posts: 294
RE: Which is cheaper?
well i shoot about 25 to 50 times a day and ive lost 4 or 5 in a couple of months b/c my target is worn out or ill lose a fletchon, but like i was sayin in the first mesg i practice during the season and i usualy have about 5 arrows that i keep around and if you lost 1 and maybe broke one and a fletchon came off of one then you got 2 arrows and if its during the rut and you shoot at 1 and miss and loose it well i hope you can make it count with that one last shot but ne ways the guy w/ the ?' s yes i would like to kno how todo archery. it is inconveitant to goto the pro shop and get arrows. i usually have to have some refletched. very picky. and i might would be able to make a couple of bucks off the deal
