I am re-fletching XX75 arrows with feathers, using Bohning Platinum FetchTite. Occasionally, after shooting an arrow for a"while", I'll have failure with the adhesive bond at the arrow, losing part or most of a feather. Just one or two fletchings per dozen shafts, but it's still annoying. Iusually prep the arrow by scraping away the adhesive and wiping the shaftwith isopropyl alcohol. Iam not especially careful about handling the shaft,so I wonder if oils from my fingers are screwing me up? Or is isopropyl (70%)not thebest prep? -Iused to use methanol, but did not like the health hazzards with it...Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated. Also, if someone has a neat tool/technique for removing fletching from an existing arrow, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks.
-fsh

Fletch tape. Works great w/ feathers.

Your cement is probably "old". Fletching cementseems to have a shelf life. Once it gets old, It starts failing after it dries. By "old" I mean a few months. I keep mine in the freezer. It seems to lengthen the functional life of the cement. I've had very little problem since doing that.

Try denatured alcohol and don't touch the shafts after cleaning them.

Guys - thx for the responses, sorry if I re-hashed old posts... I am going ordersome tape and give it a try. In the meantime, I'm refletching two dozen arrows; Ibroke out a new tube of glue and will take care handling the shafts.
-fsh

I use Fletch Tite and like it a lot for single vane application. However, it must be applied to the shaft immediately. If you wait more than 2 or 3 seconds, you won't get a goodbond. So if you're fletching 3 vanes at once, you should probably use a different glue.

I'vehave had the same problems with the Platinum that you have with feathers. It's great for plastic vanes, but not feathers.

I just tried theAAE Fastset Gel for feathers and had great results. It's very fast, butnot too fast. Give it about 15 seconds, being sure to put adequate pressure on the feather, and move on to the next one. Adequate pressure between the feather and arrow seems to be the key with this glue.

For feathers nothing beats fletch tape.Best thing since sliced bread and cold beer.



CB

fshafly, I put feathers on with regular Fletch tite using a bitz jig, and have no probs. I clean with alchohol and don't touch.

Most advice has been covered already, but make sure your fletch is clearing the rest or it won't matter what you use.

I highly recommend the AAE Fastset Gel. I've been using it now for about 2yrs with featherswith excellent results.As for refletching, after i remove an old fletch i use acetone to remove any stubborn glue thats left behind.I know some guys that soak the nock end of the arrow for about 5min in acetone but i really don't think thats nesscessary. I just put a little on a rag and rub lightly. If there isn't much glue to remove denatured alcohol also works well.