RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Personally, I use leather on my longbows. I also have used pretty much everything and find the seal skin a bit expensive.

Dnk, here is a pretty good representation of what is happening:

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Bob, does that mean that the feathers do a pretty good job of folding away? Does that mean that a arrow with more grains per inch will fly better because of the minor disturbance to the feathers? If so what weight per inch is a good starting point? Or an I just being a duffus and who cares about feather contact?
Looking at the right set of drawings it looks like the shaft makes good contact with the bow (I'm guessing from the string rolling off the fingers), is that correct? This stuff is pretty interesting!

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

The rest has been on the bow a long time so i think the adhesive got brittle and has begun to pull up. Just was wonderin' what ya'll use. thanks for the great info keep it comin!

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Yes, the feathers have to fold away if you are shooting off the riser. If you get a chance go to Foxfire Archery, Arrows by Kelly and read about their theoy of using four fletch arrows 60/120 and fletch contact. If you are using an elevated rest, you can get away using vanes. I'd imagine using a heavier arrow would be a little more stableconcerning fletching contact, however having the proper spined arrows will be the more important. If the arrow contacts the riser, you will have problems. I don't really think of grains per inch, rather I use total arrow weight. In general, I like to use at least 10 grains per pound. This would equate to a minimum 600 grain arrow for a 60 pound draw. The right set of drawings shows archers paradox. It is suppose to be an overhead representation of the arrow and the riser as the arrow is released. Below is another representation that may be helpful. It shows how a properly spined arrow reacts as it clears the riser.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Shark Skin works well too. Just another one of the 100 options to look at.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Anyone ever try "moleskin"?? (The stuff you'd cut a patch from to cover a foot blister)

It was always pretty tough stuff and stayed on my foot until worn away when I used it. I also put it around the shelf of my compound bow to quiet the "tap..tap" when knocking an arrow a few years ago and it'sstill stuck to my bow...

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

Yes, I use/used it. I usually will not use anything spongy on the side plate however.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

What type of adhesive would anyone recommend??

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I have a seal skin on mine but most of the hair is gone. I just leave it as it is. Flies just fine off the leather. Unless it's buggin you just let it be.

RE: BearHair or SealSkin
 

I use Barge Cement:

Here