Hey guys which Fletching Jigs do you like to use. I had a Arizona left wing jig but lost my cool with it and broke it in half. One fletch at the rear of the shaft kept pulling away from the arrow. Looked great in the clip but after drying when removing clamp that's when I could see the feather curled up off shaft. Couldn't figure out what caused this issue. :banghead:
I like my bitzenberger. Does 3 or 4 fletch, and plenty of adjustment for different size shafts.
I like the Jo Jan that does 6 at a time. Adjustment is pretty straightforward, easy to eyeball. I have a single Bitz that I take on hunts, set the same so they're interchangeable.
I have 2 JoJan Multifletcher jigs. I bought them both used, and have $90 in both of them. I can fletch a dz arrows in just over an hour using glue.
Nothing better, IMHO!
Bisch
Love my Bitz I bought at 15 now I'm 55 and the only time it failed is when it was out of adjustment.Oh that would be me failing!
I use a JoJan HF-80, right helical. Clamps are interchangeable for straight or either helical, easy to adjust. Nock receiver does 3- or 4-fletch, and other nock receivers can be bought separately for different fletch set-ups.
I have the arozona ez fletch, worked fine for a while then started building up the glue. Also the pressure on the fletching is uneven, resulting to the tendency of quills ripping off in the middle.
I'd go get one of those clamp fletching jigs like bitz if I would choose again
I have several different ones and have found nothing I like better than my Bitzenbergers. Others work just fine. But the Bitz is great.
I have a Jo Han six place LW helix . I really like it .
I have heard only good thing about the Bitz .
For the best, go Bitzenberger. For the next best thing at three for the price of one Bitz, get a Grayling jig. I have both and use both. Never did like the Jo Jan multifletcher I had so I sold it.
Bitz. Have had mine for over 20 yr. fletched vanes feathers of all sizes for My bows my wife's and my kids. Still works like,the day I got it.
Thanks all, Bitz it will be, ordering it asap..
You'll love the bitz. Ive had mine for pushing 30 yrs. I like mine more now then ever...
I used my Bitz for the first time a few weeks ago. At first, I had a problem. In spots the quill was not fitting flush against the shaft, and wow, did I ever cuss that expensive fletcher. Then I started seating the feather not quite tight against the clamp. When pressed against the shaft the full length of the quill then made solid contact with the wood. Great results. Now I praise the Bitz.
Bitz at The Nocking Point,would not use anything else and build bunches of arrows.
Terry
I have a single Bitz and a single BPE Pro Fletcher. I like them both and, as near as I can tell, they both work equally well. The BPE has a lot more versatility in it's adjustability. It'll fletch in several different configurations (like 2 different versions of 4 fletch and a 6 fletch). The Bitz, however, is all metal and therefore seems sturdier and makes clean-up easier if I get sloppy with the glue.
I use a Whiffen,and its an awesome fletcher ,if you can find one
I have 2 Jo-Jan multi-fletch units (6 at a time), and 1 Jo-Jan single flex (for repairs at camp / traveling). I use right wing helical clamps, but found left wing and straight clamps along the way for low $ for "just in case."
I like the Jo-Jan units a great deal. All positives. No negatives.
I have a couple of Blitz and 6 arrow Jo-Jan. Setup to do certain fletch styles. Both have learning curve fletching feathers, follow directions. My jigs are pushing 45 years old. I did buy new springs for the clamps but no other issues.
I have a half dozen of the 1960's Bitz jigs and use them all the time. I have one of those JoJan 6 arrow jigs and it is hanging from the floor joist in my basement.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jon Stewart:
I have a half dozen of the 1960's Bitz jigs and use them all the time. I have one of those JoJan 6 arrow jigs and it is hanging from the floor joist in my basement.
Wanna sell it?
Bisch
Longbowcrowder,
You'll be glad you got a Bitz. Be aware it may take just a little tweaking to get it set up to your liking; from there, it'll last pretty much indefinitely.
By the way, if you haven't ordered one yet, I think there may be a used one still available from Huntryx on the arrows & arrow making page here. Totally solid seller, no worries.
I have a bitz and then a few years back bought a well used BPE from a tradgang member. I managed to produce some very strange results the first time or two with each. There was a learning curve but which one I use now depends only on the wing of the feathers at hand.
I have a Bitzenburger I've used since the late sixties. Great jigs, and I doubt you'd be able to break one of those in half.
Bitzenburger for me. I've used/owned lots of different ones, including the Arizona, BPE, Jo-Jan (single and multi). Only one I kept is the Bitz. With fletch tape or CYA glue, you can do a dozen fast, and they will all be the exact same (as long as there is no user error).
I like the fact that the Bitz is built pretty much bullet proof, and it uses a magnet to hold the clamp vs. gravity. I like the consistency as well.
I use a Jo jan multi fletcher. Bitz's are a great fletcher as well. You won't go wrong with either.
Bitz. My only regret is that it's R/H and all my pre-fletched arrows came lefty-fletched.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
I have 2 JoJan Multifletcher jigs. I bought them both used, and have $90 in both of them. I can fletch a dz arrows in just over an hour using glue.
Nothing better, IMHO!
Bisch
X2 ..but he has me beat..I only have 1 that I found for $40
The Bitz for me, but then again that's all I've ever used so can't comment, pro or con, on other types. It is slow but I'm in no hurry. I get a lot of enjoyment out of fletching my own so see no need to rush the job. Put a feather on and go about my other business and then come back and do another. It does a really nice job, too.
Years ago I worked in a pro-shop and we used Bitzenberger's...24 of them on a wheel...and I consider them the very best. Could fletch steady all day as by the time you got back to the first arrow of the two dozen, it was ready for another fletch. Of course, after breathing fletch-lac and thinner and fletch-tite all day...maybe my memory isn't so good!!! :eek: :D
Being the cheap son-of-a-gun that I am, my personal fletcher has been a multi-fletcher for over 40 years. Does a good enough job for a LOT less money!
I also had a Herter's fletcher that did all three fletch one arrow at a time and it was JUNK. The springs didn't hold the clamp in and it would drift away from the shaft.
FlintNSteel, my Bitz came off one of those wheels that was being retired. No telling how many arrows it has fletched.
QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
I used my Bitz for the first time a few weeks ago. At first, I had a problem. In spots the quill was not fitting flush against the shaft, and wow, did I ever cuss that expensive fletcher. Then I started seating the feather not quite tight against the clamp. When pressed against the shaft the full length of the quill then made solid contact with the wood. Great results. Now I praise the Bitz.
Had much the same problem until I read the instruction sheet and found that you need to keep the base away from the clamp. As you said, the pressure then seats the whole feather. Who needs to read instructions? I DO...
I seat the fletch flush with the quill, then run my thumbnail down the quill to give it a little gap. Keeps glue off the clamp, too. Doing a set on my Jo Jan right now for a 22# "Catniss" bow I'm setting up.
Have had two Multifletchers (Jojans) for many years and they are great. Used them for very small Hamilton's Plastifletch for target arrows many moons ago when they first were manufactured and have a year old JoJan I use now for just ordinary everyday fletching.