I was thinking about making up some flu-flu arrows using full length feathers and spiral fletching them. I hear they really put the breaks on. I was just wondering how tight to wrap the feathers and if two full length feathers per arrow will work.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/fluflu.jpg)
I get away with only one feather wrapped for a total of about 6 inches of shaft. I had to cut the feather longways in half in order to get decent flight that didn't die inside of 20 yards.
Mine are like the one shown above and they seem to carry about 60-75 yards at maximum elevation.
At 25 yards they shoot good groups and fly like normal arrows.
Shortstroke how do you cut a feather in half long ways? I've been wondering which way was best to make flu-flu's. Spiral fletch or 4 fletch with 4" full hight feathers. Or is there a even better way? Shooting close flushing birds like pheasants. Don't want to chase arrows all over the place.
GLENN
Wrap one arrow with a spiral full length feather flu flu and sight down the arrow to the fletching. The spiral wrap makes a completely closed circle. That is why it stops an arrow so well. Look down a four or six straight fletched flu flu and you will see air between the fletching. It is only the height of the feather that is causing the drag for the flu flu to be effective.
I put about a 1/4" space between the wraps on a spiral fletched flu flu. Pat
You can also make what is called a super flu with stanard fletches. You glue all three fletches onto the arrow but only glue them about 2/3 of the way from the front up with a hard helical.Let them dry good and then take the top 1/3 and take it to where the next fletch over would have landed with a very severe helical and glue in place. These work as well as a 6 fletch or a spiral without the cost of full width feathers. Clear as mud? PM me if you want better details and I'll do my best to help you out.
Denny
Longstiks. Neet idea. I'm going to try a few of those.
Sorry Coonbait, I should have been a little more clear. I trim about 3/4 of an inch off the feather lengthwise so it looks like the arrow above except the feathers are only half as tall.
Ok, that makes more sense.
GLENN
Orion PM sent
Denny
Thanks for the advice everyone.