They sell an index thingie for left and right fletching. I have a right clamp for right wing and a left clamp for left wing.
Does the knob at the back of the jig matter whether it is a right or left one?
Hope this makes sense cause I don't really know the name of the piece that turns.
I'm thinking that wouldn't matter. I have a Bitz. jig but only 1 clamp. The rear knob just turns the shaft and the 3 allen screws on top can be used to select your fletching type (3x90, 4x120,etc). I don't know if the indexer inside needs changed or not though.......maybe someone else will chime in who knows for sure.
ben
The indexers are marked "L" & "R". I have never used a left indexer with a right clamp or visa versa so don't know what would happen. Try it and see.
Jack
I tried mixing them up. Once you see an arrow fletched up with the indexers mixed up, you will understand why not to do it. With some adjusting you may get a straight indexer to work with R or L clamp.
I have one that has the R and the other doesnt have any letter. Is the one that isnt marked a straight indexer?
The only difference you will see is the feather orientation i.e. a right index with a right clamp will index the feathers a 9-1-5 O'clock. A right index and a left clamp will orient them at 12-8-4 O'clock. not sure how the left index and right clamp will do it. All 36 of my jigs are right index and left clamp. I prefer them fletched 12-8-4. In fact that's the way Blk. Widow recommends fletching.
Bob
I KNEW there were alot of people here who knew more than me! :bigsmyl:
ben
I guess I have missed something over the years. I thought the only differences in the indexers was for compound shooters. In fact my right wing jig is set up with one. Is it just the position on the shaft for the feather that makes it different? Guess I will have to see what my left wing jig is.
Looks like I learned or became aware of something new today.
The indexer marked TM is for compound shooters with a two prong rest, puts one feather straight down.
I bough a bunch of used bitzes off the auction site. Most had left clamps and right indexers. I changed them all to left indexers so every one of my jigs would be the same. I prefer to have the a left indexer with a left clamp as it gives me just the right feather orientation for my selfbows. My fletching table is on a lazy susan, rotating base.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/jigtable.jpg)
I have an unmarked indexer that I use with L & R straight clamps or helical clamps (that gives you cock feather at 9 o'clock.
I have L & R marked indexers that I use with helicl clamps (that also give you cock feather @ 9 o'clock) with a slightly better fit on the shaft.
I also have L & R marked (and underlined) indexers that I use with helical clamps that give you cock feather at 12 o'clock.
Have I totally confused the issue? OK, my work here is done. :-)
The standard indexer will work for straight or either helical. As I understand it, the L and R indexers were developed to give compounders better fletch/cable clearance. There isn't much difference between them and the standard indexers and we got along just fine before it became an issue. That said, the Left indexer does clock the fletching a little nicer than the standard and I suspect the Right does the same.
I've tried the BW 12 o'clock cock feather thing and it does work well; similar to shooting cock feather in. Most shooters still prefer the regular cock feather out, tho. Old habits, I think.
I stopped in to the Bitz factory in Grand Ledge last year and they told me what Fletcher said. The L and R came about because compound shooters were having problems with the feathers hitting the cables. Before that they only had the standard indexer. So I picked up a LW clamp and replaced my R indexer with the standard they sold me that didn't have a marking on it.
I also just drilled out the hole with a 1/2" drill like I saw Bob Burton suggest in another thread. I can't wait to fletch the wood shafts I am doing now and not get a groove in the nock index.
Chad
I have ordered the L and R indexers now. I had used the standard (unmarked) nock index for years and did fine. Now the skinny little carbon shafts need a bit more tweaking to get the clamp to line up and the feather not to 'roll' on its edge.
The appropriate indexer really does help to line up with the nock - even on my 'woodies'
If you are doing only wood or wide aluminum I would think you should be able to adjust your helical clamps just fine.
I am looking to be making at least 6 dozen or more arrows per week now and need to make my alignments fast and true. If you don't have to make so many, you can take more time to setup your jigs.
so as far as I can tell it doesn't really matter if I use a left indexer and a right clamp.
Even though they put the feather in a different clock position w/carbons I can just rotate the nock slightly and everything is the same.
With wood though I would need a right indexer w/ my right clamp to get the feathers in the correct clock position to achieve better clearance.
I was talking with Bernie? at Bitzenburger yesterday. What Fletcher and Char R (above) said is right. The indexers with L and R and whatever on them were developed for the compound guys. As for feather orientation, it's not just the carbon guys that can make adjustments. Friction fit your nocks to your arrows and fletch them. Them you can glue the nocks on any way you want. I put my index feather at about 11:00. That way it touches the corner of my mouth at full draw. It adds an extra reference point !!!