Got off to a slow start fletching arrows with the new jig and fletch tape. I was getting the feather ends to curl in. I got things figured out and dialed in last night. I did a couple arrows and they looked great. Tonight I went to do a couple more and the back end of my feathers I put on last night curled again. I have the fronts staying in place, but the backs are still curling. It is like they over power the rubbery tape and stretch some. I can push them back, but they don't stay. I have not glued the ends of the feathers yet. I figured that was more for durability when shooting them. Is this common? Do I need to glue the ends right away to keep this from happening?
Since I've been using that tape my jobs are a lot cleaning and I can sit it down just perfect everytime. Another advantage is the speed at which you can fletch a dozen arrows.
One drop of glue front and back is not overkill and they don't rip off ----I shoot bales no problems
good luck
Yes. small drop of glue front & back.
I use fletch tape quite alot on my arrows. Any chance of a picture just to be sure what you mean by "curling?"
I have seen just the very last 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch closest to the nock move just a little bit.
Once I fletch mine up I glue them right away. don't know if this helps with the curling problem but I do it then to get it out of the way so I can shoot them as soon as I can.
How did you have the arrows situated overnight? Standing up or laying horizontal? Any chance that portion of the feather was touching anything?
Arrow making is quite addictive and lots of fun. Welcome and good luck!!
Extrema312, Try steaming the feathers before you start fletching. Just lightly to moisten the quills a little. It gets pretty dry up here in the north in the winter and a light steaming will reduce the bending stress in the quills.
When I did them the feather base was in a nice straight diagonal line, but now the last 1/4" is pulled right. I am using LW feathers so it moved to the right when viewed from the back of the arrow. I lay the arrows down, but with the feathers over the edge of my work bench. I can push the back of the feather back in line, but they don't stay. What is a fast set fletching glue I can use. I think I can hold them in place until the glue dries if it is fast set.
I have this problem every once in a while. i started leaving more tape on each end and when i take the clamp off i push the ends down and the put some fletch tight immed.
When I take off the clamp I run a knife edge along the base of the feather to make sure it is "seated" nice and tight against the shaft.
I use CA super glue (gel consistency) that I get at the local hobby store for about $5.00 for a big bottle. Works great a dries real fast.
I know what your talking about xtrema I had the same problem so I went with gel super glue and haven't looked back. It is just as fast for me and I am pretty careful so I don't get the mess some complain of and feathers are on perfectly.Real tough too.
Bill
you could always thin the pith of the quill which would allow it to bend more easily to your clamp of choice...just an idear. Use a sanding block or a block of wood with sandpaper glued or wraped around it....heck even a file with sandpaper wrapped around it would work for this.
If you are using feathers with a thick base----the tape might have a problem holding the extra weight.
I use tape exclusively now. After removing your clamp---I run my thumb down the length of the feather from front-back. Then apply gel superglue to teh front and back tips.
I don't have any problem with fletching curling as long as the bases are thin and even. I bought a batch of feathers once ( I think they were Gateways, but can't remember for sure); anyway, they had very thick quills and the feathers would curl with those. I had to use glue instead of tape with them.
How much off-set helix are you putting in? Some times too much helix will want to push the back end of the feather off...Doc
QuoteOriginally posted by jcar315:
When I take off the clamp I run a knife edge along the base of the feather to make sure it is "seated" nice and tight against the shaft.
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'pressuring down' the quill base is an important step!!!
then just use a dot of regular fletching cement at each end of each feather. using cya glue isn't necessary and will make getting the feathers off tougher than need be.
You shouldn't NEED to use glue at all w/ fletch tape. It's just insurance/reinforcement. Make sure your shafts are clean, tape is fresh (it does have a shelf life), and try not to stretch the tape as you apply it to the quill. As mentioned above, applying pressure w/ thumb to seat the feather is a vital step.
On aluminum (havent tried it on carbon or wood yet)my dad and I have ben using the med-thick CA hobby glue.You can buy a can of instant set activator.put feather in clamp,put glue on quill,place feather and clamp assimbly in place,squirt it with a drop of activator and its set.You can then remove the clamp and go to the next one.It also removes easily for refletch with a razor knife.Just an idea.
I've never had your problem with tape I use so I was thinking at first that you may be using a clamp opposite of the feathers (Left clamp vs. right feather for instance). If thats not the case I would say you need to run your thumbnail down the side of your quill to press it flat against the shaft. If you are using quality fletch tape this should work for ya. Then a drop of glue front and back.
ive never used glue with the tape although it is humid here most of the time. I got some gateway feathers one time that did'nt work good. quill too thick. I now use trueflight or just grind my own. I also leave about a 1/4 " extra at both ends. Don
Lots of great info. I love it! Thanks!
I did have a little too much helical and adjusted that out. I think it is reasonable now. That solved the initial problems with feather curl right out of the clamp.
I just to my tape last week from Lancaster.
Now I set the back first the grip the back of the clamp between thumb and index finger close to the feather so I can really push it down to set it. Then I set the rest and get my finger nail up under the clamp on the point to make sure that is down and doesn't move. I hold the point, and I pull the clamp. I immediately work the feather to press it down well. It looks great when fletched.
I am using Gateway feathers, because I didn't know they were of the lower quality until they were on the way. I got most of my stuff from Cabelas with points I had to get started and Gateway was all they had. They do have some thick bases. I think that just could be the major factor. I have some disposable nail files. I will work them over until I use up the last of them. I have AMG in the mail. I think they will work better.
i havent had any problem with the tape.
After reading this I think my problem was thick quills as well. This was my first attempt at feather fletching (new to trad) so I used tape after reading about it on here. I thought maybe I was just being too picky and so I just found a way to fix the problem(fletch with super glue).Now I am gonna have to sand some down and try with tape again. Bill
Todd
Another trick I use is after you put your tape on take a butter knife and run it between the quill and the clamp this will give a little space there and when you seat the clamp onto the jig it will help get better contact onto the shaft, then I run my finger on the feather pressing down on each one after I take the clamp off the feather.
Terry
I got new AMG feathers with much better bases. I read on one of the feather packages I have to clean carbons with a comet type cleaner then alcohol. I did all that and took out some of the helical. I would say it is a mild helical now. Definite not what I am used to having. They look great when fletched, but a couple hours later they are curled. I have pressed them down all kinds of ways pushing hard on them in the clamp, right after the clamp comes off my running my nail down the feather base, and pressing hard down the feather pressing it down. They look stuck good, but then they curl. The tape is still on and kind of under the feather, but it is like it moves about half or a little more than the width of the base of the feather. The tape is like gum stretching. I can push it back to where it should be, but it just goes back. The back also kind of turns up so instead of laying flat down on the shaft it is tipped up on the edge in the direction of the curl.
Could I just have a bad role of tape? I have gone through half a role and almost a pack of 50 feathers with out even one really good looking arrow. I am thinking about getting another roll this week at The Kzoo expo, but I don't want to waist my money.
Wow- gotta be bad tape. I have never had that kind of trouble.
I also had two fly off today shooting this AM in the cold. One was a little loose for the first half inch on the back, but the other had no sign of being loose at all. I didn't shoot through anything. It half hit the ground just under my 18-1 target. It may have had a slight contact, but not much and it just flew off. I was able to peal the tape off the shaft like, well tape. Not at all like anything sticky.
hmm...why not just glue them and ditch the tape all together?
You should be able to reuse the feathers, just rub the tape off.
Well I plan to get some glue today, but I would like to use the tape. It is fast. If I just have a bad roll then I would like to try a new roll. Some of my feathers I think I can reuse, but some I can't.
I use Bohning tape. Not sure if its your tape or not (strange)
T
I used the bohning tape for years with great results. Then I noticed that I had curling problems and then "not sticking" problems with the last few batches of arrows I made up. I am not sure what was up, the only thing changed was a new roll of tape. I used duco for my last batch and just waited for it to dry.
I do not know whats up with the tape.
Chuck
thanks for the post I am waiting for my tape to get here and then going to give it a try. Seems like the way to go!
I'm one of the unique ones that still prefers glue. I just haven't gotten the results with tape I expect. I think it's more habit than anything, but whatever works for you. The ones I have done with tape though, I immediately put a drop of superglue gel on the ends though -- it worked fine.
The only time i had a problem with tape was due to the gateway feathers quill not being smooth had rough cut to them. I smoothed them up and never had another issue but i went to true flight feathers now i use no glue don't have to.If the quill is not smooth could be the culprit.
I like the glue myself. I like building arrows and am not in a hurry when I do. I have never had one come off. Gary
I cut some feathers in a trad cut tonight and used the fletching tape for the first time on a martin jig lw clamp and I love it!!!
well I tried the tape I got... Not to impressed. The first one I did I put to the side and 10 min. later it was curled in. the next one I tried with just a dap of glue on both ends. worked ok but if I am using the glue I might as well just do the whole thing that way.
So if anyone is looking to try some pm me your address Ill put it in an envolope and send it your way. I only did 2 arrows and it says it enough to do 3 dozen. I am just going to stick with glue.
Looks like I have a taker for fletch tape just to let y'all know