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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bud B. on December 06, 2010, 07:23:00 PM
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I bought a roll to try and made up one arrow. It took all but about 5-7 minutes, but, the longest part was spent trying to get the backing off the tape after sticking it to the fletching. Any tricks to get it off easy? My eyes are horrible at trying to see that tiny strip.
Otherwise, it's sooooo much cleaner than glue. No chance to test the durability of it yet, but, that'll come.
Thanks for any input.
Bud
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Hi Bud, Press your right forefinger nail down on the tape about 1/8th of an inch back from the beginning of the fletching tape and drag back on it. in no time at all you"ll learn the right amount of pressure to make it work best.
With luck,
2fletch
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Use a razor blade - just get the tip of the blade under the backing and pull it off. I also suggest puting a drop of glue on the front tip of the fletch so that it cannot pull off. I have been using it for years and love it.
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Originally posted by 2fletch:
Hi Bud, Press your right forefinger nail down on the tape about 1/8th of an inch back from the beginning of the fletching tape and drag back on it. in no time at all you"ll learn the right amount of pressure to make it work best.
With luck,
2fletch
I use my thumbnail, but otherwise I do the same thing. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'll never go back to regular glue.
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Cuticle scissors
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I use the right index finger, finger nail. I over run the tape about 1/8 to 1/4 off the back of the fletch and just push it down onto the clamp with the finger nailand then dig in with the nail.... Then I use the cuticle sissors to snip that tail. works every time.
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Originally posted by 30coupe:
Originally posted by 2fletch:
Hi Bud, Press your right forefinger nail down on the tape about 1/8th of an inch back from the beginning of the fletching tape and drag back on it. in no time at all you"ll learn the right amount of pressure to make it work best.
With luck,
2fletch
I use my thumbnail, but otherwise I do the same thing. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'll never go back to regular glue. [/b]
Yes sir !!!
Maybe the best thing since toasted sliced bread with jelly.
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Thanks all. I'll try the fingernail thing. I tried the razor thing but can't see that well up close.
Time for some bi-focals I guess. :(
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I use a small exacto knife...about the size of a pen. I run the tape about 1/8 inch beyond the fletching. I curl the 1/8 inch overhang back with the exacto knife blade on the sticky side. I then move the knife back forward and the backing usually separates from the sticky side. I reach down with my thumb and forefinger and peel it back. It took a little practice but I can really peel them back in no time now.
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1) What 2Fletch said.
2) Find a seven year old girl who thinks it's neat to "make arrows". Their dinky little fingers can peel that stuff right off.
Course, you'd better be ready to slow down the rest of the process since they'll wanna try it all too...
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The razor blade works for me but I use reading glasses!
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Been using fletch tape since it's beginning, works great!
Like MJB says, cuticle scissors. After applying, press and rub up and down the feather, this compresses the tape and helps relase the film.
Then with the tip of scissors, lift film and your good to go! Double duty, cut to length and lift the film.
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I'm with MJB and Frank. Sharp cuticle scissors and reading glasses. I cut the tape so an eighth inch hangs beyond each end of the feather. Load the feather into your clamp, apply the tape, then when you're ready to fletch, press one end of the tape against the edge of the clamp, then pick at the backing with the point of the scissors. Should come right up for you. You can grab the backing between your fingertip and the point of the scissors. I like to pretape a bunch of feathers ahead of time. Makes the actual fletching seem to go faster. Add a drop of insurance glue to each end of the feather, or wrap with silk floss or artificial sinew.
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I leave about an eight hanging off each end, using cuticle scissors to cut the end attached to the roll. I just push down and roll the free end until it separates the backing from the adhesive part. It sometimes takes 5 or 6 times before it separates, but it is very quick. I am sure I can do a fletch in about 1 minute.
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I use an exacto knife with a convex blade to peal off the backing. The fastest method I've seen is to use small high quality wire cutters lightly on the tape to only cut the glue not the backing. Then simply pull off the tape (attached to the fletching) leaving the backing in one long strip. Using this method a friend of mine can fletch a doz arrows in about 20 min. Takes me longer because I usually cut through the backing and have to use the exacto knife to peal the backing.
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I leave a little more than and 1/8 and do the roll in my thumb and finger then just pull the backing off trim the excess and put on arrow.
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The older paper-backed style was really easy.....a fingernail was all that was required.
When I first tried the plastic-back tape, I floundered to say the least.
My wife gave it a shot with an exacto knife. Worked like a charm. I've actually gotten pretty quick with one now........but I still miss the paper-backed tape!
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I would add one thing...
I really make sure my application surface is clean on both fletch and shaft. I wipe down my shafts with alcohol and actually touch my fletching with fine sand paper and then wipe with the alcohol.
I have never had an adherence problem.
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Bud,
Van Bateman swears by the stuff and has a trick for that, but my memory has gone the way of my eyes and I plod along with glue. If he's at the Rockingham shoot ask him.
Richard
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10-4 Richard
Hopefully I'll see you Sunday.
Bud
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I use small surgical scissors to cut the tape after I apply it to the feather, then I use just one blade of the scissors to pick the edge of the backing until it seperates enough to peel back with my fingers.
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Razor Blade works great as others have said. I started out using glue, and then tried the tape...I will not go back to glue, the tape is so much cleaner and stays on very well.
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I overrun it an inch and a half or two and then twist the end back and forth between my thumb and index finger. Peel and cut at quill.
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Zbone:
Not being a smart butt, but.. that trashes a bunch of tape. If ya just leave 1/4" over at the back of the fletch and stroke it with your finger nail against the clamp the stuff will seperate and you can "pluck" it loose with your finer nail... then cut excess with cuticle scissors
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Have tried that (and about every other way I could think of), but subtract your 1/4" from my little tail and you're talking only about an extra inch or so waste. Not what I call a "bunch", and for as cheap as it is, I'll keep twisting my "bunch" of tail over the squinting and frustratingly trying to pick at the thing...
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Originally posted by Zbone:
Have tried that (and about every other way I could think of), but subtract your 1/4" from my little tail and you're talking only about an extra inch or so waste. Not what I call a "bunch", and for as cheap as it is, I'll keep twisting my "bunch" of tail over the squinting and frustratingly trying to pick at the thing...
I'm not quite to that point, but it was frustrating on just three fletches. BUT, it still beats the glue thing. I'll figure it out. Gonna try the fingernail rub thing.
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Bud - I'm sorry, my thread was directed at Huntschool.
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After putting the tape on the fletch pull the plastic backing back, cut the tape even with the back of the fletch but leave about a 1/4-1/2" of extra backing. This way with each succeeding fletch you can just pull the backing back, cut the tape and move on to the next.
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I use a pocket knife with a sharp, pointy blade. I just poke the tape from the side and lift. If your knife is sharp it oughtta work pretty easy. Good luck. :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by Zbone:
Bud - I'm sorry, my thread was directed at Huntschool.
I know, but I see your point about it being frustrating.
:thumbsup:
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Bud - Try twisting a little tail, it's so much easier, you'll like it.
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Zbone... thats cool. It was just a suggestion... no offence meant or taken...
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Just use your knife blade, set it on the tape at 90 degrees to the tape, and scrape it back a little. it curls up and you can grab it and pull it off.
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Whether knife, fingernail or whatever, the objective is to bite into the film enough so that you can cause it to seperate from the glue strip and ride up so that the film can be removed. Can't imagine anything being quicker or less wasteful.