Every photo I have seen of them they are applied straight, is this the best app or do they work just as well when applied helical
Mine are helical.
Put as much helical as your jig will allow.
I use left wing feathers on a left wing bitzenberg jig then burn my bananas.
Just as Joe said put as much helical as your jig will allow. I do it this way and have minimum noise from the fletchings.
Glenn
I mount all my feathers no matter which cut with a helical,RW or LW.The only arrows I use a straight clamp on are some youth arrows like 1514,very a small diameter.
Heavy helical the more the better. (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/DSC06794.jpg)
I do mine just like Ben's. Lots of helical. Ilove the banana cut. I think it looks cool and straightens an arrow out quick.
Now you can't say that you haven't seen a photo of a helical fletched banana cut.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/BananaFletch.jpg)
I have never used a straight fletch, only 5" LW helical.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/BadgerArrow/spliced.jpg)
I use a slight off set on my 4-4"" banana fletch. On three fletch I've only seen helical.
i use as much helical as i can get on any feather cut.
matt
i chop my own and put as much helical that i can.i modified my chopper just like Rob did in the how-to section.they fly awesome.give it a try,i think you will like it.good luck,steve