Whichv do you prefer, tape or glue? I am jsut curriuos - have never used the tape before.
Bob.
I've used the tape for several years now. Have not had any problems.
Craig
Tape works pretty well. I've used it a lot with no trouble. It's much quicker than glue, but lacks a certain aesthetic quality. Then again, Duco or whatever kinda does too. I have no complaints about tape though, and I've used it quite a bit on wood/gasket laquor and Gold Tip Traditional shafts. Can't speak for any other finishes though.
Once you get the hang of it, It took me awhile to stop wanting to throw it out in the yard, it works great. Much faster and easier than glue. Just put a dab of glue at each end. It's also MUCH easier to remove fletching with the tape. Just pop the glue, with a knife on each end, pull the fletch off and roll the tape off. Don
I am fletch tape man with out a doubt. Makes things so much easier, faster, and neater. Use the tape and just a spot of glue at both ends and your are ready to go.
I am a tape person. If you do the prep work its as good as glue. I have some arrows that are four years old this fall and have not lost a fletch yet, oh yea, and I did not put the drop of glue on them. I am doing that now, just because.....
How many arrow can you make with a roll?(5"feathers)
Felix, don't know the exact answer...but a couple dozen or more
I tried some for the first time a few weeks ago. That is better than sliced bread. I always had problems with glue, the tape makes fletching easily.LCH
Made the switch to tape this past year. It is working great. Not looking to go back anytime soon.
The package says 3.5 dozen arrows, but until you get the hang of it you will waste about a foot or two.
Ihave used tape for a long time.Sure is a lot neater for me than glue and just a dab of glue at ends to help keep them from peeling.No trouble on wood arrows either.
thats all i use anymore ilike it specialy on spiral flu flu i le to get as much spiral as poss with the tape you can force more out of your fletch if it is not quite touching your shaft in places just run your finger down the feather and instant hold also great on tracer feathers the real ones
Its all I use anymore.
I been using the tape for about two years now. Just put a dab of glue on each end and you're done. It's much quicker than the glue. Also works great with wraps.
DaveP
Ditto on the tape replies! Wont be using glue anytime soon.
Glenn
Glue man here. Can't stand the tape.
What's the hurry. Slow down and enjoy making your arrows. Part of the process of immersing oneself in archery.
Tape. I have glue for the fletching tips and for nocks but that's it. Tape along the body of the quill.
I've used tape exclusively for 5 or 6 years....no complaints, it's easy, fast, and holds as good as glue.
So ... I guess I may have to try some tape eh?
Thanks for all the replies.
Bob.
Definately tape.
Tape is all I have used for the last three years. No problems Bob
I was having a lot of trouble with Fletch-Tite Platinum adhering to my arrows. Every time I shot I lost feathrs. Just switched to tape, and after abusing an arrow for an hour shooting into the dirt, grass and whatever, the feathers are holding strong!
I went back to glue after I had the taped feathers "slide" and fold when in a back quiver in hot weather..............
Tape works well, for me. If clumbsy old me can use tape to apply feathers, anybody can!
I tried tape for the first time this spring. I hate it.
Not the adhesion part to the arrow, but trying to get my sausage fingers working with it without taping myself to the fletch and everything in the room.
I can fletch a lot faster with glue. I use 12 jigs at a time, so by the time I get to #12 I can jump back on #1 and keep going.
Pete
Tape is all I use. Been working well for me the last couple of years.
Just tried tape for the first time today and it was quick and easy. No waiting for each glued feather to set up before moving to the next. I never even heard of it before I joined Trad gang. :archer2:
Tape works great for me. It holds up well in all weather conditions.
Tape and a drop of Fletchtite on the leading and trailing edge of each feather.
Out of curiosity, are there any professional fletchers using tape?
Guy
The tape is the best! Now if they came up with a peel and stick feather THAT would be awesome!
only ONE way to go for me >>>-------> FLETCH TAPE!!!
no waiting for glue to dry, no muss, no fuss, SUPER FAST fletching. honestly, there is no reason to go back to glue .... for ME! :D
holds TIGHT, durable as heck, year old re-found "lost" arrows with taped fletching were still stuck and real hard to remove for re-fletching, have had no problems in zero to 100 degree air temps.
EASY to use ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/th_MOV06270.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/?action=view¤t=MOV06270.mp4)
QuoteOriginally posted by jcar315:
Use the tape and just a spot of glue at both ends and your are ready to go.
Same here. Been using the tape for a little while and still like it. I haven't had any problems with it coming off.
I have been using tape for years with no problems, until this year. With the current heat wave my feathers have been sliding around some. I have never added the extra drop of glue to the ends, but that will change on my next batch of arrows.
Rob's video is excellent.
Each fletch taper user may have their own way of seperating the backing from the tape but suffice it to say that you need something (razor blade / exacto knife) to make this pretty easy.
I use the exacto knife and it makes quick work of it. If you are using just your fingers take a look at the video.
Not sure if I could say exactly how many arrows per roll but its quite a few to say the least.
big ditto on Rob's video
I'm on my fourth dozen and if I'd have known fletching was this easy I'da been trad only years ago.
A word on the tape though. I have a Bitz and on my first dozen I wasn't seating the feathers correctly and now I'm having problems with some of them coming up. I am stumping them really hard right now, tho... and I mean, cruelly. :D
Oh, and I strongly suggest flytying scissors.
After I remove the clamp from the last feather I take the arrows out and using my finger tip I make certain the leading edge and the back of the feather is pressed down nice and firmly.
Then, using a knife, I run the blade down the entire length of the feather so make sure it is wel seated on the shaft.
Using the kinfe really helps get them down nice and firmly.
as i show in the vid, hold down the front end of the fletch with finger and use another to press and run the length to the back end of the fletch. this is the fastest and most sure way of making sure the tape is bonded to the shaft. also, notice how i run a fingernail twice over the tape on the quill. all of this will insure a bond that will really hold no matter what the environment. ;)
The other good thing about fletching tape is to keep a couple feathers in your pack or quiver for repairs if you ever would need them on a hunting trip. Just peel of the back, eyeball it in and you are done.
just did my first dozen with the tape, So far it works great, much easier than glue. I will have to see how they hold up over time.
just used tape for the first time....love it! won't go back to glue.......
lee
Started using it a few weeks ago, awesome stuff :thumbsup:
Fletching tape is the bom! :bigsmyl:
Found arrows out in the field behind the house that spent several years buried beneath the dirt and weeds. Still can't pull the feathers off them. Tape is the only way to go.
I use fletchtite platinum glue. It works for me and I really like doing it the old way.