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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: onewhohasfun on January 23, 2013, 08:56:00 AM
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Been right around zero degrees here for the last few days. Fletch is falling off both vinyl wraps and bare carbon shafts. I just called Bohning Archery and all they said was " Yeah, we really never tested the tape in zero degree weather". Pretty disappointed since I prefer the tape to glue.
I know someone else posted this a few days ago but I couldn't find the thread.
Anyone else having issues with Bohning tape?
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I had an issure with tape, but I don't remember if it was Bohning or if it was the Bear tape. It is still causing me grief...
God Bless,
Nathan
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I had some fletching fall off that was applied with tape. It was very cold and the feathers just slid off the shaft. I never tried it again. I am not sure if it was Bohning or not.
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The only issues ive had with tape was because it was old or keep somewhere that it got hot....
I keep my tape in the fridge and it stays good....
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Never had a problem in the hot or in the cold. Just tape and a drop of glue on each end and one drop in the middle. Shoot in the low 20's on Monday and had no issues.
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I have never had them stick as well as glue...tried a bunch of things and went back to glue. Faster and easier is not always better :-)
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I had an arrow that sat out in the elements for a year. We hit the single digits. I had to rip the feathers off to refinish the shaft. Tape held tight. The quill is what was left on the shaft. A lot of folks clean the shaft but forget to clean the feather base after its in the clamp. Dust and oil from the skin gets on them too.
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I have had the same thing happen and I have mentioned it here before. I wont use it its not dependable for hunting. When platium glue gets old it doesnt work either .
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I had issues in Florida with the tape within a couple weeks of installing the feathers to the wrap. The ends were glued and held tight but the rest moved. I refletched with tape AND ran a bead of glue down both sides of the quill. Problem solved. Some say why not just glue? It is still much much faster to do a dozen this way vs with gluing alone since the arrow doesn't need to stay in the jig to dry. I only use a single jig. Can do a dozen in about an hour, maybe a bit more.
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Love fetching tape just use glue on both ends on the feather after it is put on with tape and should be good to go.
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I like the tape for splicing feathers. I had some splices fall of but that was before I knew that the tape my have a shelf life. Now I do my splicing in large batches and discard tape that is left. Seems to have solved my issues so far ( 2 years ).
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Originally posted by mike g:
The only issues ive had with tape was because it was old or keep somewhere that it got hot....
I keep my tape in the fridge and it stays good....
Same here. Doesn't really get fridgid cold here in Texas, but the summers are blistering hot with temps routinely well over 100. I discovered that if the tape or tape-fletched arrows are kept in a non-airconditioned environment (garage or storage shed) during the summer months, it loses its adhesiveness. Since then, keeping the tape in the fridge and arrows in airconditioning has solved the heat problem.
I still prefer the tape to glue, though. Faster and less mess, but I still put a drop of glue at each end of the fletching.
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When it gets warm out the taped feathers will roll over at times. I went back to glue a long time ago. I wondered if the tape was so good why do you have to apply glue to the front and back of the feather. To hold it on???
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Originally posted by Jon Stewart:
When it gets warm out the taped feathers will roll over at times. I went back to glue a long time ago. I wondered if the tape was so good why do you have to apply glue to the front and back of the feather. To hold it on???
I do it so the edge of the quill is not sharp. Just like if using glue, I put a drop at each feather end. In pass through shots on targets it helps the feather go through without hanging up. Fletch tape in not 100% nor is glue if the shafts and feathers are not prepared properly. I have had fletch-taped feathers come off in hot weather after having left the arrows in a hot car. The glued ends remained in contact with the shaft. I do believe glue is superior, but not by too much. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
I still use fletch tape.
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onewhohasfun ...
Where did they come apart?
Did the tape "unstick" from the feather and stay on the shaft or visa versa?
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I have broke arrows and then stuck them in a flower pot to hold the plant up. They have been out side for 4 years...the feather is gone but the tape and the quill are still on the shaft. I can't ask for more than that.... I guess I will keep using the tape and a drop on glue!
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I shot a deer 3 yrs ago and of all things found the arrow this yr. Long way from last blood so I know he made it.
Feathers were just about gone, but the Bohning tape was still on it. It gets a little below zero around here at times.
I've never had any kind of problem with the tape. I wipe the carbon shafts down with isopropyl alcohol, or wraps if using.
Put feather in clamp and stick it to shaft.
Before I remove clamp I take my thumbnail and run it down the exposed part of feather (if any) in front and back of clamp.
Pull clamp off and run thumbnail down the entire length of feather to make it stand up straight and get good solid set.
When all feathers are on shaft I put a little glue on front to keep rough point from catching in targets and a little on back of feathers to keep then from curling.
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It happens. I even got a bad tube of Duco last year. Both are good products, but neither are perfect.
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Clean the shaft/wrap well, apply in warm conditions, a drop of glue at each end. Never had a problem. I have recovered arrows out in the pasture that sat under wet grass, through rain and frost and snow for several weeks and the taped feathers were still holding.
I wonder if there are inconsistencies in batches. I have probably fletched 8-10 dozen arrows with Bohning tape with no ill results.
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I need to add a disclaimer... I have never hunted with those arrows at zero temps either. Coldest I shoot is around 20 degrees.
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I had the same problem with tape and cold,even
scuffed shaft first and cleaned with mineral spirits and allowed to dry and also cleaned feathers. Went back to glue.
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I have had issues, but could have been a bad roll of tape. I got it direct from Lancaster so wouldn't think it was setting around forever. I had feathers curl and in cold weather fly off. I had this on two different carbon shaft types, and I prepped them in multiple ways trying to make it work. Usually the tape stuck okay to the feather. After paying for the tape and shipping to try it plus the wasted time and feathers, I just use glue now. The glue stays in just fine.
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used tape in temps down to -20 without any problems. Only time I ever had a failure was when I didn't clean the arrow shafts before applying the fletch.
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Never have issues....I often have to rip feathers apart to get them off the shaft and then pick away at the quill for complete removal. Can't remember the brand but it is whatever 3Rivers sells.
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My shafts that failed were fletched with 2 seperate rolls of tape. Tape was always kept in the bsmnt. where it's cool. One roll of tape was brand new to me and the store said they just got them in. Always prep first. One set was over vinyl wraps, the other was on bare carbons.
Just never had a problem till it got down to ZERO.
The part that got me was Bohning said; "We never tested the tape in below zero temps"
Really?
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Have had too many fall off using fletch tape. A shame really as it is so quick and easy to use. I tried every way of cleaning, still comme loose. I often wondered if it weren't the heat and humidity that cause mine to fail. I do store mine outside in a unheated/ cooled building, but that shouldn't cause then to fail.
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I love fletch tape and have been using it for a few years now with great results in every kind of weather we get in SC.
I have been lazy and not cleaned my arrows before fletching them useing tape.... I can't say that it really makes a big difference.
Like others have said i have to rip the feathers to peices to get them off.
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Yep had nothing but heartache with fletch tape.
Had all my feathers come loose on a south Texas hog hunt. Ended using some glue one of the guys had to put a few together to hunt with. It was warm and humid but the tape shouldn't have failed.
Had more fail later with a new roll of tape at a shoot in the summer. After that I swore off of fletch tape.
Mike
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Hey Guys, Thanks for all the feedback.
Zradix, the tape was still on the feather, came loose at the shaft.
So too summarize;
1. Store tape in a cool place.
2. Only shoot when outside temp. is between 30 and 60 deg. farenheit.
All is good.
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Adhesives and extreme temps don't always get along. That goes for arrows, broadheads, bows, vechicles, etc....
If everything worked good 100% of the time we wouldn't have anything to talk about.
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Never had a problem!
Jason
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I have never had issues in cold, wet or heat but I do glue down the leading and tailing ends, this probably helps alot.
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I have hunted in the single digits here in Nebraska and have never had a problem. Wood arrows only though.
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I have used the Bohning brand tape fletch since 1993 on wood, aluminum and carbon with and with out wraps..I fletch my Hunting arrows like AlligatorDonD said on the first page, run a bead of glue down the quill full length, both sides if quill allows. On my yard arrows I usually just run a bead the first 1/2 inch and last 1/2 inch and at each end. I have not hunted in Zero temps but have Hunted in Ohio for the last 6 years but it only got down to 13 degrees for a couple of hours. I do hunt the humid Florida swamps in July hot temps chasing hogs.
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I have had a problem with fletch tape on vinyl wraps but not on prepped carbon shafts. I use denatured alcohol to prep.
Once I treated some feathers with black magic to waterproof and over time the tape failed.
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Been using tape for the last 17 years and the few problems I may have had with it are far outweighed by the benefits. Sprayed a dozen arrows down with Rain and Stain from Payless Shoes to water proof the feathers several years ago. Let them dry good and put them in an arrow box. When I rolled into camp I opened the box and 75% of the feathers were laying in the bottom of the box. The tape must have reacted with the silicon spray. Since then the only thing I use to water proof them is Fletch Dry powder. Never had a problem since. I've found them buried in the field behind the house after several years and you can't pull the feathers off.
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Like anything else man made. There can and will be flaws.
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I've had the same problem with tape. The tape never comes off the feather, always the shaft. Doesn't matter if it's on the bare shaft or vinyl wrap. The first sets of arrows I taped lasted til I broke or lost the arrows. I think the tape is old or got to hot being in the car or sun in summer. I'll try a new roll of tape before I go back to glue. I tear drop the ends too.
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I've had the same problem with tape. The tape never comes off the feather, always the shaft. Doesn't matter if it's on the bare shaft or vinyl wrap. The first sets of arrows I taped lasted til I broke or lost the arrows. I think the tape is old or got to hot being in the car or sun in summer. I'll try a new roll of tape before I go back to glue. I tear drop the ends too.
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I'll stick (no pun intended) with Fletch-Tite glue. Been using it since the late 60's. Good stuff !
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Only problem I ever had with tape was with an old roll. The tape has a shelf life once it's opened. But when using good tape over one stringer wraps, the tape sticks very well to the wraps. After its been on the wraps for a while, it will pull pieces of the wrap off if you try to take the feathers off. I'd say that's a pretty good bond.
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I had my first 3 dozen arrows with fletch tape work great. Hunted below freezing and over 100 in both extra high and extra low humidity. All arrows were stored in the house long term.
I did have 1 dozen that instantly fell off my aluminum shafts. I forgot to wipe them down really good with alcohol before sticking them down. I saved the feathers and re did them after preparing the shaft correctly and they are still stuck on there. I do dab front and back with Ducco.
A few months ago I setup 3 carbon test shafts and the feathers fell off. Buff Tuff requires some rubbing down with alcohol too apparently. Those feathers are still stuck on those shafts.
In my experience, when I take my time and do it right, I find the fletch tape very dependable.
Your mileage may vary.
Thom
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Never had an issue..clean the shaft well..use a few dots of glue at both ends an along the quill...can's say I've ever been out in 0 degree weather hunting with them but I've been out in plenty of nasty cold wet weather without a failure..
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i will only use fletch tape and have pretty much sworn off glue almost a decade or so ago.
the fletch area of the shafts needs to be properly prepped, cleaned. i use naphtha (lighter fluid). i've gone through more than 2 dozen rolls of bohning tape with nary a problem, but i guess a batch of bad tape could exist.
you need to also properly install the tape and the feather. if done right, and allowed to "cure" overnight, you will not be able to remove the feather's quill unless scraped off with a knife.
i also put a spot of fletch cement at either end of each fletching, for added insurance.
here's a hog killing arrow that laid in the south carolina woods for over a year - notice how the quills (rachis) are still *firmly* stuck to the shaft. the vanes got eaten by the elements and bugs. it took some serious knife scraping to get them off and ready for refletching.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/hog1arra2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/hog1arra3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/bh-2.jpg)
fletch tape video - click the image below ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/th_MOV06270.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/?action=view¤t=MOV06270.mp4)
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By the way Bohning says, " Avoid using alcohol to prep shafts, it can leave a residue that can inhibit adhesion".
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I have been using tape for a bit now, Did have a issue awhile back, hunting for a week in wet weather. I found that the feather bed was breaking down from being wet. causing the feather to fall off. The tape was still intact though. Now I seal the bed with clear lacquer . Seems to have solved the problem. I guess that's why the glue works so well,it seals the feather bed in the process.
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Originally posted by onewhohasfun:
By the way Bohning says, " Avoid using alcohol to prep shafts, it can leave a residue that can inhibit adhesion".
That's funny I've only used denatured alcohol. I'll do a little more research before I do my next dozen! Thanks for posting this.
Thom
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Adding a dab of glue fore and aft has been a mainstay in arrow building since....well, forever.
My only issue with tape came on a dozen carbons and I used natural barred wild turkey feathers hand ground. I should have wiped the quill with acetone I think.
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I too have had excellent results with Bohning Fletch Tape. Like others, a dab of glue on the front and back, make sure to run a fingernail down the quill when putting clamp to the shaft to make sure good contact is made. I had a friend use another brand of tape, maybe Bear Paw brand, and he had less than good results. He then bought Bohning brand tape and reported no more problems.
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yes, bohning fletch tape only. i tried the bear paw and it was nowhere as good with adhesion as bohning.
i always clean both the shaft and quill with naphtha (lighter fluid) and have never had a problems after tape fletching many hundreds of arrows over the years.
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Originally posted by sticksnstones:
Originally posted by onewhohasfun:
By the way Bohning says, " Avoid using alcohol to prep shafts, it can leave a residue that can inhibit adhesion".
That's funny I've only used denatured alcohol. I'll do a little more research before I do my next dozen! Thanks for posting this.
Thom [/b]
Never had a problem with denatured alcohol or acetone, now 70% isopropyl alcohol I avoid.
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Have had a cold spell for the last week & have been shooting in -25C - cant say that any of the three glues (acrylates, urethanes or hot melt)I've tried so far will consistently hold or that the MTO arrows do any better at these temps - best I've found to date is enough hot melt to make for an ugly looking fletch seems to work best. Anyone from further North have any input? Thx -M
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My experience with tape has been great!...I love the stuff, but I have noticed that it does work better with wraps than on bare shafts
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I use the same method of prepping as Rob.
Can honestly say I've never had a problem with feathers coming loose or off.
Have lost a few after being shot hunting and at 3d shoots. But these have always been sheared off by an unseen vine, saw grass, or Tree. No fault of the tape. :rolleyes:
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I mostly use a wrap for ease of refletching and I have not had a problem with Fletch tape.
It is all I have used in the last seven years or so. I rarely hunt in freezing cold but I do hunt in high heat and have had no issues.
I always use a drop of glue front and back and usually when ripping off an old feather, the quill and tape stick on the arrow while the feather rips off.
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No alcohol for cleaning? I always use that...
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I do not use it anymore. Same reason, fletch coming off after a bit. Went back to glue and have no more problems with fletch coming off. Used in on wraps and bare shafts, same result, the fletching would eventuly come loose, never had that problem with fletch tite so went back to it.
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Fletch Tape is all I have used for my arrows . Prep the surface on the arrow and tape. My shooting temp varies from -20C to our warmer summer days +20c . I did have a problem once with some removing themselves from the arrows and found out is was the finish (varnish ) that I used. (Old) . I can't get the old fletchtite so tape it is! I repair the arrows for kids archery at the club and one of the fellows gave me a tube of Hot Stuff and he got it from Lee Valley , I have been using that for this season and works really well . But still have to prep the arrows first. Maxx
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this fletching tape seems to be a mixed bag....
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Originally posted by mike g:
The only issues ive had with tape was because it was old or keep somewhere that it got hot....
I keep my tape in the fridge and it stays good....
Excellent suggestion.....my Bohning tape sits in the fridge next to my work bench.
Rob makes an excellent point regarding the Bearpaw tape....picked up a roll at a shoot and had feathers falling off all over the place.
Can't say with 100% certainty but how you store it might be important.....as with anything YMMV
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I've never had any issues with fletch tape. I've even fletched a bunch of 3D arrows up for the wheel guys here at the shop and you have to pull the tape off with pliers. Shaft prep is key and making sure your tape is still good. Other than that, no issues at all here.
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Hi Ron,
I enjoyed your video. I've never used lighter fluid before. I will have to use it the next time. Which fletch cement are you using?
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Is naphtha the same as Zippo fluid?
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Encouraged by this topic I bought some fletching tape, since I had some problems with glue/paint (the glue was solving the paint).
I didn't expect much, but now I am a beleiver! The feathers are rock-solid on the shaft and fletching is very easy and fast. I couldn't believe how easy this is. Bye bye, glue, hello fletching tape.
I used the Bearpaw, but no problems with that, even when shooting trough branches and grass. I simply love it!
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Great! I may want to try some fletch tape as well.
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I believe Bohnings warning refers to rubbing alcohol, which contains a moisturizer to avoid drying skin. Denatured alcohol is fine, I've been using it to prep shafts before fletching with tape for 15+ years. The only adhesion problem I've ever had, as others have stated, is with old tape.
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Originally posted by Flying Dutchman:
Is naphtha the same as Zippo fluid?
yes - naphtha is lighter fluid.
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Originally posted by Flying Dutchman:
Encouraged by this topic I bought some fletching tape, since I had some problems with glue/paint (the glue was solving the paint).
I didn't expect much, but now I am a beleiver! The feathers are rock-solid on the shaft and fletching is very easy and fast. I couldn't believe how easy this is. Bye bye, glue, hello fletching tape.
I used the Bearpaw, but no problems with that, even when shooting trough branches and grass. I simply love it!
it pays to put a spot of glue (fletchtite, duco, whatever) at either end of the fletching.
another way to insure taped fletching won't want to come off is to use "lining tape" at either ends of the feathers. this is how spin wings and kurly vanes (which are taped onto shafts) get totally secured.
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Okay thanks. But now I use alcohol ketonatus 96%. It sells for €10,- per liter over here. I not only clean the shafts, but also the base of the feathers. After that I take a cup of coffee to let it dry.
The most difficult part is the beginning. I used some nasty words here.... But once the backing is split from the tape, I leave a bit backing on each time. That makes it very easy to split the tape from the backing.
After one shaft is ready, I run with my thumbnail over the quil. Then, just to be sure that the tapes makes contact everywhere, I rub over the lenght of the feathers with a (clean :) ) handkerchief, pressing the base of the feather to the shaft. The feathers just pop back in shape. Some glue at the end and beginning of the feathers, and they are ready to go!
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I have beem using tape for 10 years or there abouts. Never had a problem on woods or aluminum. I just make sure the dhafts are clean. I started putting a drop of glue at each end of the feather but have not done that for 8 years, never had one peel off. Rveryone has to develop their own methods of separating the backing from the tape, that is the hardest part.
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You only have to seperate the backing once and that is with the first feather and a new roll.. I never wanted to do that again... so I found an easy method. But everone will develop own habits for sure. That is the way it should be.
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Bear paw didn't work for me either.
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Maybe Bearpaw had some bad batches or the tape was too old. I did my shafts with the Bearpaw tape and I have no complaints till now. But only time will learn, we'll see.
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No telling how many shafts I've fletched with Bohning tape...never had a problem. Found arrows a year later and had to use a razor blade to get the old fletching off.