Looking to get a jig. Looking to use a helical fletch and reasonably affordable a must. Got any recomendations for a newb?
Can't go wrong with a Bitz. A little more money but it will last forever.
I would reccomend the BPE Profletch.I've been using one for a long time and have been satisfied with the job it does.
I really like the Vador jig, been using them for years. If you really want to put a spin on your arrows the Jo-Jan is a good deal.
It't been said that the bitz lasts forever.
I have worn two out. Where the ball bearing inside that is the pivot eventually it will wear through the aluminum and won't align properly.
Now it take a lot of use for this to happen. Both clamps that failed were used before I got them. There is no warranty.
Bitz's are good clamps.
By accident I picked up a JoJan and it is now my favorite.
Much easier to put into the fletching jig.
Always had great luck with my bitzenberger's.
I really like my bearpaw
I prefer a Bitzenburger--been using them for 20+ years.
Jo-Jan is good for aluminum and carbon, don't care for them on wood.
Chad
Bitz here !
On a budget get the Grayling.
Unless you fletch A LOT of arrows, BPE Profletch will serve you well and you can buy a few for what a Bitz will cost
I like my Jojan Multifletch. I can fletch a dozen arrows fast as this jig holds 6 arrows at a time. A little more expensive but well worth it.
Bisch
+1 on the Jo Jan. You just need to pay attention to where the feather contacts the arrow shaft.....smaller diameters need to be compensated for with a slight adjustment. It took me some time and some refletching to learn what works.
I've used some cheap plastic ones and they worked fine.
I picked up a used jo jan multi.
SSSOOOOOOooo much faster.
6 at a time.
I've used it on carbon, tapered wood, and straight wood. No problems....just a little readjustment for different size/shaped shafts.
Now if you're going to use tape, there really isn't a reason for anything other than a single fletch jig.
I'm using glue on my arrows so the jo jan is very fast for the $$$
I like my Jo Jan
I've considered a Jo Jan. How does it do with 5 1/2" feathers? I read somewhere they were a problem. Is that true?
I fletch with 5 1/2 and use a burner.
Trap
The actual clamping area on my LW jo jan clamps is 5 7/8"
I've only used my jo jan for 4.5"-5" fletch.
I just went back and trimmed a full length to 5.5"
Put it in a clamp and laid it on a wood shaft.
It laid up nice to the shaft.
When I tried it on a carbon, the fit was pretty close. but I would have to adjust it a tad.
Looked very doable though.
The jo-jan does 5.5" feathers just fine. Getting the thing setup takes a bit of tinkering (nothing serious), but once it's set it's super easy to use.
JoJan multi flecher. I have all 3 and been using them for over 20 years. Great for wood arrows. You can adjust the feather in or out if there is a low spot. The bitz you can't, the clamp is to strong. Had a Bitz and did not like it.
I have two 6 arrow Jo Jans and these days I am using fletch tape and my bitz! Go figure It is actually faster than using slow dry glue and the 2 multifletchers. I started this due to trouble with glue and beman ics shafts but it's a great way to fletch.
I had a "grayling I think".
Good enough for taping fletch.
I could sorta roll it down and stick the feather where I wanted it.
I had a little problem with that clamp though.
The clamp face would lay flat on a table if you stood it upright.
..well if you're doing much helical it's really nice if that face has a little concave shape to it.
..helps it wrap around the shaft rather than wanting to bottom out in the center of the clamp.
The jo-jan has the concave shape....much to my liking.
Thanks for that quick feedback on my question, I think I'll try one. I have 3 Bitz's now.
Trap
Had Jo-Jan single and multi, worked pretty good. I like the Bear Paw I've been using the last couple years. Just recieved a new/used Bitz, still playing around with it, I'm not impressed yet.
Eric
I've had my Bitz for 40 years, never any problems. If I recall correctly I paid $15.60 including tax. Not sure what exactly they cost now.
ddauler ...
I use some beman ics bowhunters.
Last year was my 1st time using the shafts.
I bought them from big Jim.
I asked him to send me "what ever works best" for glue on those shafts.
He sent me some easton quick bond.
The stuff works great on those shafts.
I use a Bitz that I picked up used for cheap. It works well for me. I'll keep using it until it wears out.
Bitzenburger is the best in my book but the Bohning is pretty good and the clamps are pretty inexpensive.
QuoteOriginally posted by awbowman:
Unless you fletch A LOT of arrows, BPE Profletch will serve you well and you can buy a few for what a Bitz will cost
Yep.
I bought the cheaper Bohning from three rivers and never had a problem. Works perfect for me. May be slower but I enjoy fletching shafts so I am not in a great hurry.
The Bitzenburger is probably the best if you don't need a multi-fletcher. I like the Bearpaw too, and you can join several of them together to make a multi-fletcher. Most of the jigs work just fine. I prefer 4 fletch, so that would limit my selection slightly if I didn't already have the jigs I need.
Allan
+1 for jo jan. heard nothing but high praise for blitz though.
I have a Bear Paw and I really like it.
$30-$40 bucks you can't go wrong in my book!
Like anything else take care of it, it will last for a good while
BPE and Martin are very reasonable. I have them and a Bitz and Bear Paw. If the Bear Paw is closely priced to the BPE or Martin, I would go with that one.
You can get a used Bitz very reasonable also. They last forever so a used one will work out great too.
I had a Jo Jan multi fletcher also. I will check if I still have it. If I do you can have it. PM me and I will check where it is.
Gil
I've used and still have many types. The gold standard has been my Bitzenberger since 1975. I lost that first one by leaving it in a state after a NASP training. I'm on #2 now.
Unless you loose it like I did my first one,the Bitz will be with you as long as God delays your trip to Heaven.
My second favorite would be the JoJan. I had a couple of the 6-arrow jigs. However, with today's rapid dry glues the multi-jig didnt make any sense so I sold em.
I've got 2 Bitz's. The 1st one I bought about 1976./ and it is still going strong. I have switched to a Jojan multifletcher now. Took a little bit of adjusting but once I got it set, it is great.
Another vote for the Bitzenburger
Love a Bitzenburger, money well spent!
Kris
Zradix
Thanks for the info. I have been using fletch tape lately works perfect also. I like it and use bitz and get better job than my jo jans the jo jan clamps are a little inconsistant and it's harder to check the contact surface.
Doug
No problem buddy.
Good to know the tape works on them too.
Thanks
Have used a jojan for several years and recently broke down and purchased a new bitzenberger. The bitz is worth every penny. The jojan was fine as well if you want to do a half dozen arrows at a time. But the Bitz is more precise.
Just wore out another of the lesser priced jigs. I ordered Bitz from 3Rivers. NO COMPARISON!!!
I'm bucking the system a little hear. I used a Bitzenburger for years (like 30+). It's a good jig, but I sold off clamps and jig to fellow tradgangers for a fair price. That said, I like the Bear Paw jig much better. It's way more precise in setting up the contact with the arrow. It has a backstop to allow perfect feather placement on the arrow the same as the previous arrow and the knob to turn the feather is silky smooth compared to my Bitz. It's about 2/3 the price of the Bitzenburger too. The only downfall is that the clamp is plastic, so we'll see how long that lasts.