So I recently picked up a bow from here (Damon Hi Speed, 45#), and my wife has a stickbow archery bow, and we finally made it out to the range Monday and again this morning. We are absolutely LOVING it. I started fletching my own arrows already. When we got measured and bought arrows, they came with plastic fletching. We picked up an Arizona EZ Fletch and some feathers, and a feather chopper. So, what advice would you give to some up and coming trad archers? We are working to hook up with some local people to learn, but I found that I absolutely LOVED fletching my own arrows.
Oh, also I wanted to ask, her fletching is cutting her hand (long bow, arrows rest on her hand), What should she do? I'm assuming a glove of some sorts?
Leather tab rest.
She can wear a glove or you can cut and glue on a leather floppy rest.
PM sent, The leather floppy rest works. You can also take a fairly heavy strip of leather, double it and then wrap over it, leaving the top exposed. I have also fashioned rests out of antler and wood scraps, use Barge cement to attach, and then cover with grip of choice. I like the Barge because it holds tight, but can be fairly easily removed later.
Try putting the cock feather in.
Did you roll the leading end of the feathers down with a screw driver and put a dot of fletching cement on them...learned that trick from my buddies who were all shooting self bows off their hand...Bearpaw Archery also make a glove designed specifically for that purpose...you can get them from Kustom King or Lancasters and likely from 3 Rivers as well....sounds like you are on the right track...best thing you can do is hook up with someone locally....nothing like learning directly
DDave
Hers just have the foam fletching that came on the arrows still. I will be putting feathers on hers this weekend. I use a razorblade to trim down the tip of the feather before putting a dot of glue on it.
I think we are going to get her one of the tabs for her hand. Thanks for the advice all!