Looking for the best jig for feathers. Right now I have a grayling and it does ok but looking better.
I've,used about all and now use the JoJan multi fletch.
Easiest over all.
Bitzenburger for me, especially if you shoot wood. If you don't shoot wood, the Jo-Jan is a fairly close second for me.
With fletch tape and fast-drying glues, multi-fletchers are out of the equation for me.
I bought the jo jan that does 6 arrows at once and then I discovered fletching tape and I never use the other 5 openings. If your using glue it also can be finicky getting it all lined up to where the feather lays evenly on the shaft. But it does the job.
The Martin J-8 fletching jig is about half the price of a Bitz, and has a few features the Bitz doesn't have. It's also made out of a plastic material that doesn't seem to adhere to glue very well, making it easier to keep clean. Unfortunately, it's also not quite as solid as a Bitz, and a little more finicky to operate. But once you learn its little tricks, it works just as well.
I'm personally a fan of the Bohning Pro Class Jig. It's built out of nylon instead of cast, but other than that, very similar in operation to the Bitz. I bought it originally because it's what I could afford, now I see no reason to change. I've fletched everything from 500 spine FMJ's to 11/32" woods with a pretty aggressive right helical. It's 1/3 the price of the Bitz as well.
Don't understand problems with wood on the JoJan.
I do a lot of 1/4 inch wood arrows. Gave up on fletch tape years,ago. Now use a thick super glue.
Put the glue on and drop the clamp in the jig one handed and on to the next.
I too am all about the JoJan. Have 2 multi fletchers with straight and left helical clamps. Ive been using those 2 for 20 years anyway.....great product! Wood, aluminum, carbon....the JoJans are awesome!
I have the plastic bohning one. Its not bad, plus its fairly cheap. I couldn't get exactly the alignment I wanted with some very skinny carbons so I filed down some areas to allow a greater range of (left - right) motion for the clamp. I also did slight shaping on the clamp so it wrapped around the shaft a bit for mroe helical.
QuoteDon't understand problems with wood on the JoJan.
The problem I had was with less than perfectly straight shafts. The Jo-Jan just uses the weight of the clamp, which wasn't enough to get full contact at times. Same thing when using home-ground/split feathers. Less than perfect quill base, less than perfect contact.
I've got a couple Bitz jigs and have no complaints. I've done everything from woodies to skinny carbons and big feathers to tiny vanes. I've never used anything else so I'm not sure how much legitimacy my recommendation carries but I'd buy another Bitz in a heartbeat.
I do have some problems when I grind my own feathers.
Usually because the base of the feathers are too wide.
Jojan can be tricky, but I use an alligator clip to hold the fletch down on the shaft for consistent pressure. None of my other clamps give me the helical I get with it. I like my Bitz for onezies....
Bitz. It is what all other jigs are measured against for a reason. It is the best out there.
Cant Go Wrong with the Bitz. Best ever made....
Bear paw fletching jig - best I have ever used and I have tried them all
I have 2 jojan multi fletchers and use them when using glue. The clamps are a little sloppy and you have to use a knife edge to press quill down on some of them. Lately I have been using my bitz and fletch tape way faster and works great.
Another vote for Bearpaw. You can do 2, 3, 4 or 6 fletch with the turn of the dial and easily adjust your feather offset. It comes w/ two arrow cradles to compensate for the diameter of your shaft. Only problem is that you may not be able to get as much a helical pattern as some others. Not sure there is a better value out there.
Blitz for me, have used a few others, arizona ezy fletch, grayling and hawkeye multi fletcher, can do the job with any mentioned but blitz is my choice to be able to duplicate my work with ease. Never owned a Jojann so can't speak for it.
QuoteOriginally posted by Shakes.602:
Cant Go Wrong with the Bitz. Best ever made....
X2. God bless.
I have tried most over the years and always return to the Bitz's.
A tip that will help when using any of the jigs:
Line the clamps with painters tape, the feathers will never stick/glue to the clamps and you never have to scrape glue from them.
I have only used the Blitz but that is because I use the combo of fletching tape then a drop of glue @ each end of feather and then a line of glue along the quill.
I like the helical and I have never in over a decade had any problems with the fletch moving or coming off.
I suppose if I were only gluing on fletch and not using tape I'd look at another "multi" option.
Another vote for the Bearpaw