Ive got an old fletching jig that has served me well for yrs. but id like to get a jig that can deliver a more aggressive helical.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks, Paul
I have been very happy with my jojan....I have also heard a lot of good things on the bitzenburgers also.
The Bitz gives the hardest helical I have been able to attain. I have a jo-jan as well and if I need to make a dozen up in a hurry I use that as it is a multi-fletcher. Shawn
Bitzenburger as long as you're not in a rush. TonyZ.
I have a couple Bitz jigs and I've never run out of adjustment. Never used anything else though so I can't make any comparisons.
Not sure how "aggressive" you want to get BUT if you want a eye opener to see what aggressive helical will do try this. Use your normal helical clamp and glue or fletch tape it from the front towards the back like normal but stop short and not glue down the final third closest to your hand or string. Now the hard part, glue them in a the same direction only with more helical twist! This is all using your standard parabolic or shield fletch etc. What you have made is a flu flu that won't fly any farther than a standard flu flu! Actually my favorite way to make a flu flu arrow. In a nutshell it doesn't take much twist to slow a arrow down to flu flu speed.
I don't know about how it compares to others, but here is a 4" fletching with a Bitz jig. I still had more room for adjustment for a tighter helical. It's easiest to see on the top fletching in the top picture. The 6-fletch flu-flu has the front almost enough offset that the front edge of one fletching lines up with the back edge of the previous fletching.
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/IMG_0275_zpsdfa37330.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/IMG_0240_zps59715f3b.jpg)
Been using the Bitz since...well..a very long time and I love the helical it puts on my arrows.
With any jig, you are only going to be able to go until you start to get bad contact between the quil and shaft. The JoJan and Bitz will both get you to that point.....meaning, as helical as possible! My JoJans are 25+ years old. Unless they get ruined or stolen, I'll never use anything else.
Bitz is the king, in my opinion.
A Bitz is the most adjustable for sure. I believe that a moderate helical is more accurate than maxing out the jig though.
Bitz will put a nice tight helical twist on them.
I love a lot of helical. I use the Bitz but I will confess to bending, twisting and filing it to fit my arrows and helical desires just the way I like. The result is an arrow with a lot of helical that lays and glues up nice and flies great!
Bitz
I'd like to ask why you want it so aggressive?....just trying to learn something...only been at this game for 36 years...and I use 1/4" helical on 5 inch arrows....and again, I'm being serious when I ask why.
How much helical are you talking....and again, why do you need that much? I'm seriously wanting to know as it sounds a little extreme and will cause a lot of drag like a flu flu.....
So, enlighten me....thanks.... :campfire:
Glad you asked that Terry. I've got a BPE and although it does'nt put the most my arrows fly real well. I was just about to spend the money on a Bitz.
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
I'd like to ask why you want it so aggressive?....just trying to learn something...only been at this game for 36 years...and I use 1/4" helical on 5 inch arrows....and again, I'm being serious when I ask why.
How much helical are you talking....and again, why do you need that much? I'm seriously wanting to know as it sounds a little extreme and will cause a lot of drag like a flu flu.....
So, enlighten me....thanks.... :campfire:
I'm curious too unless maybe they are wanting a tight helical for flu-flu purposes. I settled on the helical setting with my Bitz jig where it is because that's what gave me the best fit of the quill to the shaft. I've not really played with adding more or taking some of the offset back from that position.