Could someone please tell me their method,in great detail, on the proper application of fletch tape.
I think you're over thinking it. I just clamp feather in jig clamp. Roll tape on to bottom of feather and cut at end. Peel red backing off and apply to jig like normal. I very rarely even prep shafts and have yet to have a feather fall off.
Do you have good luck with tape on wraps? Never tried?
Is it possible that the tape I have is past its shelf life? It doesn't seem to be very sticky.
My Method, is I try using fletch tape, I have a nervous breakdown at the failure of using fletch tape, recover, go to therapy, then use duco cement.
That's the best detail I can give you.
Actually it's not bad, I just have a hard time getting the backing off. There's no backing to peel off with duco.
QuoteOriginally posted by jimneye:
Is it possible that the tape I have is past its shelf life? It doesn't seem to be very sticky.
Yes. I've used fletch tape for quite a while. It definitely has a shelf life and you need to keep it sealed. I've had way too many feathers come off lately. Pressure from other feathers in the quiver caused several of my feathers and my son's feathers to come off. I am now using loc tite super glue. I won't go back to tape.
On aluminum I love it! I just did a few yesterday. I hunted with arrows that were fletch tapped last winter and they held fine in bad cold rainy weather. The only time I have seen issues is in the heat of early season. If you put a light dab of glue on the front and rear of the feather afterwards they are solid and obviously extremely fast to put together.
How old is ur tape if its not sticking?
I tried the tape for a couple years and went to fast setting super glue over a clear wrap and never looked back.
I use tape with a dab of fletchtite on the ends. I apply it to all my feathers first leaving the red backing on. I prep the shafts with 99% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball. Peel and apply like normal. I take the clamp off and run my fingernail down the spine to ensure contact. I shoot cx heritage 250 shafts.
It is possible your tape is past its shelf life and probably is if your having adhesion issues.
These fletch tape threads have come up many times before.Some love it and some dont.
I have used it for at least 10 years and it has served me very well.Its about all I have used on dozens and dozens of arrows.Very simple and fast is why I like it.
Fresher tape works great.Doesnt have to be brand new or anything like that.Not so fresh and it does not work as well.I Could not tell you about exact shelf life.I store mine in the fridge in a ziplock.Doesnt seem to breakdown stored like that.
Press down on the quill the entire length with good pressure.Apply extra pressure at the front and rear after arrow is fletched a few times.I just use my finger.
I went 100% to fletching with it in my bow shop about 10 years ago. I do have a simple process and that is:
1. clean shafts with soap and air dry.
2. roll on arrow wraps if ordered
3. put on fletch tape on feather, cut to length of feather.
4. scrap with sharp razor to lift the pink backing on fletch tape.
5. apply the fletcher to arrow shaft
6. lift fletcher off arrow, take arrow from fletcher
7. I run my nail down the side of the feather to make sure the tape has full contact with the arrow shaft.
8. I then put a drop of glue on the front and back of the feather.
I have arrow left in the snow and found in the spring and still had the feather on the arrow. It does take time to get in the swing of handling the tape.
one other thing I keep the fletch tape in the old ice box and this extends the shelf life of the tape.
I was told all tape products have "shelf lives". The adhesives just don't last forever in that state.
ChuckC
Make sure shafting/wrap surface is CLEAN!!!
Unpackage tape
carefully apply to fletch
trim any overhang with very sharp scissors
use razor tip or something fine and sharp to lift backing, as not to touch it with your hands (skin oils)
put fletch in clamp and set in jid on arrow, making sure you have full contact to shaft.
Apply some light pressure to seat fletch.
Continue for the rest of fletching.
Realize its not anywhere as good as glue, locate remainder of roll, place in trash recepticle.
We have a helpful video on the bottom of this page of our website. Here's a link to the page, I don't know how to post the video here.
LINK - "Feathers and More" webpage at Braveheart Archery (http://www.braveheartarchery.us/feathers_and_more.htm)
I have not used anything but tape for the last six or seven years, wood, carbon, aluminum, wrapped and unwrapped and never had a problem.
I do exactly like sweet old bill except I give the shafts a quick wipe with denatured alcohol instead of the soap and water.
I do believe the glue gets old and I buy a new roll if the old one is more than two years old.
I don't use tape anymore because if you lay your arroe down on a flat surface for any length of time the feather will slide around and flatten out.
Heat is the only issue I've ever had with it. In the hot summer,the feathers can change position with,or without glued ends. The heat lets the tape get a bit gooey. Short of that,I liked the tape. It is fast to fletch with for certain. rat'
I've used it for years with good success.
I've used it on wood, aluminum, carbon and on wraps without problems.
The surface must be clean to start with. Put the feather in the jig. Lay the tape on the quill straight, press it down good, snip tape with scissors. I use a long, sharp, HAT PIN to lift the end of the tape backing, then lay the jig on to the shaft, remove jig, run my thumb nail down the footing on the quill to insure a good bond, then using pressure, press down on the feather from end to end. After all fletchings are on the shaft, I put a dab of glue on each end of all feathers.
It gets pretty hot in Texas during the summer and I haven't had a feather come loose yet.
Last week I built a dozen wood arrows. The tape I used was at least 2 years old. In my experience, shelf life isn't a problem with fletch tape.
Seems your question starts with frustration...
If that is the case, do some searching on here. I think you will find two distinct opinions on this stuff...best or worst stuff ever. It is very odd. And those opinions come from good people. BTW I am in the latter, but others seem to love it.
I offer this not to bash the stuff, but in the event you are frustrated because you cannot get it to work, I wanted you to read many smart and varying opinions to aid your decision on the need to buy newer stuff, different cleaner, etc.
Been there done that and thought it was me until I did more research. Again opinions vary. I am just trying to offer that more research may be cheaper for you.
I use gorilla super glue and will not switch again unless they someday change the formula. No directions necessary :-)
QuoteOriginally posted by TaterHill Archer:
QuoteOriginally posted by jimneye:
Is it possible that the tape I have is past its shelf life? It doesn't seem to be very sticky.
Yes. I've used fletch tape for quite a while. It definitely has a shelf life and you need to keep it sealed. I've had way too many feathers come off lately. Pressure from other feathers in the quiver caused several of my feathers and my son's feathers to come off. I am now using loc tite super glue. I won't go back to tape. [/b]
I am having this same problem. I have been an advocate for tape for a long time. If this stuff has a shelf life then they should stamp the date on the wrapper. I just finished some arrows and I have some fletching coming off already... (I am not sure how old my roll of tape is :knothead: )
Benjy
They work great as long as you prep the shaft, I almost swore them off after they fell off my wrapped aluminum and bare carbs. I assumed that the wraps out of the packaging would be clean. Then I tried with bare alum cleaned with acetone and they now hold up great. I am going to try them with wood over poly and see how they do. BTW I have had the tape out in the open for years and its still sticky. But now you guys have me paranoid and will have to deploy a ziplock on them.
I wouldn't use them on carbs if I still shot that stuff, I would think that on a porous surface like carbon the glue would penetrate and create a better bond. Especially here in WI where your arrows can go through a freeze/thaw environment hundreds of times thoughout their life cycle.
Thanks too everyone. I think my tape has been laying around open for over 3 years. Time for a new roll. It really is fast and clean (no glue mess) and I've never been one to give up too easily. I think too many people like it for it not to be a useful method. Gonna get a fresh roll and some gorilla glue gel(just in case). Thanks again
Used it for awhile and it was okay, but it creeps under pressure for the same reason it works (the adhesive doesn't harden fully). I use impact-resistant super glue gel now. Much better!
QuoteOriginally posted by Benjy:
QuoteOriginally posted by TaterHill Archer:
QuoteOriginally posted by jimneye:
Is it possible that the tape I have is past its shelf life? It doesn't seem to be very sticky.
Yes. I've used fletch tape for quite a while. It definitely has a shelf life and you need to keep it sealed. I've had way too many feathers come off lately. Pressure from other feathers in the quiver caused several of my feathers and my son's feathers to come off. I am now using loc tite super glue. I won't go back to tape. [/b]
I am having this same problem. I have been an advocate for tape for a long time. If this stuff has a shelf life then they should stamp the date on the wrapper. I just finished some arrows and I have some fletching coming off already... (I am not sure how old my roll of tape is :knothead: )
Benjy [/b]
I was an advocate for a long time too. I've cleaned the wraps. I've used a drop of glue on each end. Doesn't matter. It's not 100%. It's somewhere around 50% come loose somewhere. Most of the time it's so bad they have to be completely redone. Not so with Loctite super glue so far.
I do an unconventional method of applying my tape. I never like rolling out the length of the tape and trying to stick it perfectly so what I do it keep the tape on the roll, peel the outer layer or tape off, press it up against my feather(already in jig) and roll the tape on. When I'm done, cut it where you want it'll stop. Afterwards. I put glue on the front of my feather.
I have had good and bad results with the tape. But I think it has to do with experience of using the tape. I let each feather set a couple minutes even though its instant.