Dose it work, and is it easy to use?
Yes to both questions.
Yes on both. Been using it for a while now with no issues.As stated before shelf life is a concern. I however have had no problems.
Any tips for using and should you glue down the front and back edges?
I run a small beed of glue but a drop on the ends will work too.
Yes....and Yes. Lots of good info here on fletch tape. Quick search should show a lot of top notch info on the "in's and out's" of its use.
I use tape on mine. I'll put a drop on the ends and I'll try to flatten them. I've sent an arrow through my bag target where I had to pull it through and the feathers with tape held up just fine.
Few tips that I've found that work well for me:
1. I do run a bit of super glue on both ends of my feather. Like the security it provides and I've never had one fall off either.
2. I keep my fletch tape in the refrigerator....I have one in the work shop. This keeps it nice and "fresh" and provides optimal "stickiness" over a long period of time.
Give yourself some time to get used to it. Some grapple for a while with how to get it off the roll etc. I use an exacto knife and it works well.
Please know that this is like most things in the YMMV.
Good luck!
100x better than glue!
I don't use it myself,but I have watched quite a few videos on the installation. If you go to the how-to section on the forum home you will see that Rob Di Stefano has a good video on how to install them.
Works great.
I put a bead of glue at each end of feather. I also run a bead along the entire length of quill.
Not sure the last step is needed but I that is how I was taught so I have always done it that way.
My fletch never moves or loses helical.
Once you get the hang of it you will never go back to glue. It just plain works.
horrible stuff.
A scourge to all a traditional archers.
The spawn of evil.
just kidding it's good stuff.. :knothead:
just get your shafts clean with acetone, alcohol, naptha or something f the sort. and don't touch the tape with your fingers.
We sell a lot of it,have not had anybody complain.
Like everybody else said, great stuff. Put drop of glue at each end for insurance. Super easy to work with and even shooting in the dead of winter, it won't let go. Good stuff.
Rob's How To thread:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000120
Yes, easy to use and durable
It's all I use on carbon shafts
I use it on my One Stringer wraps with a drop of super glue front and back - partly for insurance and partly to insure no sharp point on the front of the quill.
Just came back from a 3-D shoot and had some positive reinforcement. I did what nobody else does and actually missed a hog. The arrow passed just in front of the chest, went through some closely spaced saplings and I thought it was gone forever. I found the arrow about five feet beyond the saplings lying sideways on the ground. The cock feather was cleanly sheared off, but the quill was still stuck firmly to the shaft. Can't ask for more holding power than that.
Have fletched taped nearly 35 dozen arrows over the years.
>>>I still maintain the upmost confidence<<<
Highly experienced and travelled hunters wouldn't continuously take them across the world to Africa if there was even a hint of doubt.
A little tip I picked up here is to cut the tape diagonally with a scissors. It makes it easier to peel off the plastic with a blade.
I always leave about 1/16th" of tape at the back of the quill. Press the tape against the quill. Let it go and the tape will normally stick but the plastic will pop off the end. Peels off easy then.
I love using the stuff. A drop of glue on either end and I'm completely confident in my set up. It took me awhile to find good finish for my woods, but once i did it will peel layers of shaft off before letting the quill go.
Been using it for year. I put a glue dot front and back but also a couple along the base of the feather on both sides...no worries
Never had it fail me. Always use a couple of drops of Duco at front and back edge of feathers. I keep mine in a zip lock baggie. I use an exacto knife to get the two strips separated.
Love the stuff!, I do not use glue on it though, just my pref, and have no problems. that tape is tough stuff and if you carefully put pressure on it after you remove your clamp, feathers will stay on better than a lot of glues, which get brittle over time. gives arrows a clean finish also.
If you have no finger nails you will need a blade to separate the backing.Quit chewing your nails!
One tip: Tap down the ends of the tape once placed on the fletch then pull off the backing. You can run the tape a tad bit longer than the fletch to do this.
I like it. I've only fletched a couple dozen with it so far, but with a spot of glue front and back, it has held well. Definitely quicker than glue.
Works well with wood shafts regardless of the finish- lacquer or poly. Just make sure to make sure it is fully seated for the length of the feather. I take a thumb nail and run it down the quill lip to ensure full contact. It saves the finish when it comes time to refletch the woods.
I've been using this tape since it hit the market. I still have a few arrows from 15 years ago that even though parts of the feather are missing the quill and tape are still adhered to the shaft. And yes add a drop of glue to the front and rear tip of each feather.
I use tape on my Douglas Fir shafts with turkey feathers that I have cut and ground and with a drop of glue at each end. I have never had it fail in the extremes of Idaho weather. Works great for me.
Same experience here as trad shooter. I shoot year 'round in northern Vermont, and get at least a few days of roving rough woods every week. Frequently send the fletching clear thru softer stumps, or have to pull it thru to retrieve the arrow.
Temps I shoot in range from below 0F up to around 90F.
Only times I've had any issue were operator error. Still need to pay attention when fletching.
Great stuff. Have used it for several years with no problems.
Bahumbug. It starts with fl etching tape; next thing you know you've slid down the slippery slope and will be shooting a compound. "Traditional" glue only on my arrows.
Okay, by most accounts the stuff works fine. I do find glue to be a lot easier to work with than tape; and I enjoy taking my time building arrows so speed isn't an issue for me.