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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bud B. on August 09, 2014, 10:40:00 AM

Title: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Bud B. on August 09, 2014, 10:40:00 AM
My grandson found an arrow I lost in the woods behind my house from a few years back. He found it two days ago. Fletch tape was used over a spray painted crown of Rustoleum. The finish was a water based poly. The shaft was natural cedar, but has discolored over the time under the leaves.

Photo two shows about 1/16th of an inch of the fletch tape. Duco was the end sealers.

You decide.

Is it durable?

  (http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/101_8618.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/101_8618.jpg.html)

  (http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/101_8619.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/101_8619.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Rob W. on August 09, 2014, 10:52:00 AM
It always amazes me when I hear people say they don't like it or it doesn't  hold up. I am rough on my arrows and not very patient fletching and love the tape. I don't clean the shafts like I should when fletching, I often leave my arrows in my hot truck, I set through rain and snow, I shoot through my worn out targets and they still hold perfectly. My hunting arrows for this year were my 3d and hunting arrows from last year.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: recurvehunt on August 09, 2014, 11:52:00 AM
I won't use anything else now.  Quick and easy to apply.  The feathers are now the weak link, after many pass through shots in worn out targets the feathers start to wear and fray but it doesn't separate at the fletch tape.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Jon Stewart on August 09, 2014, 01:43:00 PM
I have had feathers roll over in the heat when I used tape.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Friend on August 09, 2014, 02:19:00 PM
Have fletch taped more than 40 dozen arrows over the years...used them hunting overseas and have had friends that have used them repeatedly in Africa.
Never have I encountered the first hint of an issue.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: TX FLY CASTER on August 09, 2014, 02:27:00 PM
I shoot daily here in TX. I have never had any issues due to heat or humidity with the tape. I currently use it on both wood and aluminum shafts.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: rbcorbitt on August 09, 2014, 02:28:00 PM
I love fletch tape!   Sooo much easier, faster and neater.

To date I have had zero failures with the tape!!
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Hermon on August 09, 2014, 02:34:00 PM
Does fletch tape work on wraps?
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Blaino on August 09, 2014, 02:47:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Rob W.:
It always amazes me when I hear people say they don't like it or it doesn't  hold up. I am rough on my arrows and not very patient fletching and love the tape. I don't clean the shafts like I should when fletching, I often leave my arrows in my hot truck, I set through rain and snow, I shoot through my worn out targets and they still hold perfectly.
X2..... It's pretty hot a humid in the armpit of the south and they never have moved on me.

The stuff sticks to everything, including wraps.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: grouseshooter002 on August 09, 2014, 03:11:00 PM
I haven't used anything else in years.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: wallybowman on August 09, 2014, 03:32:00 PM
Works great in my opinion. I've got a few shafts that are stiil being used that were tape fetched when the tape first hit the market. Most of the feathers are flattened from getting wet but they are still fully attached to the shafts. Glue is only used when I run out of tape.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: stujay on August 09, 2014, 03:45:00 PM
Hermon-Yes fletch tape works on wraps, that all
I use with no issues.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: TaterHill Archer on August 09, 2014, 05:34:00 PM
I prefer tape.  I have had some issues with fetchings moving on me when laying in my quiver (in my house, so heat wasn't the issue). They moved on some shafts with wraps and some without.  That being said, I think it only happened with tape that wasn't "fresh". Any tape I've used that was in a sealed bag has worked well.  Any tape I've had that had been in an open bag for a while had issues.

Just make sure you store it in a sealed bag between uses and you should be ok.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Knawbone on August 09, 2014, 07:12:00 PM
All I use and have used for five years now. No issues when used correctly........none!!!   :readit:
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: ronp on August 09, 2014, 07:19:00 PM
It's all I use.  I'm pretty clumsy and not much of a craftsman, for sure, but I have been able to get feathers to stick.  I had a few fly off, but it was because I didn't clean the wraps good enough.
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: Firstlight on August 09, 2014, 07:33:00 PM
I have used tape for over 15 years so for me I know it works perfectly.

I do a lot of stump shooting with no problems.

My local bow shop doesn't sell tape,"because it doesn't work well for fletching".

Lot's of people "hear" it doesn't work but I have never heard anyone complain about it once they use it.

Of course, I have been told it's, "not traditional", which makes me laugh...
Title: Re: Fletch Tape Durability?
Post by: cahaba on August 09, 2014, 07:35:00 PM
I have never lost a feather due to fletch tape. It's all I use too. I have also found a couple of lost arrows that had been thru rain heat and the elements.. The feathers were almost all deteriorated and when I tried to rip them off they were still stuck on the shaft good.