Hello everyone.

How the heck do you remove fletch tape from wood shafts??

I tried to cut it off the best I could, but there was some still left on the shaft.

I tried methanol, ethanol, min spirits, acetone, & butyl acetate.

Just thought there must be something that will dissolve the stuff without eating thru the poly on the shaft.

I did a search but didn't find anything.

Thank you!
 

I use a flexable razor blade, slide it along the shaft.

Potato peeler, works great, and won't damage shaft..that is at least carbon, never tried wood.

Just about any chemical like the ones you mentioned will eat into the finish.

the peeler is a neat idea.
Don't know what it'll do to the wood either but, it's thinking outside the box which I always like!

 

im new but im thinking maybe wd-40 it eats glue then alcohol to get the oil off might work
if your shaft is sealed good id try it
wd-40 takes everything else off my go to next to a bottle of alcohol

I like the peeler idea, I would of never thought of that one. Boy do we ever have some creative thinkers on this site. Thanks I'll have to give that a try next time I refletch my arrows

I warm it up with a hair dyer and it comes right off. Have only used it on carbons so You might want to try it on an old shaft first. Don

QuoteOriginally posted by batman:
I warm it up with a hair dyer and it comes right off. Have only used it on carbons so You might want to try it on an old shaft first. Don

that's the way i do it with all shaft materials.  go slow and easy, it'll come off without ruining a finished woodie.

hhmmm.

Sounds like a good idea.

Thank you!
 

I also cast my vote for the hair dryer.  If there is any residual glue left over, I use a scotch brite pad to remove it.

I've never had it stick that good.  You got a great batch of tape.

QuoteOriginally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
Potato peeler, works great, and won't damage shaft..that is at least carbon, never tried wood.

Wow that a great idea !!

I just use My thumb to get it off, Little work but does the trick..

Love the peeler idea for the carbons!  Always had good luck with heating first (hair dryer) on all materials as mentioned.

Hair dryer. I use it to save fletch that is not damaged also. Just get it hot and start at the field point end of the feather pull down and away from the shaft at a 45 and it will come off with tape intact and can be reaplied to the new shaft.

Not sure if some are talking Fletch tape and other wraps?  But i use the Potato Peeler for both and it will remove them without damaged due to the curved cutting surface of the blade.  On wraps i have tried to remove with a blow dyer as suggested but have never had it work for me..what am i doing wrong? With the peeler i just cut long strip of the wrap off until it is 99% removed then use acetone to remove residue material, works great.

Another vote for hair dryer.