Hi all, made my first set of river cane arrows, and my first set of goose feather fletching. Todat at the Whittingham NJ shoot was the first day shooting, and most of the feathers fell off. I used Fletch-tite and a feather jig. Glue stayed on the feathers, but not the cane. Should I have treated the cane shaft? Sanded it down first? or switch to Duco?
Any help would be appreciated.
I like the way they shot with 125 grain points, redoak foreshaft, self nock, came out at 620 grains.
Neil

I would sand it to roughen it, or dip the end in a water based poly and glue will stick, or wrap the ends with something. Maybe glue was bad.

Scrape the skin off and use Duco. Should work fine.

Guy

Thanks, will try that next. appreciate the feedback.

Neil. I know the "Trad Police" Are going to squeal   :D  but I use fletching tape and then duco on both ends or I leave the quills a little long and wrap the ends with sinew.

Did you dip or seal the cane with anything?







Benjy

Thanks guys. I left the shaft bare for now. Some said to leave bare, others to coat with poly or another coating. I will probably lightly sand and then dip in poly like my woodies.  I will also wrap with artificial sinew or thread.  
Any special thread to use?

Fletch Tape is the way to go.

Use sinew!   Not very hard to do. Cover with a waterproof finish or wax or something.  Looks cool though.  

Where'd you get the cane?

My son had a soccer tournament down near Virgina beach, and between games was walking the dog near the park and found a bunch in a wetland. I was only able to get a couple dozen without boots. REALLY wish I had some boots - could have cut hundreds.  Oh well.
I am ordering some artificial sinew and some thread to try both methods.
Thanks for info.

Great looking shafts Benjy. I think I would set them up both ways so I would be sure to have a couple that had feathers on it when it counted.