Finger room behind the feathers

snowplow · June 13, 2014, 02:35:00 PM

Hey guys, I finally got all my stuff to make up a set of arrows for my long bow. I ended up with Carbon Express Heritage 90's. They are a tiny 9/32 shaft but fly sweet for me. So as I test a couple of different fletching settings on my new fletcher I am feeling the want to add more room for my fingers on the back of the shaft. Coming from a compound/release background it seems that I would naturally want more room for fingers especially considering I could ruffle the feathers vs having vanes.

How much room do you guys leave back there?

arrowslinger22 · June 13, 2014, 02:39:00 PM

I put the back of the feather on the first large line on my fletching jig, it's the same on my grayling fletcher and my bitzenberger. When glued, I have enough room behind the fletching to fit my fingers in my glove in front of the nock and the back of the fletching.

Wheels2 · June 13, 2014, 02:48:00 PM

I fletched some GameGetter II shafts and they had the nock taper and glue-on nocks. I opted to switch to Uni-nocks so I cut off the nock taper and installed the nock inserts. It moved the feathers back 1/4' or so. They now rub on my finger but do not affect the flight. Feathers are very forgiving...

shag08 · June 13, 2014, 02:51:00 PM

I had never actually measured mine til right now...you made me curious. I just have a mark on my fletching jig that I line up the back of the feather with.

Turns out I fletch mine 1 1/4" from the fletching to the valley of the nock. I measured some other arrows that were fletched when I bought them. They range from 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 on different batches of arrows.

grouseshooter002 · June 13, 2014, 02:55:00 PM

I have my Bitz set for 5/8 and this works well for me.

Regards,
Grouse

Jim Wright · June 13, 2014, 03:18:00 PM

I shoot middle/ring fingers under with my index finger resting lightly on top of the shaft. From the forward edge of the nock to the rear foot of my fletching is 1", that allows plenty of space to lay my index finger.

macbow · June 13, 2014, 03:21:00 PM

You can make your own marks and move them forward.
Only caution is if you use long fletching it might get close to the rest. On my home made bows I only have 6 1/2 brace.

BOWMARKS · June 13, 2014, 05:00:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by shag08:
I had never actually measured mine til right now...you made me curious. I just have a mark on my fletching jig that I line up the back of the feather with.

Turns out I fletch mine 1 1/4" from the fletching to the valley of the nock. I measured some other arrows that were fletched when I bought them.

X2

old_goat2 · June 13, 2014, 08:53:00 PM

I leave a little more room than most, gives me a little room to trim from behind if I need to for repair or tune

Orion · June 13, 2014, 10:06:00 PM

I set the base of my feather about 1 3/16 to 1 1/4 from the throat of the nock.

Charlie Lamb · June 13, 2014, 10:27:00 PM

Fletching is most effective when set as far back as possible. I like mine set 1 1/8" from the valley of the nock. Looks good and is very effective.

trad_bowhunter1965 · June 13, 2014, 11:01:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Fletching is most effective when set as far back as possible. I like mine set 1 1/8" from the valley of the nock. Looks good and is very effective.

DITTO

jdemoya · June 13, 2014, 11:10:00 PM

x3.
1/8" past your finger. Just enough to get clearance.
God bless, José

June 14, 2014, 10:36:00 AM

I brush my feather almost every time I grab the string. Just barely, but I do touch it. Never seemed to make any difference to all the critters I have shot, so I just keep doing it that way.

Bisch