What jig will give the most helical ?

Al Kidner · April 08, 2017, 07:22:00 AM

Hi guys,

Well for years now I've used my trusty Jo-Jan single fletcher and have always been pleased with the simplicity of it.

Of late though I was wanting to put more helical on my fletching and I have the Jo -Jan maxed out as much as possible. I have heard with the Bitzenburger jig you can really get a large helical?

For those that have used both, what would the better jig for maximum helical? I have an old Arrow Art custom made arrow from the guys at Black Widow and it has a massive helical and Ive been told those guys used the Bitzenburger jigs?

Cheers lads,

AK.

Gdpolk · April 08, 2017, 07:28:00 AM

I've not used them all but of the 3 I have tried the Bitz had the most adjustment.

That said, I find the arrows make a LOT more noise with a super tight helical fletch and overly tight helical doesn't improve the stabilization of the arrow any more than a moderate twist rate from my experience. In my limited experience with informal testing, improved stabilization comes from increased fletching size, not tighter helical and faster rotation of the arrow. Based on this, I set my Bitz helical jig so that I get maximal surface contact of the quill on the shaft.

Anointed Archer · April 08, 2017, 07:44:00 AM

The Bitzenburger definitely gives you as much helical as you want!

Recurve7 · April 08, 2017, 08:18:00 AM

Bitzenberger is the best I've found! Pricey, but last a lifetime.

Roy from Pa · April 08, 2017, 08:34:00 AM

Bitzenburger is the best and lasts forever. No real advantage putting in an excess of helical.

MnFn · April 08, 2017, 09:17:00 AM

I have had my Bitzenburger for over twenty years, and I bought it used from a friend. I have never felt I needed something better.

Whether or not another fletcher can put more helical on, I don't know. But I know I can put enough on with my Bitz.

reddogge · April 08, 2017, 09:41:00 AM

The helical is fine on a Bitz and you have a lot of adjustment on the offset plus the magnetic clamp holder works better than the gravity held Jo-Jan.

McDave · April 08, 2017, 09:58:00 AM

I have used the Bitz, Jo-Jan, Martin, and Bear Paw jigs, and the Bitz gives the most helical of any of the ones I have used. In fact, it gives so much helical that I prefer to use the Martin on skinny shafts like VAP's, because I have trouble aligning the feather on top of the shaft with the Bitz. I keep one Martin jig permanently aligned for fletching VAP shafts, since it was a lot of trouble to set it up in the first place, and I don't want to have to do that again. Plus, as much as a Bitz costs, I wouldn't want to dedicate one for something I only do once in a blue moon.

crazynate · April 08, 2017, 12:34:00 PM

The bitz. Also remember it depends on shaft size to. You can get more helical on a 2315 Easton compared to a 6mm carbon not much room for offset on skinny shafts

April 08, 2017, 01:01:00 PM

If you move both recievers on the JO-Jan you can get more helical and still keep fairly flat quill contact, but the nock end will bridge with large finned nocks on the narrow side. Years ago I made some super helicals using the thread fletch method. There is definitely a point on diminishing returns going for too much. On wood shafts that are not tapered for a time I like more spin, just because the arrow spun more and it looked cool. I found that moderate helical with four 5" achieved what I wanted better.

M60gunner · April 08, 2017, 02:14:00 PM

What crazynate says, learned that lesson.

Lonehowl · April 08, 2017, 06:25:00 PM

Ive always used a Bitz..I have noticed that certain brands of feathers seem to give a little better helical, a feather that has a thin or skinny quill seems to allow a bit more.
Maybe its just me?
Mark

Al Kidner · April 08, 2017, 07:03:00 PM

Thanks for the responses guys.

Over the years I've fletched up hundreds of shafts with my Jo-jan and can't really complain, other than I guess I'm after just that little but more helical, simply for looks over performance I'm thinking.

Cheers,

AK.