I wanted to fletch some arrows with four feathers but only have a helical clamp.  Is that a bad idea?

I have always used a helical clamp. I have been doing 4 fletch for 18 years.

I haven't been doing it for as long as fallguy, but I'd say there's 100% not a thing that'll go wrong with it...

I was hoping you would say that since I started gluing on feathers before I thought about it.  thanks

No problem.

I always fletch with a helical clamp LW or RW and 3 & 4 fletch,no problems.

I just started shooting a few 4 fletch arrows to see how they fly and have been using helical clamps and they seem to be shooting well for me.

Can't go wrong with 4 fletch. For those who don't have a helical clamp (Note to self: "Ya right Jim what trad guy/gal doesn't?") a 5 degree offset will work just fine.

I can get 4 helical fletches on beaman mfx arrows, no problem.  You can get 2 4" out of one full length also.  Flip a three and a four fletch arrow, holding by the nock end, out in the yard and see wich one stabalizes quicker.

4 feathers to help stabilize the arrow and help it recover faster,

helical to get the arrow to spine in flight causing it to stabilize faster

Nothing but positives, these are just striaght clamps with a slight offset.




Happy shooting

Does the length of the feathers matter? I have 5" shield.  Too much drag?

I use 4" just because I am still getting a bit more overall surface with the extra inch and not much more weighton the back. I use Kelly's configuration. Check it out, they really do get the best clearance this way and look neat too. It's at the bottom of his Other great tips page on The Foxfire Trad Archery page. Pretty easy to do on my Blitz jig.  http://www.arrowsbykelly.com/Other_Tips.html