1st off.  I understand that the Blitzenberger's are the highest quality jigs.  If I was doing a ton of arrows thats what I would get.  But I'm doing a maximum of three doz. a year.  Do you get a more consistent fletch with the Blitz's or do they just last forever?

The J8 Fletching Jig by Martin Archery costs about 1/2 the cost of the Bitzenberger, and actually does some things better than the Bitzenberger.  Both are available from 3 Rivers, and probably other places as well.

The Martin has an adjustment so you can set the feather angle more precisely than you can on the Bitzenberger.  The Martin is made out of a type of plastic that sheds glue better than the Bitzenberger.  You'll probably want to mount the Martin on a piece of plywood or something, which isn't a big deal.  The Bitzenberger is heavy enough to use without mounting on anything.

The Bitzenberger is more solid and probably a little easier to use.

I wouldn't say that either one produces a more consistent fletch than the other.  I think you get slightly more helical twist out of a Bitzenberger clamp.

The hardest thing with either one is the initial setup to get the maximum offset possible on your arrow shaft without having the feather quill hanging off the shaft.  This varies, depending on the diameter of your arrow shaft, so the setting sometimes has to be readjusted when you go from a very small diameter carbon shaft to a larger diameter aluminum or wood shaft.

I use Vador jigs at a fraction of the price for a Bitz. So long as adjustments are not changed mid-fletch, all the jigs will be consistant. Once an arrow is off the jig I challenge anyone to be able to tell what jig was used to fletch the arrow.

Guy

I bought a JoJan about 20 years ago.Sence then I've tryed them all at one time or another but always seam to go back.

I bought the grayling jig just not too long ago and have been more than happy with both the right wing and left wing clamps.  I dont bother with the straight.  Probably use this one for the rest of my days since I dont make more than a couple dozen arrows a year.

Been using a single Jo-Jan since 1987.  Still works.  Sometime I wish I had the 6-pack version just to get arrows fletched quicker, using a single fletcher works fine.

I have the martin j8,bought it at least 10 years ago,probly averages a few doz. per year.I dont see how anything could be much better,But I havent tried anything else either.

I use a Bitz and get pro results. Very solid, durable and I love the way I can get a solid left helical on a skinny carbon shaft with 5 inch feathers. It's a set it and forget jig.

I use a Bitz.

I think most will do a bang-up job - I wouldn't use the Blitzenburger if I was doing a bunch of arrows a year, unless I had twelve of them. I surprised no one has mentioned the Bearpaw - I have seen the ads for them. I think as long as you stay away from a plastic jig you'll be fine (and maybe avoid the cabelas jigs, I see them in the bargain area all the time - returned). I have never seen a Martin J8 - post a photo of that thing.

Nothing wrong with plastic jigs unless you adjust them with a hammer. My original three are about 11 years old now and there's no difference from the day I bought them.
So far as I know the only metal jigs are the Bitzenburger and the Jo-Jan.  

Guy

I just started making fletching up my own a few months ago. I was in the same spot as you, not sure if I wanted to spend that amount for the amount of arrows I planed on doing.

I ended up getting the BPE pro and am VERY happy with it. simple to use comes with good directions and can fletch any setup you want! at a good price. One to check out for sure.

I have both a Bitz and a Bearpaw and prefer the Bearpaw. It's easier to adjust, more adjustable, and easy to switch between 3 and 4 fletch, which I do a lot.

Craig

The BearPaw works very well and not as pricey as Bitz.

I managed to scrape up two old Bitzes.  They both are for 3 fletch, is it possible to do a 4 fletch on them?  Is there a setting or am I better off getting another jig to do a 4 fletch arrow?