Has anyone tried to put parabolic feathers on backwards? Just saw this on the big auction and was wondering if the guy actually knew what he was doing or made a mistake? Ugly! but what do I know?  :confused:

I saw that done back in the early 70's and tried it myself... I wasn't impressed. They work just fine when put on the right way.

My son did 'nanners' backwards a while back, I never said a word it was pretty funny to see them fly.

I just fletched a couple dozen arrows with a boyscout troop tonight.  Lots of interesting fletching interpretations!  :eek:

I'd be afeared they would come back at me.  H

I actually fletched 3 arrows using right wing feathers with a left wing jig one time and wondered why they were giving me problems????

Right wing feathers in a left helical jig or vica-versa shouldn't make a difference. I have done it and it didn't change a thing.

I've done one,,,or two by mistake when using an old Martin 3 blade jig,,,,20 minites waiting for the glue to go off,an then,,oh dear,,"or words to that effect;)

Robert, you are correct, sir.  My fletcher only fletches with a left helical, but I once received right wing by error.  Used them anyway.  There is no difference once they are glued in place.

The difference is they take longer to set.

are you talking about taking a parabolic fletch (don't matter what wing) and putting the high back end forward?  can't do that unless the fletch is reverse chopped or burnt (so that the feather barbs lie toward the nock).

anyhoo, there was a buncha ballyhoo about doing that back in the 60's & 70's.  i tried it.  i'm with charlie. i wasn't impressed and it just looks plain dumb.

Yes Rob thats what I meant, I'm still pretty new to all this trad thing and didn't know if the guy was selling something he messed up or if people do that. Anyhow its UGLY, and I found my 4-4" to be just fine.

yep thats got to look ugly.

It would make for quite an initial bumb when the fletch hits the riser I would think. Rather than a smooth transition.

I guess the closer the tall part of the fletching is to the rear of the arrow the more leverage the fletch has to do its job.

I tried that once and the arrow became confused, not
knowing if it's coming or going...it ended up hovering in mid-air,
just out of reach  

Why'd ya wanna do dat?

I have a older friend that does that. He grinds and burns his own feathers. I asked him why and he said it works on an airplane wing having the big side up front and he likes it. I havent tried it and dont really want to, but he swears by it.