Bitz clamp has gap. Operator error.

[Rick Richard]

Just purchased a new Bitzenberger fetching tool and can't seem to get the clamp flush on the shaft. In other words, there is a gap in the belly where it is not making contact with the shaft. Tried adjusting, but no change.

Has anyone had this issue and what did you do to resolve it ?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[ChuckC]

Across the entire length ?  Is it a straight clamp or helical ?  Helicals might exhibit a gap if you align them straight because they are meant to fit a curved surface.

Also, a feather has a certain amount of bulk below the clamp.  Are you certain that the feather won't fill in that gap ?
ChuckC

[Rick Richard]

It is right wing and when laying it on the shaft lot or on a flat surface there is a gap at mid point.

[Mitch H]

Originally posted by Rick Richard:
It is right wing and when laying it on the shaft lot or on a flat surface there is a gap at mid point.

With a helical clamp there should be a slight gap midpoint when placing it on a level surface.

This is necessary due to the shape of an arrow shaft.

Adjusted properly, the back of your feather will be left of the apex when mounted in the jig, and the front of your feather will right of the apex......making both ends lower in height than the middle of the feather, which will be on the apex of the arrow.

Adjust the bottom wheel of the jig adjustment a fair amount to the left, and the top the same amount to the right........play with those adjustments until your entire feather is pretty much hitting the arrow equally from one end to the other.  

[Bjorn]

A helical clamp requires a gap to mount the fletch on a curved surface which will in fact be the arrow's surface for any helical mounted feather.
The gap becomes too big or too small depending on how much twist you are attempting. Put a feather in the clamp and start testing it against an arrow shaft by increasing and decreasing the twist using the knobs on the jig till it works right.

[Mike Vines]

You could also compensate for the gap if it is not that significant.  After the feather is in the clamp, use someting (I use the back of my knife) to pull the feather from the base of the clamp.  You can either glue before or after that is done.  With the feather pulled away from the clamp a little, you simply apply slight downward pressure when placing in the jig that allows the feather to seek it's place, and the bead of glue fills all the gaps.

[M60gunner]

What Mike Vines sez, I always use my knife to lay the feather down on the shaft. I have 2 Blitz's and I had the same issue when I went to left helical. My straight clamp jig does not seem to have this issue, I fletch vanes for my son with this jig.
It is nice to see a person ask a question and get the responses he needs to help him/her. Many of us (before the Internet) had to learn the hard way and it makes this old guy glad to see everyone share their knowledge

[Rick Richard]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies.

I just read the directions and adjusted as per the instructions.  All is well now. Operator error.

I guess I should read instructions first. Lol

[T Lail]

Rick, that will be $135.oo for service support, but with no travel charge.......code OE-1 on the work report......