Flu-Flu's?

[Archer Dave]

Yeah, I would be interested in what you have come up with in your testing. Thanks

[reddogge]

As I mentioned 4-4" helicals go 100 yards for me. 3-4" helicals will go near 115-120 yards and 150-160 yards out of my friend's compound. I had some spirals and they seemed to go 40-50 yards.

[Archer Dave]

Well I think I might just fletch up some 4-4" flu's. All I have is a straight clamp, and I usually use a few degrees offset which shoot very well out of this bow. Will this be ok with a flu, or should I get a helical clamp for doing flu's?

[LC]

   
Here's my absolute favorite flu flu! I use standard 5' shield cut feathers glued up in standard three fletch just like you always do on the FRONT 2/3 of fletch. The final 1/3 is spiraled around. The amount you spiral is directly related to how far it flys. It will give you a whole new appreciation of how little of a spiral fletching slows a arrow down. What I like is I can make it fly 40 yards or 70 yards. Fit's in a bow quiver with zero fletch clearance problem. OUT LASTS any other flu flu. period. Only problem is it's a PIA to make. You don't turn out one of these every few minutes! LOL There's always a price to pay!
The actual pic above is ALOT of spiral and will only go about 40 yards.

[Possumjon]

I had problems getting any power out of a flu flu, haven't experimented much though. My solution was to use snaros. The 3 inch versions slow down a regular arrow fast enough, they go about 125 yards out of my 45 pound bow but still have stopping power out to about 40 yards

[Archer Dave]

That is pretty cool. I have not seen that before. I might have to try that sometime, but as you say it does look like a PITA to make.  :D

[Snow Crow]

Average distance and notes for different types of flu flu using 48# K Mag, 29 inch 400 carbon with 250 gr head target point/broadhead (approx 600 grain total arrow weight) shot at approx 45° elevation:

4 inch 4 fletch hard helical full height-- 87 yards; loud, regardless of rear edge trimming angle; flight excellent; high wear due to shelf contact; fill up back quiver really quick

Full length (10"), full height spiral (wound into 4" space on shaft, about 3/8" gap between wraps) quill towards nock end--  71 yards; somewhat loud, flight good/ok; feather wear due to shelf contact; feathers get mangled in back quiver but doesn't seem to affect flight

Full spiral as above but quill down (point end)-- 40 yards; very loud, very slow

Full length spiral, trimmed to 1/2" high wound into 4" of shaft, quill up--  82 yards; quieter than full height spiral, takes about 15-20 yards to fully stabilize

Full length spiral, trimmed to 1/4" height, wound into 4" of shaft, quill up-- 96 yards; quiet, pack well in quiver; take about 25-30 yards to fully stabilize, broadheads can win the steerage battle (think bareshaft)

Hybrid flu flu (2" banana, 1/2" height 4 fletch + 4" long banana 1/2" high wound spirally quill to quill immediately behind normal 4 fletch)-- 80 yards; quiet, excellent flight.

Hybrid flu flu as above except 1/4" height on spiral wrap-- 97 yards; silent, excellent flight.


I've messed around with other types and derivations of flu flu (including the half clamped, half wound type referenced above- the PITA factor is astronomical), but these are the types I've spent the most time on.


To add to above post regarding snaros, I put a 3" snaro (300 grains) on another type of hot rod flu flu that regularly flew 125+ yards and with the snaro it flew 75 yards like a guided missile- I think those wire loops impart a ton of spin along with the frontal air resistance.

Hope this is of value.  Have fun tinkering!

[Caleb the bow breaker]

Originally posted by Archer Dave:
That is pretty cool. I have not seen that before. I might have to try that sometime, but as you say it does look like a PITA to make.   :D  

Never made them but looking at the pic.  If you used fletch tape Probably wouldnt be too bad.  

1) Apply fletch tape
2) only remove the back off the first third and set the fletch using jig
3) Peel off the remaining backing and wrap by hand.

C

[Firstlight]

You will love your flu - flu's, just experiment.

I make both3, 4 and 6 fletch.  I often use leftover fletch from full feathers and just splice it all together.  I'm stump shooting, not really hunting.  I suspect I usually do 3 or 4 fletch, usually from feathers I've cut.

On this "very used flu flu there are 2-3 splices per fletch, great way to use up scrap feather when cutting down from full length.

I carry at least two flu flu's and I have at least one judo and one blunt on each.
   

[LostNation_Larry]

BTW, I just made a dozen flu flu's out of older, mis matched three fletched arrows.  I just put three additional full height feathers on them and I expect great results.

[LC]

Caleb or for anyone else wishing to try my flu flu. I'm a big believer in fletch tape but not sure it will hold well enough in this application. But who knows try it. I will say it's hard to believe HOW LITTLE spiral it takes on the rear third of the fletching to slow a arrow down. The arrow I had a picture of to post is EXTREME spiraled and it slows a arrow down too much in my experience. Haven't made one in a few years as the A they last a long time and B I don't shoot flu flus as much as I use too. But if I was going to make several of them now adays I'd buy the super duper fletching glue that set ups quick or I'd invest in super glue with a activator. Doing it that way would make it relatively easy.

With all that said once you make and use this style flu flu you'll not go back! They are awesome and hands down bet complete full fletch spiral or full fletch straight. No comparison.

[Snow Crow]

To add to the text description of types tested- From left to right in photo above:  hybrid (1/4" spiral), hybrid (1/2"spiral), speed flu I haven't tested much but still tinkering with, 4" 4 fletch full height with trailing edge trimmed, full height full spiral, 1/2" height full spiral, 1/4" height full spiral

[Firstlight]

Snow Crow, I just may try some of your combo - style flu flu's.

[Caleb the bow breaker]

LC,

I think you are probably right.  I tried the fletch tape with a regular parabolic feather and it was pretty much a giant failure.  Quick set super glue huh????

C

[Snow Crow]

Caleb and LC,

Try tying in the start and end of the wound sections with those flu flus: a little dental floss, thread, or even single strands of B50 will go a long way towards locking in the fletch tape.  For even stronger tie in, dab your favorite glue along the thread and especially the finishing knot(s).  If you use a half hitch, make sure you pull in the same direction and not against the angle of the wound section.

[Jerry Jeffer]

This is an example of a spiral flu flu flight.

  Video