My thoughts and experience with fletch tape....

[PaddyMac]

Wait! Dodger, in pic No. 6, you can see under the fletch with the jig in place. Is it supposed to be that way? On my Bitz it was the same way and I adjusted it so that when I pushed the jig all the way down it was pressing hard on the shaft. When it was up like that I had alignment AND adhesion problems.

I had a few troubles at first with the tape on a four fletch, but I'm just cranking them out now. No problems unless I hit one with an arrow.

[swampthing]

They fell off my unwrapped cx heritages', never off my woodies'.

[Dodger]

Originally posted by PaddyMac:
Wait! Dodger, in pic No. 6, you can see under the fletch with the jig in place. Is it supposed to be that way? On my Bitz it was the same way and I adjusted it so that when I pushed the jig all the way down it was pressing hard on the shaft.

Paddy,
The gap you see in pic # 6 is in front of the feather's leading edge not below it. I do not press down too hard but after the clamp is removed, I do press down on the extra bit of tape, fore and aft of the feather, and apply moderate downward pressure whilst running my finger nail along the quill.
Dodger

[PaddyMac]

Dodger, sorry, I miscounted. S/B No. 7. But now that I can see it, it's just a reflection of the camo from the arrow.

[Dodger]

Originally posted by PaddyMac:
Dodger, sorry, I miscounted. S/B No. 7.  

No worries. That makes two of us.      
   :D

[pickaspot]

Rob, thanks for the tips! My experience with tape has been 90% positive... but I have had a few batches through the years that did not do so well. I bet the naphtha trick will cure my occasional troubles.  I have never cleaned feather bases - ever.
J

[hunt it]

I'm with Rob, except I use Isopropl alcohol to wipe shafts. Dragged mine all round the world -Africa - Oz dam hot places never had any fall off in 15yrs except time I tried an areosol silicone spray on feathers - don't try that!

Otherwise only advice I can give you is lay off the fried chicken before fletching   :D