Fletch tape failed. Lesson learned.

[Kingstaken]

First I am a big supporter for fletch tape. Never had a problem with them.  I think this is almost as big an invention as duct tape.
With that said I finally got out this weekend to hunt. Took out my bow with quiver with the new GT's I tuned up with 150 grain geads. Man I was psyched.
It was quite cold.
One hour into the woods my feathers started to separate from the shaft's in the middle. Being a very windy day it only made shooting more complicated.    
Just then I reallized these GT's arrows had wraps on them and I had only put a drop of glue on the top and bottoms as I do my cedars which typically only have a poly finish.
They need a full bead of glue.    

[Jake Allen]

Did you clean the wraps before applying the tape?
(rubbing alcohol generally works).
The fletch tape is basically 10mil VHB, and the bond should not be affected by cold weather. (Closed cell spongy part and acrylic adhesive).

[EricW]

I was out this last weekend. Below 0 temps and 30+ mph winds. Not a problem with fletch tape. It
s all I use anymore.

[Kingstaken]

Did not clean the wraps..  :(

[Tim Fishell]

Pretty much all my arrows have wraps and then fletched with tape.  I have never had a problem with the fletch tape holding.

[Bear]

Never had a tape failure. Still have a few of my first taped arrows from five years ago. Been shot through hay, foam, dirt, etc. and them feathers aint comin' off.

Prep the surface.  

[Killdeer]

Alcohol takes the ink off of the TradGang wraps RIGHT NOW.

Killdeer~ask me how I know!  

[Brent Hill]

I never had a fletch tape failure before until a few arrows went south this year as well.  I only put a drop of glue on the top and bottom of feather and wrote of the arrows as flukes.  Now I think I need to start cleaning the wraps like I clean everything else.  I usually use acetone.  Will that work ?  Do I need to run a beed  of glue down the side of each feather ?  Thanks for the info.  Bhill

[Stone Knife]

I don't like the tape, I have tried it and never had any success with it, I like glue  

[Curtis Haden]

I'd think acetone would be a little strong.  Probably take the design right off.  I use denatured alcohol with good results.  One swipe, cradling the wrapped arrow with a lightly saturated rag (usually a cotton t-shirt).  I get some paint transfer using the alcohol, but it's very light, and hasn't damaged a design yet.  Zero fletch failures to this point.

I also put a dab of of fletch-tite platinum at the base and point of the quill.

[Kingstaken]

Killie...Thats what they were...
So I was afraid to clean em down.
Seems just adding a bead of glue worked..

[Bill Kissner]

Windex works as well.

[hunt it]

Never used anything but tape. Hunted all last weekend at -18 no problems. Only time tape ever failed me was when I used an aerosol waterproof spray for feathers, it disolved glue on tape.

[LONGBOWKID]

Only problem I have ever had with fletch tape is leaving my arrows in a back quiver lying on the seat of the truck, in August, in Alabama, well you get the idea, it basically melted the tape, and all the fletches shifted, all had to be re-fletched.

[doug g]

I was out in woods Monday, Michigan U.P. no problem with my arrows which are taped. Temps were 10 windchill -20's winds were bad arrows did great. My nose ran alot though!

[bearfootin]

I was told that fletch tape has a "shelf life". Not sure what the time period is, but I'm sure that Bohning could answer that. I use the tape all the time, and only had trouble once when the humidity was extremely high and only on a couple of fletches. probably didn't clean the shafts enough?? ..Lloyd

[mike g]

I second the shelf life idea, I have herd that tape left on the shelf for awhile and let get to warm will cause it to not work as well as it should....
   I keep mine in the frig, and it has never failed me....

[Kingstaken]

My post wasn't to bash tape as I will always use it. I just learned a lesson I wanted to share and that is I need to prep shafts with wraps alil better.

[Joseph]

I am with Stone Knife on this one.  I have never had good results with fletch tape!  Have know interest in trying it again and it seems to me that if you have to run a bead of glue down it why not just glue the feather on in the first place?

[Kingstaken]

It's just a whole lot faster and if neded it could be repaired on ya hunting trip without a clamp.