Fletching arrows?

xtrema312 · June 03, 2009, 04:09:00 PM

I am thinking about doing my own. I have done some years ago on my aluminum shafts, but mostly repairs and some with Arizona easy fletch. I seem to go through the feathers on the trad bow a little faster. I don't have a handy source for shield cut feathers. I am wondering if the cost of getting started will pay off in a reasonable time. I also need some info on basic, but good equipment and supplies. I have some Cabela's bucks saved up so it would be best if it is something they have, but not critical. I am thinking about going with wraps, but have never used them. I will be shooting carbons. Any suggestions or pointers would be appreciated.

WestTnMan · June 03, 2009, 05:21:00 PM

I don't know that it will pay off but I do all mine. I use a Bitzenburger and it is a great jig and easy to repair only one if you need to. I use carbons and have spray painted them in the past and it works and looks great but the last batch I did wraps. They look good and are easy to apply. I used yellow wraps from EZ Crest. Only hitch is the the Goat Tuff glue, which I use, will fade the yellow to white if you use too much glue. I have to lay a precise bead of glue down to not have fading. I think just being able to do it yourself and make repairs as needed was reason enough for me to get started doing it. I started with an Arizona like you have but when I got the Bitz it was like night and day difference. For feathers, I just order or get them at BPS. I bet your fellow Kalamazoo man, Kevin Van Dam, is kicking butt on Kentucky Lake today.

saltwatertom · June 04, 2009, 01:13:00 AM

Xtrema;
I bought a fletching tool from 3 Rivers, the red inexpensive one with the buck design in it. I do all my own now. There is a learning curve but you'll catch on quickly if you just keep with it and experiment a little. Wraps are super easy also (check with onestinger). As for feathers, if you shop around a little you can find some really good deals and be able to build custom arrows to you own specs that you will be proud of and really enjoy shooting. I use flecthing tape to put the feathers on with, it's easy, not messy and works great. (you won't be able to get high off of it tho! no fumes). I mounted my jig on a peice of 3/4 inch plywood about 14 inches square for a base. Doing your own is definatly worth it.

Thats my $.02 worth

Rob DiStefano · June 04, 2009, 07:08:00 AM

what saltwatertom said.

the red bohning jig will fletch any arrow as good as it gets.

wipe down the fletching area of each shaft with naphtha (lighter fluid) on a paper towel before attaching the feathers.

bohning fletch tape is THE way to go. put a drop of fletch cement (duco is fine) at each end of the taped on fletch.

arrow wraps are optional.

buy yer feathers precut or buy full length and use a li'l chopper.

this is bird moulting season. at a local pond i pick up canada geese primary feathers, cut them down the quill center with a razor blade, use a fletching jig clamp to hold the feather while grinding the base flat with a belt sander, chop out the feather with a li'l chopper jig. free fletchings that work every bit as good as turkey feathers, and canada goose feathers are inherently water resistant!

fletch yer own - it's a great way to be more connected to yer shooting and hunting.

xtrema312 · June 04, 2009, 04:17:00 PM

What does everyone think of the bohning jig vs. the Jo-Jan mono? I shoot right hand. I always forget, is that right or left helical feathers? I know some use the opposite with no issues, but I was wondering what is standard.

**DONOTDELETE** · June 04, 2009, 10:03:00 PM

I have Jo-jan and it is great. I have the multi-fletch and I can do 1/2 dozen arrows at once.

Left or right, thats up to You... I do better with left wing ( right handed shooter) But that's me.. Some say to use the left wing if your right handed, right wing if left handed.. but from every slow motion video the arrows don't start to rotating till after the arrow leaves the string.

Fletcher · June 04, 2009, 10:32:00 PM

As far as fletching jigs go, I'm pretty partial to the Bitzenburger. My second choice would be a BPE Pro. I've used the JoJan and didn't care for the way it clocked the fletching and seemed a bit inconsistent. I've not used the Grayling or Bohning, but there have been tons of arrows fletched with the Grayling and the Bohning looks very similar. I've never made up carbons or used wraps, but have heard good reports about Bohning Platinum glue for these. Tried the tape and found it easy and convenient, but didn't hold nearly as solid as glue.

wharvey · June 04, 2009, 10:57:00 PM

I use a Blitz jig. Very adjustable.

Wraps are very easy but do add some weight to the rear of the shafts. I went to a sign shop and got the plastic cut for length. Cut the width myself with a paper cutter I have. Arrows really look sharp wrapped.

If you use tape, which I do, don't worry about multiple stationed jigs like the JoJan. Even with a single station jig like the Blitz you can do about a dozen arrows an hour without even trying.

As to the left, right issue. It really doesn't matter but be sure and match the jig clamp, which will be handed, to the feather type. (Left-left, or right-right. If using a straight clamp it doesn't matter.)

mattmcdonald · June 05, 2009, 10:46:00 PM

i use the the red bohning jig from 3 rivers also it works good although it had a curve to it right under the magnet and i had to cut it back to get it to lay just right i dont know if this is something everyone had to do but it did make it hard to use at first

Gatekeeper · June 05, 2009, 11:49:00 PM

IMO the pay off of doing your own arrows is not a matter of $'s it is a matter of convenience and the fun of building arrows. While target shooting I have a tendency to knock feathers off or shoot the arrow until the feathers are ragged so being able to make a repair or replace a damaged arrow on demand is worth the price of the equipment needed to do this task.

I have only used the Bitzenburger for attaching the feathers and have found it to be very easy and reliable to use. I have also, for the past two years, been using the double sided fletch tape to attach the feathers and I have been satisfied with this product...quick and simple.

For the cresting on my arrows, I use decorative trim tape that I buy from a radio control model store. The tape comes in a 5" x 36" sheet and I cut it down to strips of 1" x 8.875". The full sheet cost $3.50.

The feathers and fletch tape are purchased from The Nocking Point. Mike is a Sponsor of this site. I haven't gotten into cutting my own feathers but I have a buddy that burns his own feathers and the advantage that I see to that is he can burn out what ever shape he desires by shaping the wire that burns the feathers to a profile shape of his choosing.

Good luck.