My thoughts and experience with fletch tape....

[Blaino]

i have been using the tape for a few months now with great results.  you can see that where i live it's HOT.  i also use a jo-jan and i don't use any glue.....

this is weird.  i hope that this won't become the norm.

[GANDGOLF]

We'll, I live here in TEXAS,an IT,S HOT! I also use a Jo Jan. Fletched some just this morning. But after fletching, I use fletch tite all along the catch side PLUS BOTH ENDS. No Problems, no worries, no matter How Hot..

[BOWMARKS]

Been using for years and have not had any doubts on hows it will hold.      

[Pepper]

I use tape, and have had no difficulties, don't know what the difference is, but I will keep on until I encounter problems.
Sorry to hear of your issues.

[sticbow]

i pull the clamp off an run my fingertip all the way down the featherquill pushing the feather to one side making sure the quill is stuck tite..i don't think the jigs put enough pressure on the whole feather..i have never had any problems..

[LookMomNoSights]

Well thanks for all the feedback people.   Good to hear from everyone!  Keep on keepin' on with that tape if it does the trick for ya.  Me,  Im stockin' up on platinum!  And I know there are others in my boat too.

[sidebuster]

I swear by it.  Yep you can get a bad roll once in a while.  This happen to me and just bought another roll and it work great.  I live in Texas and its hot here.  Most of the reasons it doesn't work is not good prep work.

[JamesKerr]

I have had the same experience and I have tried all the brands of fletching tape. I just can't get it to hold. Glue for me as well.

[frankwright]

I seriously cannot put a number of arrows I have fletched with the tape. Probably 70% of them were carbons with a wrap.
I have never had one come loose and I promise, it is hot and humid in Georgia.

I don't do anything special, I run my thumb nail down the fletch when I remove the clamp and a drop of glue front and back.
Usually when I go to refletch and try to pull off the old fletch, the feather rips off leaving the quill and tape still stuck on the shaft.

Bad batch of tape is all I can offer up.

[pdk25]

I always use wraps, and the fletching tape workks great on them. No problems wth arrows shot many hundreds of times in temps from sub-zero to 115 degrees.  I use bitzenberg(?) Fletcher, don't stretch the tape. Smooth down the feathers after removing from the jig, drop of glue at the tips and a single line of glue along the thick edge.  I absolutely prefer it to glue alone. Used without the wraps, I have no idea.

[heydeerman]

I have been using Bohning tape exclusively since it hit the streets. I have had a couple fletches come off but I just re tape em and put em back on. I found an arrow that I shot a couple years ago that was buried under leaves. The feathers were still tight and had to scrape em off. I do not put a drop of anything on the ends of the feathers either. I have had better much better luck with the tape than glues.

[Dodger]

Originally posted by LookMomNoSights:
I do use a Jo-Jan exclusively.....I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

I doubt it. I use a Jo-Jan and have fletched a few dozen shafts using the tape and have never had a problem.

Either your tape is from an iffy batch (I had one of those) or you are not adjusting the fletching jig so as to make full contact between the base of the quill and shaft.

Regards,

Dodger

[Don Stokes]

Murphy's Law...

[Rob DiStefano]

if yer bohning fletch taped feathers are coming off in any way, you are NOT properly using the tape and process.

this is an issue with the operator and not the product.

this has NOTHING to do with the type of fletching jig used, either.

if you learned and used the correct bohning fletch tape procedure, this post -and others like it- wouldn't have happened ...

• put the feather into the jig clamp.
• clean the shaft and quill bases with naphtha (lighter fluid) on a piece of clean paper towel.  after doing so, do NOT touch either with your fingers/hands!
• unroll some of the fletch tape - DO NOT TOUCH THE STICKY SIDE - the piece of tape held by your fingers does NOT go down onto the quill!
• lay the tape down, DO NOT stretch the tape!
• after you lay down the tape, snip off the excess with sharp scissors.
• use yer fingernail to press down HARD on the taped quill.
• remove the tape backing, align the clamp into yer jig, press down on the clamp at the middle and both ends.
• when all the feathers are taped on, remove the arrow and press down HARD on all the quills.
• adding a dot of any kinda fletch glue to the front and back of each feather is optional, but probably worthwhile.

you can do it!!! .....  you will love it!!!      :thumbsup:    

             

here's my arrow that spent over 2 years in the south carolina woods (after it killed a hog) and you can see that the feathers are missing but all four quills are still firmly taped to the carbon shaft ...

         

         

[Jim Stewart]

Well, thankee Mr. DiStefano!  Been using fletch tape on all types o' arra materials fer years, and threads like this always made me feel I wuz one o' the "lucky" ones to have no problems!  Thanks to Rob, I find I've been doing it right all along!  Even a blind hog.... 8^)

PS:  Another "thankee" fer yer hip quiver plans - have made a couple to date, and they came out great even fer a fumble-fingered ol' fella!

[Tree Rat]

Other than the naptha basically the same process. Different results. Please tell me my miscue.

Freshly capped shafts (not gonna use naptha,or anything else, on fresh paint)

Freshly cut/chopped feasthers - never needed to prep a feater before - vanes yes, feathers no.

Insert feather into clamp.

Add tape directly from the roll with about 1/2" excess at the start to prevent finger oil issues.

Take a Stanley knife blade and press the tape into the quill good and hard. The clamp gives nice resistance.

Trim excess. Remove red film with tip of knife blade to keep fingers away from tape.

Insert clamp into jig and press

Once all the feathers are mounted, remove arrow from jig and press, hard, down the full length of each feather at least twice.

Add glue to tip and end of feather.

Roughly 50/50 results with this process and the issue is never on the feather side. It is the shaft that loses adhesion.

Never, ever, had an issue with white Fletch Tite. Platinum had haphazard adhesion too until I changed from acetone as a prep. (on unpainted shafts)

Someone mentioned don't strech the tape. Could it be when I press with the knife blade I am compressing it, giving the same effect as stretching it? Really don't care much as I don't think glue is that much of a hassle, but maybe it will help someone else.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Tree Rat:
Other than the naptha basically the same process. Different results. Please tell me my miscue.

Freshly capped shafts (not gonna use naptha,or anything else, on fresh paint)

Freshly cut/chopped feasthers - never needed to prep a feater before - vanes yes, feathers no.

Insert feather into clamp.

Add tape directly from the roll with about 1/2" excess at the start to prevent finger oil issues.

Take a Stanley knife blade and press the tape into the quill good and hard. The clamp gives nice resistance.

Trim excess. Remove red film with tip of knife blade to keep fingers away from tape.

Insert clamp into jig and press

Once all the feathers are mounted, remove arrow from jig and press, hard, down the full length of each feather at least twice.

Add glue to tip and end of feather.

Roughly 50/50 results with this process and the issue is never on the feather side. It is the shaft that loses adhesion.

Never, ever, had an issue with white Fletch Tite. Platinum had haphazard adhesion too until I changed from acetone as a prep. (on unpainted shafts)

Someone mentioned don't strech the tape. Could it be when I press with the knife blade I am compressing it, giving the same effect as stretching it? Really don't care much as I don't think glue is that much of a hassle, but maybe it will help someone else.

then look to the paint - is it FULLY cured?  find out from the paint manufacturer about the full cure time.  if not, sticky thing will not fully stick to it.  

i'll repeat - both the shaft fletch area and the feather quills MUST be dry, hard and clean of any oils before laying down the tape.

yes, do not pull/stretch the fletch tape as you lay it down.

[Dodger]

For whatever it's worth, this is how I do it.

This is what I use.
 


Ensure that the nock holder on the fletching jig is horizontal. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to learn about all the necessary adjustments that will ensure that the base of the quill rests on the shaft without any gaps.
 


Place the arrow into the fletching jig as per manufacturer's instructions. If the arrow nock has an index marker, this should be aligned with the cock feather.
 


First, place the cock feather in the clamp, with the rear of the feather aligned with a certain mark on the clamp. Some clamps come pre-marked. Mine did not. This ensures that the feathers aren't stuck to the shaft at random distances from the valley of the nock. I leave 1 1/4" from the rear of the feather to the valley of the nock. Some people leave less distance and others a little more.
 


Now stick the double sided fletching tape on the quill with a little overhang on either end and cut the tape. Run your finger down the tape on the quill to ensure that it has stuck evenly and there are no air gaps.
 


Remove the reddish protective strip from the double sided fletching tape. I prefer to use a scalpel or a thin bladed pocket knife.
 


Place the clamp into the jig, apply a little pressure, remove clamp, run a finger nail down the side of the quill to ensure it's stuck evenly, press and stick the tape overhangs to the shaft and you now have a feather stuck to the shaft.
 

 

[Dodger]

Now rotate the shaft on the jig and use the same process to stick the hen feathers.
 

 


For added security, you can apply a drop of Fletchtite, etc. on the leading and trailing end of each feather and let dry.
 

 

Hope this helps those who may have faced problems whilst fletching with tape.

[TDHunter]

I will never go back to glue!
I shoot a tone, every day and started using this tape earlier this year and have never had one come off. Just finished a couple goat hunts in hammering rain and heavy winds........My gear took a beating and still no problems. Maybe you got a bad batch??   I love this stuff.