Fletching your own arrows ?

[DeerKiller2012]

About to buy a jig and fletcher ordeal to fletch my own arrows. Will the standard straight bohning fletcher $36.99 fletch the blazer vanes ? Also any advice on fletching my own arrows and good glue recommendations appreciated.

 

[PinchPoint]

I recently bought the Arizona mini jig, and LOVE it! super easy and fletches perfectly...tried FletchTite plantinum and it was just ok. Switched to Pine Ridge Instant Glue it it works awesome!
And Im using Blazers as well

 

[Mr.Bro]

I recently bought the Arizona mini jig, and LOVE it! super easy and fletches perfectly...tried FletchTite plantinum and it was just ok. Switched to Pine Ridge Instant Glue it it works awesome!
And Im using Blazers as well

Good advice here.Also tried the Fletch Tite and would not recommend it to anyone.Stick with the instant "crazy" glues.The Arizona fletcher is my choice also.I would recomend going with at least a 3 degree offset.For quicker spin.

 

[TNDeerGuy]

I use two Bohning helical jigs and it works great. You'll need a couple of things a vegetable peeler (the best thing in the world for stripping old fletchings and glue off, acetone, green scrubby pad and glue (I use Loctite Super Glue Ultra Control Gel for plain shaft and for my crested shafts I use Gorilla Glue Impact Liquid�don't use the archery glues....they are expensive and inferior in most cases).

First take the nock off and strip off as much old flecthing and glue residue as you can with the peeler. Then place the end of the arrow to be fletched in the acetone can for a few minutes to loosen/remove the remaining residue and wipe with a paper towel. Once shaft is clean, take green scrubby pad and scuff up the area to be fletched for best adhesion, then wipoff off excess dust and dip back into the acetone quickly and wipe excess off with a acetone damped paper towel. Put fletching in the holder and run a very thin bead of the gel down the middle and place on the jig for a couple of minutes, then rotate the arrow and repeat. After all fletchings are in place, set them aside and let them dry. As soon as your done with all the arrows put a small dot of glue on each end of the fletching where it meets the shaft for added protection with pass-thrus. Let the arrows "cure" for 3-4 hours before using.

It also will help stability if you screw the fletching jig down on a small piece of wood like a 6"X12". You can also take a 2"X4" about 18" long and drill a series of holes in it the size of your arrows, so you can put the arrows in there to dry.

 

[PinchPoint]

I recently bought the Arizona mini jig, and LOVE it! super easy and fletches perfectly...tried FletchTite plantinum and it was just ok. Switched to Pine Ridge Instant Glue it it works awesome!
And Im using Blazers as well

Good advice here.Also tried the Fletch Tite and would not recommend it to anyone.Stick with the instant "crazy" glues.The Arizona fletcher is my choice also.I would recomend going with at least a 3 degree offset.For quicker spin.

I love the offset on mine. It puts way more than a bitz jig can

 

[Toxophilite Phil]

I would recommend getting a Bitzenberger fletching jig. If you plan on doing a lot of fletching, the Bitz will pay for itself in no time. Make sure the shaft is clean. Use Ajax to clean the shaft and then use a dry paper towel and then let air dry. Place the fletching in the clamp and place it against the shaft to make sure it is making good contact along the length of the fletching and shaft. Make adjustment to get good contact only then pull the clamp off and run a bead of glue along the base of the fletching. If using the gel type super glues a good rule is to place dots along the fletching, spaced out in even spaces. Kind of like this series(......) When you push the fletching on the shaft it will squeeze out to fill the space. This prevents a lot of excessive glue build up along the base of fletching and will save some glue for more arrows.

 

[DeerKiller2012]

The 3 degree , is that a setting on the straight fletch ? Or does that require buying the right or left helical instead ? Sorry new to this

 

[TNDeerGuy]

A helical, offset, or straight is predicated on which type of clamp you use. Not to completely disagree with Toxophilite Phil about the prep of the arrows, but if you use ajax or anything else for that matter, I would still use acetone as my final step because it is the best at getting an area clean. Not getting the arrow shaft completely clean is the number one reason for adhesion failures.

 

[Toxophilite Phil]

I have used ajax, denatured alcohol, acetone or finger nail polish remover to clean the shaft. It has been my experience that no matter what you use to clean the shaft DO NOT touch the area the fletching will be placed with your hand. The oil from your skin can and will cause adhesion problems. Most solvents are oil based and should not be used.

 

[Crow Terminator]

Another good tip is to rough the fletching end up with some sand paper. It's just like painting something...if you don't scuff the area you're painting, the paint wont stick. If you have brand new shafts especially...just take some sand paper and knock the shine off the shaft where the fletching goes...ain't gotta bare down hard or anything; just rough it up and then clean the area with alcohol or acetone...once you do that, the hard part is going to be refletching them down the road if something happens to one of your feathers or vanes...cause they will be a pain in the rear to cut off.

 

[Poleaxe]

I got into fletching arrows about 5yrs ago and I enjoyed it so much it turned into a small community hobby. Youl learn alot thru trial and error. Instead of going to a store and getting acetone I just use finger nail polish remover. Thats all it is is acetone. Cheaper too. I found out, thru some failures that if your shooting a whisker buiscut a to much offset (bohing fletchers) twist too much upon release and will eventually tear your veins off. Even more, you cant get a true arrow flight. So if thats your rest of choice I suggest the Arizona jig thats only 1 degree offset. If your shooting a fall away rest the bohing tower is so easy. 3 degree offset and you can do the whole arrow at once as opposed to their jig, or bitzenburg, or jo jam where its one vein at a time. I have experimented with dozens of glues. (seriously dozens) Had some blow off upon the first shot. Lol. After many tries Fastset Gel is hands down the fastest drying and best holding glue ive yet to use. Theres no possible way you can peel a vein off the shaft with your hand. Just practice with it. You got 7months to perfect it. Holla if u need any help. Dont be sniffing that glue now while ur fletching now and trying to drive down the road. Lol