Archery How-to: Fletching Arrows

[hackamore]

Jeez you have steady hands putting that glue on!

I couldn't tell from the vid, to get twist, do you lay the spine at an angle to the axis of the shaft, or do you just twist the feather?

[ArcheryGuy]

@hackamore Well, it's a little of both. I normally put my fletchings on with a degree or two of offset on the shaft and in this vid I was using a helical clamp which adds a little twist to the fletching. It makes the arrow spin a bit more which adds stability in flight.

[Jonesy2197]

@ArcheryGuy

Thanks heaps man your one of the good people on youtube

[ArcheryGuy]

@Jonesy2197 Thanks, I help out when I can. Good luck with your shooting!

[Jonesy2197]

How do you get the vanes evenly indexed?Im a bit of a noob and have no experience with fletching shafts

[ArcheryGuy]

@Jonesy2197 Actually, it's the fletching jig that does the measuring. There are notches in the jig so the knob pops into place when I turn it and it reaches the right place. It's really easy.

[jtschid0910]

Why are do you use aluminum arrows?

[ArcheryGuy]

@jtschid0910 I use aluminium arrows during the indoor season and carbon/alu during the outdoor season. The extra weight of the alu arrows doesn't really matter for the shorter distance of indoor and the arrows have a larger diameter that "breaks" the lines and can give slightly higher scores.

[jtschid0910]

@ArcheryGuy Oh, see I only hunt and thought aluminum arrows were a thing of the past. But if I ever shoot in a league or something I would use alu.

[IsmoLmao]

feathers+arrow shaft+rune arrowtips=rune arrows

???

PROFIT!

[InvalidMemberAccount]

good vid, but not my style of music & too loud

[dakarlah]

Hi, very useful information. I noticed that some jigs has right / left helical type option. What is the difference?

[surferdoc26]

Thank you for posting this very informative video, got my bitz jig yesterday and can't figure out how to use it, your step by step guide really made it simple. Thanks again!

[surferdoc26]

Thanks for posting this vid very helpful, just got my Bitz fletching jig yesterday and can't figure out how to use it properly, after watching your video I think I can start using it now. Thanks again.

[sengfar964]

will a knife and ordinary glue work too?

[ArcheryGuy]

@sengfar964 I've heard of people using a dull knife to remove fletchings and dried glue. I would not recommend ordinary glue. Some say that normal super glue works just fine. Try to get some type of fletching glue if you can.

[smartman136]

Do u have to use a jig? Im new to archery and i got a box of 70 custom arrows and a bow from my grandpa.

[ArcheryGuy]

@smartman136 While it may be possible to fletch without a jig, using a jig will make the job 1000 times easier. Look around and you can probably find a decent jig for $25-30. It won't be a Bitzenburger like the one in my vid, but it will get the job done.

[nolangreen]

I want to get into this but i just see myself getting the spacing all wrong on each of the vanes

[ArcheryGuy]

@nolangreen Yes, the jig will pop into place when it reaches the right angle

[chuckb71954]

Great VIdeo..thanks I use to do it by hand but I'm investing in a jig. 9.00 carbon arrows are to much money to trash because of torn fletchings.

[EronHernandez]

not cool it's boring

[superscatboy]

Does the jig line up the cock feather for you? I notice you used all the same colour for the fletchings so I couldn't tell which one was supposed to be the cock. (Archery noob here, sorry if that's a dumb question!)

[ArcheryGuy]

@superscatboy Yes, It's not too hard. You just have to turn the knob to the starting position and place the nock in the right way. This will put the arrow in the correct position to put on the cock fletch. A lot of people use different colors for the cock fletch but I stopped a couple of years back. It doesn't affect arrow flight at all and it's cheaper to buy a larger quantity of the same color fletchings

[Norcalbowhunter]

I have been thinking about getting into fletching myself, but I have always wondered, is there a way to tell where to place the veins on the arrow or do you just kind guess at it and hope they are even spaced out?

[ArcheryGuy]

@Norcalbowhunter Actually the fletching jig does most of the work. When I turn the knob, it will pop into place when I rotate it 120 degrees. I don't have to think about it, I just feel it. It will space them evenly on the shaft. I highly recommend fletching your own arrows. Not only is it cheaper, you get the satisfaction of having done it yourself.

[hudik96]

t-röd :) :)

[MrMannerheim]

Good video, horrible music thou :)

[Justlivelife101]

fobs arent that good

[Caahaar]

so how much force does a modern bow and arrow put out? can they pierce a human skull for example? :P

[eri12334]

mine could go half way in a bears skull

[zhagray]

ive seen them piece completely threw oil drums

[fusionstar916]

They will go through any part of the human body, including bones. I have seen arrows pass through a grizzly and break ribs on the way out.

[SquidwardGotPwned]

Wooden arrows can go through bulletproof glass as well (I'm guessing that's shot at 70+ lb though)

[toby725717]

just get the FOB'S , not more fletching , they fly better too

[shadows666love]

one question, why were the fletching not lined up correctly? is your jig broken?

[ArcheryGuy]

Good eye! The clamp I used in my jig is a right helical clamp. It gives the vanes a slight twist to them. I also used a couple of degrees offset when fletching. This makes the vanes look kind of like a boat propeller when viewed from the back and adds a little spin to the arrows for more stability

[shadows666love]

haha, thanks. i make my own arrows, but i make wooden/feather arrows and i don't use glue/tape they are held on purely by serving.

I've made vane arrows before but i don't think they fly as well meself.

[nolangreen]

@ArcheryGuy can any fletching jig give you that helical? I'm sorry to bother you with all this but i'm 18 and been shooting archery for a couple months and thought i would take this venture beings I shoot traditional and will be hunting with it.

[ArcheryGuy]

@nolangreen No, I'm using a special clamp to give the fletchings a helical. If you only have a straight clamp, you can always mount the fletchings with a slight offset that will help the arrows to spin a little better

[shortfuzen]

great video...quick question...if im using

4'' vanes and im switching to the smaller blazers, should i keep the top of the vane the same distance away from the knock or does that need to be adjusted. Thanks.

[afrank1988]

I have the same question.

[ArcheryGuy]

I usually have the same distance from the nock to the back end of the vanes regardless of the length of the vanes. I remember reading somewhere that the vanes should be as far back as possible to increase arrow flight stability but not so far back that they cause problems (clearance, hitting nose, etc)

[afrank1988]

Alrighty, Thanks.

[Thjoth]

You know, this process really isn't all that different in principle than reloading ammunition for firearms. Less exact (you don't have to measure within 1/100 or 1/1000 of an inch with a micrometer), but you're really going for the same outcome in multiple, consistent aerodynamically stable projectiles. Just starting to get into archery as well as guns and I do believe fletching equipment is due to go on my reloading bench next to my press.

This video was a big help as I was clueless!

[ArcheryGuy]

Thanks for the support! Glad you liked the vid

[shadows666love]

you have to be careful when putting on the fletchings though, his were not lined up and if he fired that arrow it would not fly well at all.

[rdaniels41]

You obviously don't know anything about archery and fletching arrows. They were given a helix (twist) so the arrow will spin in flight, making it more stable and allowing it to fly straight.

[shadows666love]

arrows spin in flight regardless of the "twist" in the fletching. you obviously have never shot an arrow before....

[rdaniels41]

I've built and shot more than you can imagine. If the arrow has straight fletching IT WILL NOT SPIN. There is nothing causing the force to create spin. Straight fletching causes drag which stablizes the rear of the arrow causing it to fly straight with out spinning it. So, you're saying even a bare shaft arrow will spin. Well, it will not because there is no fletching with "twist". By the way, it's called "off set" or "helical" not twist. Once again you dont know shit.

[shadows666love]

dude go look at other fletching vids, you'll see that their fletching is straight.

stop being an idiot.

[Norcalbowhunter]

@shadows666love its known as a helical, in this case he is using a right helical and you can also have a left helical. The idea behind using helical fletching is that the veins will cause it to spin much like a bullet, thus making it more accurate at rather ranges. There is no right or wrong way to fletch an arrow, everyone has their own methods, but helical fletching has been proven to be more accurate at farther ranges.

[sheilanolan]

Thanks for putting this up, I'm about to repair my first arrows and this makes the process really clear.

[MrCemgok]

does that machine automatically stopthe arrow when u spin it to put the fletching or do u have to guess where the fletching goes

[ArcheryGuy]

Yes, it clicks into place when the arrow is in the right position. It's adjustable for 3, 4, or 5 fletchings.

[drake00769]

yes super glue works and it last even longer than fletch glue i think and you can also use a little bit of gorilla glue i use gorilla glue for when i go bear hunting because they go a tough hide it normaly destrys my fletching but gorilla glue makes sure the fletching stays on and on for good

[ArcheryGuy]

Great! Thanks for the info

[ImOaxley]

hej! jag undrar var du får tag på allt till exempel din jig och fjädrarna?/frånalbin som bor i västragötaland i tidaholm, tre mil från skövde som har en bågskytteklubb.

[ArcheryGuy]

Kolla hos Bågar och Pilar (bagaropilar[dot]com). De har allt man behöver. Mycket bra service också

[roboTACOman]

with one is th odd flight

[ArcheryGuy]

The cock/guide fletch is the first one I put on. I always start with that one. I don't normally use a different colored vane as a cock fletch. I used to do it but stopped. It doesn't affect the arrow flight and it's cheaper to buy a larger quantity of a single color than smaller quantities of 2 colors

[duckslayer101]

will super glue work?

[ArcheryGuy]

I've personally never used it but have seen comments on the net that say it works just fine.

[JasonLIKESturtles]

How do you know how much to turn the arrow after gluing the first vane?

[ArcheryGuy]

The jig does all the work. The knob has notches in it so that it pops into place at the right spot. I just have to turn it until I feel it click.

[Undeployedparachute]

Good video! But...

I noticed that all of your fletchings were the same color. The way I do, have been taught, and have always seen is to have two base fletchings, and another guide fletching of another color.

But, I can't say much else, good video and I'm to lazy to post one. Thanks.

[ArcheryGuy]

There are a lot of people that fletch the way you do. I have done it in the past but don't bother to do it any more. The main reason that I can think of is that it is really obvious how to nock the arrow. The guide fletch (or cock fletch) should always be pointing away from the riser. If you know how to nock the arrow properly, the the color really doesn't matter (doesn't affect arrow flight either)

[Undeployedparachute]

Good point. I've never thought of making it simpler.  Thank you very much for this video.

[ljcwalston]

I'm having trouble using excess glue. Any tricks on how to remove excess glue from the shaft after the vane has been set? Will a little bit of extra glue on the shaft affect shooting performance? Nice video, thanks!

[ArcheryGuy]

Thanks for the support! I've had the same problem, especially in the beginning. The best solution is to only use a thin bead of glue on the vane to avoid the excess. Experience is the best teacher here. However, if you get too much glue on the shaft you can try to *gently* scrape it off with a sharp knife. Be careful not too scrape too much of the shaft, especially with carbon arrows.

[bigdogcarr]

Archery Guy can you tell me how to adjust the front and back of my bitz to get my 4in feather offset with my straight clamp ?

[ArcheryGuy]

If you have a manual, then it should explain it well enough. If you don't have one then it's not too hard. On the body of the jig are two dials. Loosen the screw with an allen wrench and then turn the dial right or left to the desired offset. Experimentation will show the best offset. Tighten the screw again and adjust the other dial if needed. Good Luck!

[bigdogcarr]

I have a straight fletch jig, do i need a right helical jig to do an off set on my 4 in feathers ?

[ArcheryGuy]

You don't need a helical clamp to get a slight offset. You will need a jig that is adjustable however. My Bitz allows me to adjust the front and back to get the right position on the arrow shaft

[scatman1975]

Your Veins seam to have a curve on them, I mean they dont look to ve fletched straight. was this just an illusion or did you offset them somehow?

[ArcheryGuy]

You're right. The clamp I used in my jig is a right helical clamp. It gives the vanes a slight twist to them. I also used a couple of degrees offset when fletching. This makes the vanes look kind of like a boat propeller when viewed from the back.

[b18c5integra]

is it ok if i used superglue instead of fletching glue?

[ArcheryGuy]

Although I've never used Superglue, I did a quick search on the net and got a number of hits for people that have used it. It seems to work for them. I have only used normal fletching glue and have had no problems with it.

[d6a6r6kness]

what happens if u Fletch left wings in a right wing jig

[ericjanks]

good video

[frooto2]

hi im a begginer in archery and i want to know where i can find cheap arrows with good quality or is it cheaper to make your own arrows and could you please tell me how much it would cost to make your own arrow thanks!!!

[ericjanks]

you will save money by making your own.....this is basically how much...for 6 prefletched arrows it is roughly 40 bucks and for 12 unfletched is roughly 50 bucks so you are saving money!

[jm8907]

nice video man, I really need to get one of these things.

[jdawg1991williams]

what did you use to clean the arrow shafts with?

[ArcheryGuy]

It's a product here in Sweden called T-röd and is denatured ethanol.

[archerypea]

its a stripper, u can just use a knife carefully

[Bump157]

Thanks a bunch - very well made video!

[horsebackarchers]

Thankssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

Nice, clearrrrrrrrrrr and, of course such informative!

Warmest greetings from Athens-Hellas!

[ArcheryGuy]

You're welcome! Funny that you should write from Athens. I just got back yesterday from a week's holiday on Poros. Was actually in Athens last Thursday (and man was it hot - 39C/102F)!!

[RangerClay]

You just made my day!! I got me a Bitz jig and I had nobody to show me how to use it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

One question? What is the name of that tool you used to remove the old fletching and where did you get it??

OH! Did I mention Thank You! :-)

[ArcheryGuy]

Glad you liked it!! Always nice to hear that the vid is appreciated.

The tool is called Cir-Cut Arrow fletching vane stripper. I bought mine on Ebay but you can search for it in Google as well

[i8yomama]

nice video!!!!! I LOVE IT! what type of glue is that that it only takes 1 minute to dry?

[ArcheryGuy]

I used Bohning Platinum in the vid. The glue is probably not completely dry after the 1 minute but it is dry enough to remove the clamp and glue the next fletching. I normally let the arrows dry overnight before shooting them.

[i8yomama]

thank you so much ur so nice !!!!!!!!! ty

[gvman3670]

You wouldn't mind me linking this to an archery forum, would you? SOOooo many guys ask how to do it and linking to your vid would be much simpler than making one myself. LOL I use both a Bitz' and a Bohning Pro myself. I like them both, although I didn't think I would like the plastic Bohning jig. It works as good as the Bitz' really, just doesn't have the offset dial. You have to move it then lock it down is all.

Good vid. It should help a lot of newbs. Good work, man!

[ArcheryGuy]

Sure, linking to the vid is no problem. Thanks for the support!

[rsmorfeus73rs]

ummm i dont get it...so did u like make an arrow out of an already made arrow? u striped and already made arrow and put diffrent vanes at the bottom?

[ArcheryGuy]

That's right, I took the old vanes off and replaced them with new ones. The old Easton vanes had been used for over a year and showing signs of wear so I replaced them with new Bohning vanes. I was also interested in seeing how the X-vanes performed.

[aljburk13]

You should really clean the base of the fletch with the same thing you cleaned the shaft with, before you apply the glue.

[ArcheryGuy]

Actually that depends on the type of fletching. Most should be cleaned. I've used Easton before and cleaned the base but the Bohning X-vanes I used here are specially treated to promote adhesion and shouldn't be cleaned.

[aljburk13]

Well most molds for the vanes are treated with a mold release agent, which can mess with the adhesion. Do you like the X-Vanes? Can you do a video on "wraps" for the arrow.

[ArcheryGuy]

Yeah, I like the X-vanes. I used 3" on my arrows during the indoor season and just refletched my outdoor ACC's with 1.5" shield cuts. I can get pretty tight groups when my technique is in top form.

I don't use wraps on my arrows and to be honest I don't know anybody that does so it will probably be a while before I do a vid on that. Anything else you'd like to see?

[Indianpojken1]

Tjenare achery guy! Jag antar att du kommer från sverige eftersom det stod t-röd på flaskan...

Jag har köpt en ryttarbåge (Kassai foal) och jag vill gärna ha "old-looking" pilar till den. Jag bor i stockholm och jag har väl inte så värst mycket pengar att lägga ut på pilar... borde jag köpa delar och bygga ihop pilarna (typ3-4 st) och går det att göra utan jig? Jag bör väl tillägga att jag är nybörjare, dock asbra på slöjd...

Tack på förhand /Indianpojken

[ArcheryGuy]

PM skickat med lite info.

[elishaletunovskiy]

pretty cool

[elishaletunovskiy]

so like does it glue it on or wat.

[ArcheryGuy]

Yepp, a thin line of glue is applied to the base of the fletching (see vid @ 2:10). This glue is kinda like super glue, once it dries it's really hard to get off.

[dungman101]

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 500th view!!!!!!!!!

[gimmish]

Fun Video thanks! you make it look simple to do

Not having done this before I have one question how do you know ho far to turn the arrow? Does the Jig have a mark on it?

Thanks again

[ArcheryGuy]

It's actually pretty simple, the knob on the jig has notches in it so that it pops into place at the right spot. The Bitz is adjustable so I can fletch using the standard 120 degree offset for 3 fletcings or other offsets for 4 or even 5 fletchings