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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: bolo7735 on January 20, 2012, 04:08:00 PM
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I'm planning to fletch my own arrows. What do you guys flavor glue or tape and brand do you use?
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Tape, with a drop of GT arrow glue at either end of the fletch.
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Same as Smithhammer, I believe Bohning makes the tape I use.
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I've been using Duco glue for a long time and it has always worked well for me. I have used it on wood and aluminum with positive results, ain't gonna change now.
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Glue for me; Duco on most wood arrow finishes and Fletchtite Platinum if I was going to do alum or carbon. I used tape a couple of times. It was quick, but no easier and I didn't like the long term results. Not to mention a tube of Duco is cheap and does lots of arrows.
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I use glue; but tape is good.
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Fletch-tite platinum has worked well. Never needed to try tape.
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I love tape :wavey:
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I prefer to glue,just always have!
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started using the tape about a year ago and lovin it. like Smithhammer little drop on each end havnt had one come loose yet.----------joey
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I havent lost a feather in a year with tape. I used to lose them all the time. Now they wear out faster than they fall off.
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Tape for me, only ones that came off were ones I over treated with black magic tire wet.
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tape. For me it's just as durable as glue, easier to use, and less messy.
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Tape is great. Bohning is the brand I use.
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Fletch tite or duco on my woods and my sons carbon get beyond bond.
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TAPE!!!
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X2 on tape
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X2 on tape
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Like Fletcher I use Duco cement for wood arrows and Fletchtite Platinum for aluminum. They've always worked well for me, so I haven't looked for alternatives. It seems that the guys who use tape like that system though.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
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bohning fletch tape! - for all shaft materials from woodies to carbon. i'll never go back to any form of direct glue again, and that's what i started with 56 years ago ...
here's the fletch end of a carbon arrow that was feather 4-fletched with tape. it had been lost in the south carolina woods for three years, after killing a hog. notice how the feather quills are still firmly affixed to the shaft ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/hog1arra2.jpg)
click the pic below for a tape fletching video ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/th_MOV06270.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/?action=view¤t=MOV06270.mp4)
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TAPE!!!!!!!!!!
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Bohning Tape, exclusively.
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Nothing but Duco for lots of years
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With the fletching tape, how well does it holds up to extreme hot weather and rain? Since I live in South Florida the Summer are brutal with hudmity.
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Originally posted by bolo7735:
With the fletching tape, how well does it holds up to extreme hot weather and rain? Since I live in South Florida the Summer are brutal with hudmity.
look up a few posts to my post. ;)
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Thanks Rob. That video was very helpful. So basically it is important to have a clean surface before putting on the tape.
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Originally posted by bolo7735:
Thanks Rob. That video was very helpful. So basically it is important to have a clean surface before putting on the tape.
yes.
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bolo, no problem with tape here in SC along the coast with summer heat and humidity.
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Started with glue years ago, switched to tape for maybe 5 years now back to glue. Tape will move when it gets to hot out or if you leave arrows in the car on a sunny day if you don't ad a drop of glue front and back of the feather. I also figured theres a good reason why the guys who make the best arrows around like Paul from Elite Arrow use glue. They must know something
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Originally posted by killinstuff:
Started with glue years ago, switched to tape for maybe 5 years now back to glue. Tape will move when it gets to hot out or if you leave arrows in the car on a sunny day if you don't ad a drop of glue front and back of the feather. I also figured theres a good reason why the guys who make the best arrows around like Paul from Elite Arrow use glue. They must know something
Temps inside a car is way extreme. With temps exceeding over 100 degree like a over will cause adhesives or epoxy to fail.
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beautiful, functional, fully professionally crafted arrows can be made with fletch taped feather fletching. if done with the tiniest amount of care, you'd be hard pressed to tell whether an arrow's fletch is adhered with glue or tape.
if the shaft (cane, wood, glass, alum, carbon, whatever - all raw or painted or vinyl capped) is clean, and the base quill of the feather fletch is clean, bohning fletch tape will make an extremely tight bond that will weather any elements - that's a fact. adding a tiny dot of duco or fletchtite fore and aft ensures the bond at those critical points.
the speed of fletching up a dozen taped fletch arrows is a great incentive, too. only one jig needed. :)
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The tape is great...whip out a dozen in less than an hour. I mount the tape to all of the feathers first and then simply peel the remaining backing off as I mount each. Seems to speed up the process. I did some feather splices following a build along the other day with the tape and it was nice not having to worry about accidently flectching my fingers.
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my eyes are not what they used to be, I have a hard time peeling backing off the tape just seems easier using glue. I used exacto knife any other suggestions (I know glasses) I may give tape one last try being everyone seems to be sold on it.
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Originally posted by emac396:
my eyes are not what they used to be, I have a hard time peeling backing off the tape just seems easier using glue. I used exacto knife any other suggestions (I know glasses) I may give tape one last try being everyone seems to be sold on it.
what can help heaps is magnifier on a stand, like jewelers use. i use a dull exacto - new, sharp ones don't work as well for me.
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Originally posted by emac396:
my eyes are not what they used to be, I have a hard time peeling backing off the tape just seems easier using glue. I used exacto knife any other suggestions (I know glasses) I may give tape one last try being everyone seems to be sold on it.
I use to have a fit getting the backing off too. What I do is leave an inch or so more than needed and stick that to the side of the clamp then you can just rub it roughly with you finger and the backing will come off it there, peel it off then take scissors and cut that extra piece off right at the feather. Works pretty good for me.
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I used tap for a while but have changed to instant glue.I had a problem with the tape not holding the feather correctly
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Originally posted by Gray Buffalo:
I used tap for a while but have changed to instant glue.I had a problem with the tape not holding the feather correctly
that's usually a process or cleaning issue. stick with it (pun intended!)
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Tape is great, here in Wa state the temps go from over 100 to as low as-30 the tape has never failed me I replace more feathers now and with no damage to the shaft I do use cresting wraps this helps. one thing I have never done is clean the feather and they still held great. the tape is small packs well and if you need to refletch on a back country hunting trip it is fast and clean.
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I've used tape for a long time and never had a problem. I use wraps and once you stick'em there stuck. I also put a dab of glue on each end for good measure. You dont have to.. but it keeps the ends from peeling up.
Jason
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TAPE here in South Florida.
Preparation is the key.
Watch Rob's video it is excellent!!
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Like most on here who do their own arrows, I have used most types of adhesives available for that purpose.
I have found, for me at least, that tape is faster, cleaner and adheres just as good, and adheres better on some crestings than glue.
Good Luck
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I learned about the tape here--last year. I had always used glue with very few complaints or issues. However, I really like the tape and once I got the hang of it found it quick enough and very durable, at least in controlled, practice conditions. I haven't hunted with any arrows that were taped.
One problem I have with glue is that too often it seems as if my glue has dried out a bit in the case of fletch tight and not useable when I need it. The ultra-fast dry glues seem to invariably leak in storage and when I need them the dispensing tops are plugged up or worse. The tape is always ready to go.
I'm curious when I make up some flu-flus how the tape will do when wrapping full-length feathers around the shaft. I'm hoping the torque isn't difficult to deal with. I suspect the tape will work even better than glue for these style of flu-flu feather attachment?
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I just don't have the patience for glue. The tape works way faster, and as Rob and others have pointed out, the feathers wear out before the tape lets go as long as your shaft was clean when you applied it.
I wipe down the shaft with denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol). You can by denatured alcohol at the big box building suppliers in quart cans. I've had my last quart for about two years and have at least half of it left.
After you wipe down the shaft it is critical that you DON'T TOUCH IT WITH YOUR FINGERS! The oil from your skin is what keeps the feathers from sticking. NOTE: this is true with glue as well.
For a while I was wiping down the quill too, but I've found that to be unnecessary.
I do add a drop of Duco or Fletchtite to the ends, depending on the shaft material. I'm not sure it is necessary to lock the feathers down, but I like overkill. The drop on the front of the feather also keeps the sometimes sharp ended quills from slicing your finger if you crowd the shelf like me. I don't quite shoot off my knuckle, but darn close.
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Tape for me. Just a drop of glue on each end of the feather.
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I don't have the patience for tape! I'll use tape if I'm in a rush for some reason, but otherwise it's glue.
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Thanks everyone for their input. Tape it is.
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You won't regret that decision!
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bohning fletch tape. I've used glue but since I tried the tape I won't go back.
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Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
bohning fletch tape! - for all shaft materials from woodies to carbon. i'll never go back to any form of direct glue again, and that's what i started with 56 years ago ...
here's the fletch end of a carbon arrow that was feather 4-fletched with tape. it had been lost in the south carolina woods for three years, after killing a hog. notice how the feather quills are still firmly affixed to the shaft ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/hog1arra2.jpg)
click the pic below for a tape fletching video ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/th_MOV06270.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/vid/?action=view¤t=MOV06270.mp4)
Can't agree more with Rob. Be sure to get Bohning tape and not some of the "others" that are out there.
Cool arrow Rob!
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Fletch tite platinum for any and all uses.
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I like the fletching tape too, BUT, I found that the fingernail glue with the brush in the cap works great!!! Stop laughing, this is the greatest invention ever. No mess what so ever and I haven't lost any feathers yet. It's called fing'rs brush on nail glue. Don't knock it til you try it...Seriously :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by TAWL:
I like the fletching tape too, BUT, I found that the fingernail glue with the brush in the cap works great!!! Stop laughing, this is the greatest invention ever. No mess what so ever and I haven't lost any feathers yet. It's called fing'rs brush on nail glue. Don't knock it til you try it...Seriously :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Interesting, this is the glue for fake nails?
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Originally posted by MikeW:
Originally posted by TAWL:
I like the fletching tape too, BUT, I found that the fingernail glue with the brush in the cap works great!!! Stop laughing, this is the greatest invention ever. No mess what so ever and I haven't lost any feathers yet. It's called fing'rs brush on nail glue. Don't knock it til you try it...Seriously :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Interesting, this is the glue for fake nails? [/b]
it's a viscous version of cya (cyanoacrylate). and near impossible to remove for refletching.
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No expert here however I do shoot ~400 arrows per week year around except during turkey season.
Tape works great!
Have no need to pursue anything else. My feathers are always worn out before any bond issues. Have never experienced a bond issue.
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I have been using tape for over a year now on all my arrows. Have not had any issues with with fletching coming off. It is alot easier and less of a mess.
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I just tried tape for the first time, it has seemed super so far! I did up a half dozen 4 fletch in the same time as doing a single 3 fletch using glue.
so far so good.
L.R.
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I did not know they made tape I will try it over the glue which is not working for me in damp weather.
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Tape for me. Its fast and easy to put a feather back on in the field.
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Originally posted by stick-um:
Tape for me. Its fast and easy to put a feather back on in the field.
Not to be a smart ass but if what you doing/using works why would you have put a feather back on in the field? And you carry fletch tape with you?
I've never had a feather come off in the field that I needed to fix on the spot(tape or glue)and am 53 and been doing this since I was 13.